Roamer, Stingray S. This was the first Diver from Roamer, rated to 200 meters or 660 feet using a slightly special version of their patented case (crystal is about 3 times thicker than normal). Roamer also used an additional o-ring between crystal and inner case and used a high quality stainless steel impervious to salt water damage (9120 case material).
The Stingray S models were made from around 1967 to around 1973. The first models (case 602) featured different dials, with a high sheen rather than the later matt finish, and used a standard set of baton hands. The next evolution of the watch went to the 28 jewel version of the MST471 movement and changed hands again in 1968.
The next version was the 1969 28 Jewel MST 471 automatic movement, matt crosshair dial and new hands. This is the other Stringray S in my collection. At this time the internal bezel dot changed from a triangle to a dot, and the inner bezel at some point changed from white to orange, although a few later watches seem to have white bezels, and a few earlier watches orange - so it is not entirely clear if they were an option or replacements. However, the inner bezel and crosshair colours should normally match - white and white, or orange and orange.
The final evolution of the S model is this watch, which was first introduced in 1970, without cross hairs on the dial and most significantly changed the case design to include integral crown guards (case 605) - this watch is also shown in the Fathom advert. The final production models no longer featured the embossed Stringray logo on the back (as in this one).
The entire case shape was subtly changed, in addition to the new crown guards, and the detail differences from the previous model are shown in the photographs. In addition, the strap size was changed from 18mm in the earlier 602 models to 20mm in the later 605 models.
Another difference between early and later models lies in the shape of the date window - this changed significantly to reflect current fashion. Also the hands underwent many variations, from the first plain metal batons, to the fat pointed metal battons (with a round lume dot on second hand, to the sharply pointed coloured hands (my other model) with yellow seconds hand and finally to these, the longer blunt pointed coloured hands.
The large crown at 3 rotates the outer dial, the crown at 4 sets the time.
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