LIP Nautic 666 Automatic Manufacture R26 black dial black tropic strap 39 mm

The Nautic 666 Legacy Reimagined

When LIP launched the Nautic 666 in the late 1960s, the Besançon-based manufacture created one of the boldest dive watches of its era. Designed for the North American market, it featured an intriguing inscription on its dial: “666 feet.” While the number may have amused—or unsettled—the superstitious, it simply referred to the watch’s true water resistance of 200 meters. Thus was born its legendary nickname: the “Devil Diver.”

At a time when few brands dared such unconventional communication, Fred Lip—visionary and iconoclast—chose to proudly display this depth on the dial, while others concealed it out of superstition. This daring decision left a lasting mark on the brand’s history and cemented the Nautic 666 as a legend among French tool watches.

Produced in small numbers at the time, the Nautic 666 has since become one of the most sought-after models by collectors. Its balance between functional design, adventurous spirit, and strong visual identity makes it a milestone in French watchmaking history.

In 2025, LIP revives this icon as a true manufacture dive watch. The Nautic 666 R26 retains the lines of the historical model while adopting modern technical standards: a 39 mm 316L stainless steel case, unidirectional bezel, and above all, the LIP R26 automatic calibre — the first in-house movement designed and assembled in Besançon since the days of Fred Lip.

Designed for those who face the depths with style, this reissue preserves the pioneering spirit and boldness of its ancestor while paying tribute to the ingenuity of French watchmaking.

Design & Diving Functionality

The Nautic 666 R26 ref. 676050 reinterprets the iconic lines of the original diver with contemporary precision and refinement.
Its 39 mm 316L stainless steel case strikes the perfect balance between vintage proportions and modern comfort. The unidirectional rotating bezel, fitted with a black anodized aluminum insert, allows divers to track immersion times with accuracy while reinforcing the utilitarian character of the piece.

Beneath a slightly domed sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating, the black sunray-finished dial reveals subtle reflections and exceptional clarity. The hands and indexes, coated with green Super-LumiNova, ensure instant legibility even in the darkest conditions — a nod to the readability of underwater instruments.
The overall design exudes coherence and functionality, staying true to LIP’s heritage of purposeful, professional tool watches.

Equipped with a screw-down crown and a sealed caseback, the Nautic 666 offers 200 meters (20 ATM) of water resistance, affirming its status as a genuine dive watch. The transparent caseback reveals the beautifully finished LIP R26 manufacture movement, laser-engraved and signed with the LIP logo — a proud reminder of its French origin.

For comfort, this version is fitted with a black “Tropic” rubber strap, soft and durable, designed for extended wear in aquatic environments.
Its perforated texture, emblematic of 1960s dive watches, ensures excellent hold while facilitating water drainage.
Secured by a stainless steel pin buckle, this technical yet vintage strap completes the sporty and elegant silhouette of the Nautic 666, equally at ease on land or beneath the waves.

Each Nautic 666 R26 is individually numbered, embodying LIP’s philosophy: combining the refined elegance of French design with uncompromising technical performance.

The LIP R26 Movement

Determined to restore LIP to its former prestige, the management of the Besançon manufacture embarked on an ambitious project: to once again design a true French-made calibre, worthy of Fred Lip’s legacy.
After three years of meticulous work in collaboration with the engineering school SupMicroTech in Besançon, the LIP R26 calibre was born — the first automatic movement designed and assembled in Besançon in over half a century.

Developed through reverse engineering of a proven mechanical base, the R26 was completely reimagined: new blueprints, redesigned components, micrometric adjustments, and refined finishing.
Over 70% of its production cost is French, with most of its components sourced from the Besançon region — a rare achievement at this price point, almost unique in modern watchmaking.

Measuring 26 mm in diameter and 5.92 mm thick, the movement features a laser-decorated gear bridge and oscillating weight that integrate the LIP logo directly into their architecture.
This moving decoration, both playful and hypnotic, comes alive with each motion of the wrist, revealing the brand’s signature as if by magic.
Hexagonal screws — a subtle nod to French engineering — further underline the national pride behind the project.

Beating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), the R26 offers a 42-hour power reserve and an accuracy between –5 and +10 seconds per day.
It also features a hacking seconds mechanism and a quick-set date function for precise, intuitive time-setting.
Each piece is meticulously assembled and regulated by LIP’s master watchmakers, ensuring a standard of execution worthy of the world’s finest manufactures.