Sherpa Partners with a Popular Watch Podcast for their Latest Release

While recovering from COVID, I recently watched a documentary I had heard about while listening to The Grey NATO Podcast. 14 Peaks: Nothing is impossible is the story of Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja, who summited all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in only seven months. The previous record was 7 years! Nims’ goal was to highlight the Nepalese climbing community. To this day, climbing these peaks cannot be done without the incredible endurance, courage, strength, and sheer determination of the Sherpas. 

It is these Sherpas that inspired Enicar in the 1950s to create dive watches that could not only withstand the depths at sea but get even more water-resistant the deeper you dove. Thus, the super-compressor was born. Sadly, Enicar did not survive the 1970s quartz crisis. Thankfully, all was not lost, as in 2019 Martin Klocke of Germany revived the Sherpa and created a brand around this model. Just like its namesake, these are proper super-compressors. Featuring many of the original features combined with modern technology and know-how across two models, the Ultradive and OPS. Now, a new version of the latter is available thanks to a collaboration with a popular watch podcast. 

Sherpa has teamed up with The Real Time Show podcast, hosted by industry insiders Alon Ben Joseph and Rob Nudds, to create a sandblasted stainless-steel version of the OPS model (it was available only in polished steel or a black DLC finish previously). The result is a beautiful satin finished watch that will please a lot of collectors. This version screams “tool” and in my opinion, completes the collection, as there is now an option for every taste. It features the same 40mm diameter as the original, and also shares its 49.3mm lug to lug measurement and 13.5mm case height.

Unlike most collaborations, this model will not be a limited edition. Instead, it will become a core collection piece which will remain in the catalog indefinitely. This decision was made to counteract what Sherpa describes as today’s FOMO culture that has inspired other limited editions and, in the eyes of some, damaged the hobby. Furthermore, it will be void of unnecessary branding. Instead, they have tastefully chosen to etch the podcasts initials on the chest plate of the dive helmet engraved on the case back. 

One last interesting and important note about Sherpa Watches. Because they have chosen this name and profit from the Sherpa’s reputation, they believe they have a moral obligation to give back. They donate a percentage of every watch sold to a good cause. For their first two models they have chosen “Sagarmatha next” in the Khumbu region and the Nepal Himalaya Sherpa foundation in Kathmandu, both supporting different projects in the Sherpa regions of Nepal.

The new Sherpa × TRTS OPS model is available for order now through the website www.sherpawatches.com or by sending an email enquiry directly to [email protected]. Pricing is $6,400.