Spinnaker Fleuss Nessie Pearl Diver

A new collaboration between Spinnaker Watches and the popular enthusiast group Scottish Watches has resulted in a timepiece that draws from the deep, mysterious waters of Scottish folklore. The Fleuss Automatic Nessie Pearl Diver Limited Edition is a direct nod to the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, incorporating thematic design elements into a capable dive-style watch. Produced in a limited run of 650 individually numbered units, the watch brings a well-known myth to the wrist through a combination of unique materials and mechanical storytelling, all built upon the established framework of Spinnaker’s Fleuss collection. This release merges the brand’s nautical focus with a specific, culturally significant narrative.



Spinnaker has carved out a distinct space in the watch market by focusing on nautically-themed timepieces that are both accessible and well-equipped. The brand’s identity is closely tied to the sea, drawing inspiration from the history of diving, yachting, and maritime exploration. Their collections frequently pay homage to vintage dive watches from the mid-20th century, capturing the functional aesthetic of that era while utilizing modern manufacturing techniques and materials. This approach allows them to produce watches that have a sense of history but are built to contemporary standards of reliability and durability, often incorporating robust automatic movements, sapphire crystals, and substantial water resistance.



The philosophy of the brand extends beyond simple aesthetics. Spinnaker timepieces are engineered with practical use in mind, intended to be worn for adventures both in and out of the water. This commitment to functionality is balanced with a design sensibility that makes them suitable for everyday wear. The company has also become known for its frequent collaborations, partnering with a wide range of organizations and communities. These projects often support causes like marine conservation or honor specific historical events, allowing the brand to tell stories and connect with audiences on a deeper level. The partnership with Scottish Watches is a continuation of this strategy, tapping into a specific cultural legend and a dedicated community of watch enthusiasts.



Scottish Watches has grown into a significant voice within the horological community, known for its podcast and online presence that combines serious watch discussion with a distinct sense of humor and personality. The group has cultivated a large and engaged following by offering a grounded, enthusiast-driven perspective on the industry. A collaboration with a brand like Spinnaker is a natural fit, allowing them to translate their passion for watches into a physical product. This partnership brings their specific cultural viewpoint, rooted in Scottish heritage, to Spinnaker’s established manufacturing capabilities, resulting in a design that is deeply personal to the collaborators while appealing to a broader audience interested in unique and story-driven timepieces.



The central theme of this limited edition is the legend of Loch Ness and its famous cryptid, Nessie. This piece of Scottish folklore has captured the global imagination for generations, representing a blend of mystery, nature, and the unknown lurking beneath the surface. Rather than simply referencing the legend in name only, the watch integrates the story directly into its core functions and visual presentation. The design choices are intended to evoke the murky depths of the loch and the fleeting, elusive nature of its mythical inhabitant, turning the simple act of telling time into a continuous narrative.



The most striking feature of the timepiece is its dial, which is crafted from a disc of blue Mother-of-Pearl. This material was chosen for its natural iridescence and depth, creating a surface that shifts and changes with the light. The effect is meant to mimic the surface of water, with the shimmering, organic patterns giving the impression of looking into the deep, dark waters of Loch Ness. The deep blue coloration captures a sense of mystery and depth, serving as a dynamic and ever-changing backdrop for the watch's other elements. Each dial is inherently unique due to the natural variations in the Mother-of-Pearl, ensuring that no two of the 650 pieces are exactly alike.



Integrated into this dial is the watch’s signature complication. In place of a traditional small seconds hand, there is a rotating disc located in the lower portion of the dial. This disc features a luminous silhouette of the Loch Ness Monster. As the disc turns once per minute, the Nessie figure appears to glide through the "water" of the Mother-of-Pearl, periodically disappearing and reappearing from behind a wave-like cutout. This clever mechanical animation brings the legend to life on the wrist, providing a constant, subtle visual narrative that is central to the watch’s identity. It is a whimsical yet functional execution of the theme.



The dial's construction adds further visual interest. The hands and indices are built in a two-layer configuration. The upper layer consists of applied indices, featuring large, stylized Arabic numerals at 10, 8, 4, and 2, with prominent circles for the remaining hours. Below this is a secondary luminous layer that provides a foundational glow. This layered approach creates a noticeable sense of depth, making the markers appear to float above the shimmering Mother-of-Pearl surface. The use of Swiss Newlite ensures strong low-light visibility, a practical feature for any dive-style watch.



The case of the Nessie Pearl Diver is constructed from 316L stainless steel, a material standard for its corrosion resistance and durability. It measures 43mm in diameter, with a lug-to-lug distance of 51mm and a thickness of 13mm. These dimensions give the watch a substantial and modern presence on the wrist, consistent with its tool-watch-inspired design. The finishing appears to be primarily brushed, which helps to minimize the appearance of minor scratches and reinforces its functional aesthetic. The case is a robust housing for the intricate dial and movement within.



