Article: Milus at We Love Watches 2026
Milus at We Love Watches 2026
An original life barter kit and the history behind the Archimèdes’ two crowns sparked conversations at our stand in Paris.
On 9 and 10 October 2026, Milus joined We Love Watches at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris. Alongside our current collections, we brought something that cannot be fully conveyed through a product photograph: objects and stories that explain where our watches come from.
For us, these encounters are one of the most rewarding reasons to exhibit. A detail catches someone’s attention, a question follows, and a watch becomes the starting point for discovering a piece of horological history.
Snow Star : an original piece of its history
At our stand, visitors could discover one of the original life barter kits associated with the Milus Snow Star.
These kits were supplied to US Navy pilots and contained valuable objects that could be exchanged for assistance in an emergency. Among those objects was a Milus Snow Star watch.
Presenting an original kit alongside today’s collection gave this history a tangible presence. Visitors could see the connection between a watch available today and the very different circumstances in which its predecessor had a practical role.
It also offers another perspective on what makes a watch valuable. Beyond telling the time, a watch could be recognised, trusted and exchanged when its owner needed help.
Today, the Snow Star carries that history into a contemporary collection. Its restrained design and distinctive red date give it an identity of its own, while the Supreme 904 pairs a 39 mm case with a matching bracelet in 904L steel.
Why do so many vintage dive watches have two crowns?
The two crowns of the Archimèdes caught the attention of many visitors, opening up conversations about the history behind this distinctive design.
Visitors recognised a familiar silhouette, sometimes associating it with another watchmaking house. The explanation takes us back to the specialist suppliers who helped shape Swiss watchmaking.
During the 1950s, Swiss case manufacturer Ervin Piquerez S.A., known as EPSA, developed and patented its Super Compressor case technology. Its cases subsequently appeared in watches from several brands.
Watch brands could source cases from the same specialist manufacturer, then give their watches their own character through the choice of dial, hands, movement and other details. Shared case designs explain why certain vintage watches bear such a strong family resemblance.
Milus was part of that history. The original Archimèdes Super Compressor belongs to this generation of diving watches, and it provides the foundation for the collection we make today.
A closer look at Milus
These were the stories we enjoyed sharing in Paris: the purpose behind an object, the engineering behind a shape, and the connections between our archives and our current collections.
We believe knowing that background makes choosing a watch more interesting. It helps you understand the details you are looking at and the history you will carry on your wrist.
Thank you to everyone who visited our stand at We Love Watches. If these stories have sparked a question about Milus, our team would be pleased to continue the conversation.
