Specifications
Material: 316L stainless steel, ceramic insert with Swiss Super LumiNova BGW9 luminous mass.
Dial: Blue or black dial. Integrated mirror for clearer readability of the second and minute hands. Raised BGW9 indice with tritium tube attachment.
Size: 44mm (diameter), 50mm lug-to-lug, 22mm between lugs
Case: MALM Frogdiver 44, 316L stainless steel. 3-part case construction with analogue depth gauge.
Movement: Manufactrue La Joux-Perret G100, Freq./h 28.800 (4Hz), 24 jewels, 68h power reserve
Crystal: Sapphire glass, perforated for passage of water to depth gauge.
Water resistance: 50 ATM / 500 m / 1696 ft
Bracelet: Steel link in stainless steel (316L) with diver extension, band width 22 mm. Micro adjustment in buckle. Two-tone rubber band available.
Warranty: 5 years
ABOUT FROGDIVER 44
The new Frogdiver project began in the autumn of 2019. It is an ambitious project and initiative between MALM and members of the 44th Mine Clearance Division, who form part of the 4th Naval Warfare Flotilla in the Swedish Navy. The objective of this project is to develop a robust and reliable diver watch completely based on the experience and requirements of the Swedish frogmen.
The name FROGDIVER 44 is a nod to the term “Frogman”, the common name for naval clearance divers. Frogmen were introduced in the Swedish Navy during the 1950’s under the management of captain Rolf Hamilton. Their main mission was to clear underwater mines and ammunition which had been left behind after the end of WW2. Today, their operations are much larger and wider than that with several international missions to clear mines on land and underwater.
Number 44 suggests both the diameter of the watch case as well as the 44th Mine Clearance Division participating in this project. The FROGDIVER 44 is, apart from the Swiss automatic movements från Sellita and Manufacture La Joux-Perret (MLJP), designed and developed from scratch by MALM and the divers. The watch combines details from both previous and new scuba gear equipment together with inspiration from the diver’s organization and their heritage. All details are interpreted in high-performance components and functions with shapes, colours and materials chosen to withstand the tough conditions of the cold and dark Swedish waters.
ANALOG DEPTH GAUGE
Capillary tubes are well-known analogue depth meters in the world of diving. They are based on the principle of the Boyle-Mariotte’s law, have no moving parts and consist of a simple tube that is opened in one end and sealed in the other. While diving and descending, water enters the tube and creates an air bubble that moves inside the tube when pressure changes. The current depth is read by observing the position of the air bubble on a provided scale.
A capillary tube and an analogue depth gauge like this have been installed and milled into the solid steel of the FROGDIVER watch case. The water enters through a drilled hole in the sapphire crystal and leads into the tube starting at 9 o'clock position. While descending in water, the pressure changes and the air bubble is pushed through the tube clockwise. Connected to the tube, a scale shows the current depth that the diver is at. This simple yet innovative solution has been developed by MALM in consultation with the Swedish Frogmen.
DIAL & HANDS
The dial in FROGDIVER uses several features to enable the best possible readability in both bright and dark waters. The dark background creates a clear contrast against the white second-indices in luminescent blue. 12 pieces of raised indices have been applied with BGW9 and supply bridges for 12 pieces of custom-made tritium tubes which illuminate independently of any light sources.
In the watch dial there is a thin, circular mirror that enhances the readability of the second and minute hand. The mirror also reflects the lume effect of the tritium tubes and the BGW9 printed indices in dark environments. The inspiration for this feature comes from one of the gauges of a recompression chamber called “Gullan”, used when the diver is affected by diving sickness.
When using your MALM watch, the watch will be exposed to different types of stresses and strains. Like many other advanced watches and gauges, a very large number of components share a very limited amount of space and like other valuable items you should treat your MALM watch with great care. It is important that you do not expose the watch to unnecessary impacts, chemicals, solvents, hazardous gases, magnetic fields or very cold or hot environments.
The timepiece should be serviced and maintained regularly to work properly. Such services should be performed by MALM or a professional watchmaker for warranty terms to apply. We offer many service options for your watch, from repairing and replacing worn components, pressure testing, resealing, cleaning to polishing, engraving and change dials and more.
The watch comes in an exclusive, custom made wooden watch box with premium, suede interior. It both protects the watch and offers a perfect display. Inside the box you will also find:
- Strap tool
- Warranty & Certificate of Authenticity card
- Manual
- Watch cloth