Triton - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

The brand Triton occupies a unique place in the world of diving watchmaking, combining technical innovation and distinctive design. Founded in 1963, it was able to mark its era before disappearing, then reborn in the 21st century thanks to enthusiasts wishing to perpetuate its legacy. This detailed description explores the history of Triton, its iconic models, its signature design, as well as its contemporary resurgence.

The Origins of Triton

The story of Triton began in 1963 under the leadership of Jean-René Parmentier, former colonel in the French Air Force and watchmaking enthusiast. He designed a diving watch intended for professionals and the military on behalf of the “Spirotechnique”, a company founded in 1946 by Commander Jacques-Yves Cousteau. This watch, called Triton Spirotechnique, stands out for its robustness and innovative design, notably its crown positioned at 12 o'clock and protected by a patented articulated device, aimed at preventing accidents during diving.

Produced by the factory Dodane in Besançon (France), the Triton Spirotechnique was sold exclusively in Spirotechnique diving stores until the beginning of the 1970s. It was recognized for its reliability and adopted by various military navies, including the French, as well as by the divers of the Cousteau team.

Design and Technical Characteristics

The design of the Triton Spirotechnique is immediately identifiable thanks to several distinctive elements:

• Crown at 12 o'clock with crown guard : This unique configuration ensures optimal protection of the crown against shocks and accidental manipulation, while facilitating its use.

• Stainless steel housing : Designed to withstand the extreme conditions of diving, the case offers water resistance up to 200 meters, a remarkable performance for its time.

• Unidirectional rotating bezel : Equipped with a graduated bezel with specific typography where the tens digits are larger than the ones digits (for example, 10/20/30), improving readability underwater.

• Readable dial with date : The black dial features luminescent indexes and a date window with a particularity: the even numbers are in black and the odd numbers in red, making it easier to quickly read the date.

Decline and Disappearance

Despite its undeniable qualities, the Triton Spirotechnique disappeared from the market in the early 1970s, victim of the quartz crisis which shook up the watch industry by offering more affordable and precise watches. This period saw many traditional brands cease their activity or adapt their production in the face of competition from quartz movements.

Renaissance of the Brand

In 2015, two watch enthusiasts, Jean-Sébastien Coste and Philippe Friedmann, decided to revive the Triton brand. They bought the rights and launched a new model inspired by the original: the Triton Subphotique. This name refers to the subphotic depths of the ocean, located beyond 200 meters, where light no longer penetrates.

The Triton Subphotique 

The Triton Subphotique is a modern reinterpretation of the Triton Spirotechnique, incorporating technological advances while retaining the DNA of the original model. Its main features include:

• Waterproof up to 500 meters : A performance doubling that of its predecessor, adapted to the demands of contemporary professional divers.

• Helium valve : Positioned at 3 o'clock, it allows the watch to support decompression stops in a hyperbaric chamber, an essential functionality for saturation dives.

• Swiss automatic movement : Equipped with a custom Soprod M100 caliber, offering a 42-hour power reserve and reliable precision.

• Faithful design : The crown at 12 o'clock with its articulated crown protector is retained, as is the unidirectional bezel with sapphire insert, recalling the aesthetic of the bakelite bezel of the time.

The Subphotique is available in several versions, including the Subphotique Classic Atlantic Blue and the Subphotique Sport Heritage, each offering aesthetic variations while retaining the technical specificities of the range.

The Modern Triton Spirotechnique

In 2023, to celebrate the brand's sixtieth anniversary, Triton presents a new version of the Triton Spirotechnique. This limited edition pays homage to the original model while incorporating contemporary improvements:

• 39mm case : Slightly reduced compared to the Subphotique, it offers increased comfort while maintaining a notable presence on the wrist.

• 200 meter water resistance : consistent with that of the original model, it is more than sufficient for recreational diving and retains the authenticity of the historical approach.

• Crown at 12 o'clock : as on the 1963 model, it is secured by a mobile bridge, a technical solution which remains unique in the watchmaking world. This choice contributes as much to the recognizable style of the watch as to its functionality.

• Modernized but faithful dial : we find the famous alternation of red and black numbers on the date, the luminous indexes and uncompromising readability, in all circumstances.

Brand Positioning and Philosophy

Triton is not a mass brand. His approach is artisanal, almost confidential. Each watch is assembled in Switzerland, with rare attention to detail, and in limited quantities. The objective is not to follow trends, but to extend a story that began in the 1960s, by honoring the aesthetic and technical codes that have made Spirotechnique a recognized professional tool.

The brand targets an audience of watch enthusiasts, sensitive to the singularity of a piece, the quality of Swiss manufacturing, the coherence of the message, and the true historical legitimacy in the field of diving watches.

Inspired but Unique Watches

In a market saturated with vintage-inspired watches, Triton stands out. She does not draw inspiration from the past: she is the past, with direct legitimacy. This link with Spirotechnique, the military navies, professional diving of the 60s and 70s is not a reconstructed marketing story; it is a historical reality, embodied in the very design of the watch.

The Subphotique, for its part, demonstrates the brand's ability to evolve with the times: modern materials, increased performance, careful finishes, and an assured presence on the wrist. This range is aimed both at lovers of extreme “toolwatch” watches and at collectors of technical watches with an assertive character.

A Discreet but Solid Community

Triton owners form a discreet, but committed community. Triton watches are often purchased by enthusiasts who know the history of the brand, who appreciate authenticity and who are looking for something other than mainstream watch brands or surfing on neo-vintage marketing. These buyers find in Triton a sincere, well-designed product with real soul.

The Future of Triton

The return of Triton to the watchmaking landscape is the result of a project on a human scale, based on passion and loyalty to a timeless design. In a market where reissues are multiplying, Triton asserts itself as a legitimate and coherent actor, without compromise. She knew how to take her time, launch few models, but with consistency, rigor and precision.

The future of the brand seems to be a continuation of this approach: limited series, technical models, discreet but constant improvements. Everything indicates that Triton will continue to appeal to discerning enthusiasts, those looking for originality, robustness and history in a box.

Conclusion

Triton is a brand apart in the watchmaking world. Founded at the heart of the golden age of scuba diving, from the outset it was able to offer a watch that was daring, technical and avant-garde. If its story was interrupted for several decades, it has been relaunched with intelligence and respect.

Today, Triton embodies a certain idea of ​​watchmaking: a watch made to last, designed for action, designed with character, and produced with high standards. Its crown at 12 o'clock, its mobile crown protector and its uncompromising design make it an icon for tool watch enthusiasts.

Neither fashion product nor nostalgic homage, Triton is a living watch, rooted in history but focused on the future. A watch for those who delve into the past to better emerge in the present.

Get inspired by reviews from real customers to choose the watch that suits you.

(Updated March 2025)