Their basic functions were long ago usurped by computers, but then again, the dive watch was made to withstand harsh conditions. This is the story of how an obsolete category became one of the most enduringly popular, turning the fortunes of many Swiss watch marques along the way.

We dive into the story behind the affordable Swiss marque's formidable rise.

The time computer. The "TV dial" Speedmaster. The most disco watch ever made. Look beyond James Bond and NASA to a time of experiments in "pure design."