Rolex Submariner
- Thread starter iyakonboats
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As an estate jeweller I have bought, worn and sold MANY vintage Rolex'sand Omegas... would barely trust them washing my hands never mind diving.
Unless the model was specific to diving (not just waterproof) and has been pressure serviced by a qualified watchmaker (not necessarily at an authorized Rolex dealer... just a damn good watchmaker with the right equipment) I wouldn't dream of diving any older watch. As soon as someone has opened the case it needs to be re-certified... and if you're buying a vintage Rolex I would hope that the dealer opens it for you so you can visually verify the movement. I will not buy or sell a a watch unless I open it.
I have had more modern Submariners and Seamasters and have swum with them after my watchmaker gave them the OK... but would only dive with a new dive watch. Currently I have the Citizen Promaster Depth Watch (added benefit of a depth gauge as a analog backup).
Promaster Depth Meter | Citizen
CT Sean
Contributor
I actually have 3 one mine - two bungee loops to hold it properly and a third less tight bungee (but not dangly) in the middle to work like a lanyard
drainaps
Registered
This reminds me: a friend of mine once spent hours in a market in Beijing or Shanghai or wherever it was, looking for a fake Rolex with Chinese characters on its face. His explanation: every one has a fake Rolex that says "rolex", I'm the only one with a fake Rolex that says "fake".
dmaziuk, you'd be surprised at how few fake Rolexes in China are actually worn by Chinese , and at how much money people actually have in places such as Shanghai. I've been living there almost 15 years, I know watches, I know what I'm talking about. That PP was real
. Anyway, off-topic.I agree 300% with what Canada Dan says. Many people (not divers, I hope) buy Submariners and similar midmarket watches and stop to properly service them because it's costly. After 10 years the watch is probably as water tight as your One Dollar G-Shock knock-off of the day. Again, get a Seiko SKX 007 (250 USD) or a Seiko Prospex (500-1,500 USD) and knock yourself out. A brand new one is cheaper than an official Rolex service.
dmaziuk, you'd be surprised at how few fake Rolexes in China are actually worn by Chinese , and at how much money people actually have in places such as Shanghai. I've been living there almost 15 years, I know watches, I know what I'm talking about. That PP was real
Nope, I'll not be surprised, nor did I ever doubt that one was real. It was just an amusing story you reminded me of. Totally OT.
M-Cameron
Contributor
So if you are just looking for a watch to wear diving, I would buy a $50 gshock or a budget seiko.... honestly even the cheapest quartz watch is going to keep more accurate time than a Rolex.... and if you lose it or it gets damaged, it’s no big loss.
if you are buying a watch for a status symbol, or simply because you want a damn nice watch....but also want to dive in it, then sure get the Rolex. There’s nothing wrong with that.
if you want something in between the two, ide look at the omega seamaster, Breitling super ocean, the Tag aqua racer, or even some of the seiko prospect line.
You don’t NEED a Rolex, as I said a $50 Casio will be a better performing watch...... but if you WANT a Rolex, it’s not gonna fail you, and if you decide to sell it, you honestly won’t lose much money.
if you are buying a watch for a status symbol, or simply because you want a damn nice watch....but also want to dive in it, then sure get the Rolex. There’s nothing wrong with that.
if you want something in between the two, ide look at the omega seamaster, Breitling super ocean, the Tag aqua racer, or even some of the seiko prospect line.
You don’t NEED a Rolex, as I said a $50 Casio will be a better performing watch...... but if you WANT a Rolex, it’s not gonna fail you, and if you decide to sell it, you honestly won’t lose much money.
My buddy has one and dives with it. It needed to be repaired for rust damage inside the case. It wasn't covered by Tag.
drainaps
Registered
Rust in stainless steel dive watches is quite frequent. Older Rolex (316 stainless) rusts / pits between the bracelet and the case or between the caseback and the case, this is why people in the know would usually not buy vintage Rolex dive watches that have been actually taken diving (with the notable exception of DRSDs and Comex 5513/1665/16660s but that's another story).
I have a Suunto D6i (my daughter's current dive watch) that I regularly take the strap off after each diving trip to clean the case thoroughly with a soft brush and soapy wate. First year or so I didn't and the case and small metal parts in the strap were rusting between the case and the strap. Cleaning the watch in fresh water after each dive isn't enough. Seawater is highly corrosive.
Luckily the Teric has a polycarbonate (plastic) case, one more reason I like it. No searching for rust.
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