Fake IWC Ocean 2000 AMAG successor: STANAG-compliant mine diver watch from Poseidon and Fricker
In the history of Bundeswehr watches in general, a few models stand out that are also highly sought after by collectors – among them the very first pilot’s chronograph (Hanhart 417 ES) in the air or the Fake IWC Ocean 2000, a completely anti-magnetic watch for the mine divers of the Bundeswehr Marine Battalion. However, only 50 of the IWC Ocean 2000 AMAG were produced and delivered to the Bundeswehr from 1984 onwards. The model has long been retired. But what was the successor?
About mine divers: steady hands, clear head, good stamina
What is particularly striking about the mine diver’s watch is the large logo at “12 o’clock”, a swordfish and behind it a so-called anchor mine. Such a prominent logo is not necessarily typical for official military equipment – normally unnecessary design elements are completely omitted in order not to distract from the essentials, namely reading the time or the elapsed diving time with the help of the classic diver’s bezel.
Good to know: The logo is also protected under the number 015022098 for watches by PD² Technology GmbH from Hamburg (see EUIPO). The economic ties are somewhat opaque, but according to my research, PD² Technology is the parent company for Poseidon and other brands such as Kowalski diving lamps. Watches with the logo are available from Bombfrog, for example – certainly no coincidence: the man behind Bombfrog is Dirk Assmann, himself a mine diver in the German army.
Mine divers remove and defuse explosive devices – or as they say in “military speak”: they take care of explosive ordnance disposal. And as you can imagine, this is a tough and explosive job: the mine divers are a kind of life insurance for their comrades, because they check areas for explosive devices and thus pave the way for advancing troops.
If sea mines are discovered in the Bundeswehr’s area of responsibility, mine-clearing boats are deployed to clear the sea routes. One of these is the mine-hunting boat “Bad Rappenau”, which always has mine-clearing divers on board.