Tornek-Rayville TR-900 Dive Watch, c. 1964, stainless steel water-resistant antimagnetic dive watch produced for the U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team, now known as the Navy SEALs, with the assistance from importer Allen V. Tornek Co. of New York, with sweep center seconds, moisture indicator and Promethium-147 lume, bidirectional revolving black bezel with luminous unit indication, two-part screw-back engraved with military markings, "MIL-W-22176," movement marked "Seventeen (17) Jewels Tornek-Rayville No. TR-900," with brass dust cover, dia. 40 mm.

Note: The consignor's parents both joined the Marine Corps in the 1950s, met, got married, and had six kids. His father retired as a Major from the Marine Corps after 21 years. The consignor also served in the Marine Corps for six years, as did many other relations-a true family calling. This watch was not issued to any of the family but was gifted to the consignor's father by a fellow officer while he was in service in the late 1960s.

The consignor relates: "I believe my dad came home from Vietnam in 1968 and he was then stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. I was 10 years old when I first got to see the watch and I really liked it. My dad kept it in a black bound leather box on his dresser that had the Marine Corps emblem embossed on the top-he kept his rank insignia, brass buckles, ribbons, medals, and the watch in that box, letting me see it from time to time.

When I was 18 or 19, I bought a watch that my dad really liked. When I told him he could have it, he proposed a trade. I asked him what he wanted to trade for and he said, 'How about that watch you have always liked?' I said yes. I wore it only one time and then put it in a dresser drawer, I did not want anything to happen to it. It was in the drawer for over 40 years. Later I showed it to a guy I worked with who collected watches and he said he had never seen one like it. I never took it out of the drawer again."

Condition: clean gloss dial and lume, small chip out of bezel between the 5-10 hash marks, couple case back scratches. Clean serial number 0745. Winding setting and ticking.

Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.