Tornek-Rayville Reissue and Homage

2 well reputed watch companies have issued watches that is are reissue and homage to the Tornek-Rayville TR900. The 2 companies, Corvus Watch Company and MKII Corporation have issued their version of the Tornek-Rayville TR900. For a very interesting read of the history of the TR900, refer here:

http://corvuswatch.com/index.asp?page=1958_bulova_1964_blancpain

Here is a photograph of the original TR900. The TR900 was made under the U.S. Military Specifications MIL-W-22176 (SHIPS). It was made by Mr. Tornek who worked with Blancpain to produce this watch. The design was based on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.

Photograph: MKII

The watch issued by the Corvus Watch Company is called the Bradley Dive Watch, after General Omar Bradley. General Bradley was the then CEO of the Bulova Watch Company Research and Development Department when the TR900 was designed. The Bradley Dive Watch meets the requirements of MIL-SHIPS-W-22176A.

Basic specifications:

Movement: ETA 2824-2 automatic movement

Case: Kolsterised 316L stainless steel scratch-resistant case and bezel

Bezel: Unidirectional 60 click dive timer with luminous acrylic insert

Crystal: Double dome sapphire, AR coated, 3.5 mm thick

Size: diameter 41.33 mm, height 11.3 mm, lug width 20 mm

Water resistant: 30 ATM

The Corvus Watch Company Bradley Dive Watch with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.

Photographs: Corvus Watch Company

For more information:

http://corvuswatch.com/index.asp?page=home

MKII Corporation has also reissued (as they now own, I believe, the TR brand) the TR900 in the guise of the TR1000.

Basic specifications:

Movement: ETA 2824-2 with MKII signed rotor

Case: Bead blasted 316L stainless steel case

Bezel: Unidirectional 120 click dive timer with luminous acrylic insert

Crystal: Double dome sapphire, AR coated

Size: diameter 42 mm, height 13.7 mm, lug width 22 mm

Water resistant: 30 ATM

Photograph: MKII

For more information:

http://www.mkiiwatches.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=le_tornek.htm

Both watches are great watches and a great tribute to a one of the best dive watch ever created. Wish I have the funds to get both.