A key external feature that ties the watch to its Scottish roots is the bezel. The unidirectional rotating bezel is made of stainless steel and features a textured pattern along its edge. This pattern is directly inspired by the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland, with its distinctive diagonal cross. This is a subtle but meaningful tribute to the heritage behind the collaboration. The bezel includes a fully lumed insert with markings for tracking elapsed time, a fundamental requirement for a diver's watch, blending thematic design with practical utility.



To ensure its performance in aquatic environments, the watch is equipped with a screw-down crown and a solid caseback, which together provide a water resistance rating of 150 meters (15 ATM). This level of resistance makes the watch suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and recreational diving, reinforcing its credentials as a capable sea-faring instrument. The crystal is a flat sapphire lens treated with an anti-reflective coating, offering superior scratch resistance and reducing glare to improve legibility in various lighting conditions.



Powering the watch is a Japanese Miyota 8245 automatic movement. This caliber is part of Miyota's 8200 series, a family of movements known for being reliable and robust workhorses. It operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and contains 21 jewels. The movement provides a power reserve of approximately 40 hours when fully wound. The choice of the 8245 is significant as it includes a small seconds subdial, which has been ingeniously adapted here to drive the rotating Nessie disc, making the entire animation possible.



One of the more surprising details is found on the reverse of the watch. Despite its tool-watch specifications, it features a see-through exhibition caseback, allowing a view of the automatic movement inside. This is not a standard view, however. Spinnaker has fitted the movement with a custom rotor, which has been designed to resemble a silhouette of Nessie in the Loch Ness waters. Furthermore, this rotor is lumed. As the rotor spins with the motion of the wearer's wrist to wind the mainspring, the glowing Nessie figure disappears and reappears behind the movement's bridges, echoing the animation on the dial.



The application of luminescent material is a standout feature across the entire watch. Swiss Newlite is generously applied to the hands, the applied hour markers, the entire bezel insert, the Nessie figure on the small seconds disc, and even the custom rotor visible through the caseback. This extensive use of lume creates a dramatic and highly legible display in low-light conditions. The visual effect in the dark is striking, with multiple elements of the watch glowing, from the functional time-telling components to the whimsical thematic details on both the front and back.



The timepiece is fitted with a 22mm genuine leather strap in a deep blue color that complements the Mother-of-Pearl dial and bezel. The strap features contrasting white stitching near the lugs, adding a subtle visual detail. While a leather strap is not traditionally suited for diving, its inclusion suggests the watch is designed to be versatile, easily transitioning from adventurous activities to more casual, everyday wear. The standard lug width also allows for easy strap changes, giving owners the option to fit a rubber strap or bracelet for water-based use.



The collaboration with Scottish Watches provides an authentic connection to the cultural source material, ensuring the design is handled with a genuine appreciation for the legend. The result is a watch that is playful and full of character, yet built upon a solid foundation of reliable components and functional design. It’s a piece that will likely appeal to enthusiasts of Spinnaker, followers of Scottish Watches, and anyone with an appreciation for folklore and unique microbrand creations.



The Spinnaker Fleuss Automatic Nessie Pearl Diver Limited Edition is available worldwide starting September 26, 2025. As a limited edition of just 650 pieces, its availability is inherently restricted. The watch is priced at $425 USD, a point that is competitive within the microbrand market, especially considering the custom elements like the animated dial, Mother-of-Pearl material, and decorated rotor. This offering provides an accessible entry point for acquiring a watch with a unique story and a distinct personality.



Case: 316L Stainless Steel; 43mm diameter, 13mm thickness, 51mm lug-to-lug; Anti-reflection coated sapphire lens; Screw-down crown; 15 ATM water resistance; Exhibition caseback reveals custom rotor; Unidirectional bezel with Saltire-inspired pattern and luminous insert.

Movement: Japanese Automatic Miyota 8245; 21 jewels; 21,600 BPH; ~40 hours power reserve; Features small seconds subdial adapted for rotating disc.

Dial: Blue Mother-of-Pearl; Applied indices and hands with Swiss Newlite lume; Two-layer construction for depth; Rotating disc at 6 o'clock displays a luminous Nessie figure as the seconds indicator.

Strap: 22mm blue genuine leather strap.

Price: $425.00 USD.

Reference Number: SP-5168-01.

Notes: Limited Edition of 650 pieces created in collaboration with Scottish Watches. Features a custom luminous rotor shaped like Nessie, visible through the caseback.