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Horological Meandering

Speaking of dive watches...

 

I'd like to purvey the board's opinion on two questions that's been bothering me.

1. Are modern high-end mechanical dive watches jewelry first and engineered wonders second? I've read with interest the various pressure tests conducted by watch magazines reporting catastrophic failure of the crystal on several high-priced divers, among them an IWC and Breitling before the spec-ed depth is reached. I can accept gasket leaks (and other modes of qc related failure) but a shattered crystal points to poor engineering or a deliberate attempt to inflate performance figures for additional tool-cool points. Are they even tested to said depths if samples submitted for high-profile tests fail in that manner?

2. I don't understand the one-upism of 1000m WR yesterday and 3900m today. It's a brainless exercise to increase dimensions for ever-increasing depths. After all, the one difference between a low pressure pipe and and high-pressure one is wall thickness. Costs more and weighs a ton but there're no secrets, and certainly no need for patented "ring lock". I'll be impressed if one can keep to the same form factor with increased WR. That's engineering. To my mind, anything more than 300m is just marketing.

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20 Comments view entire thread 

Divers Don't Wear Dive Watches

 
By: eryck.su : October 7th, 2008-22:18
No intention to offend anybody. This question has been bothering me for a while. Most divers today (at least the ones I know - I am a scuba diver myself) do not wear dive watches to go diving these days. They wear dive computers that tell them everything ... 

i agree in a way

 
By: Cookies : October 7th, 2008-23:10
Most people who wear luxury dive watches aren't professional divers in the 1st place. Compare the function of a modern digital dive watch like suunto and a modern luxury dive watch like a rolex DSD, which has more functions? A suunto has a depth gauge, th... 

Thanks for this post, and for your question, Eryck

 
By: amanico : October 7th, 2008-23:40
I think that the same question can be asked about Mechanical ( and expensive ) watches against Quartz ( and very affordable ) watches. Why do we buy Mechanical watches, when Quartz Watches offer us the same, I mean ..The Hour? Why even buying a awatch whe... 

Then new questions are raised.

 
By: BDLJ : October 7th, 2008-23:47
How many here have been diving? Where did you get to enjoy that fantastic sport? And What was on your wrist?

Personnaly, BLDJ, the only thing into what I dive is

 
By: amanico : October 7th, 2008-23:55
Madness of watches..LMAO. But I love to live with my watches, and when I go to the Sea, I bring with me My rolex Explorer II, an IWC Cousteau Diver, or now, my Triple 6 Rolex SD. I wouldn't swim with my PP World Time of course, nor with my Vintage Divers,... 

don't be surprised

 
By: Cookies : October 8th, 2008-00:28
i only dive with my seiko 5. Rocks, corals, and boat hulls can really damage a beautiful rolex.

my doctor wears a Sunto computer & a SMP300 Qtz as a safety backup

 
By: G99 : October 8th, 2008-02:20
mechanical dive watches have nothing whatsoever to do with diving. they are all about lifestyle. people like the look of them and buy them to wear as a leisure watch or in a lot of cases an every day every occasion watch. i used to wear a vintage Tudor Su... 

As a diver...

 
By: JediWatchFool : October 8th, 2008-08:31
...I've worn my Submariner Date on every dive. Even when I've had a dive computer on as well. As a watch enthusiast, it's kinda cool to know that one of my favourite timepieces can hack it when it comes to my hobby. Do I baby my Sub? Hell no. Have people ... 

Sub

 
By: BDLJ : October 8th, 2008-17:09
That's cool and the best use of a Sub. You still use dive tables? They take too much timeout of the dive! Still, I admire that. I wouldn't trust myself to be able to comprehend them below about 30m. Then again, I'm lucky to have very experienced dive budd... 

Agree on some points, disagree on others.

 
By: loopsandsounds : October 8th, 2008-10:18
Let me preface this reply that I am an experienced recreational diver. 1. COMPUTERS are not necessary or required dive equipment! A timer (watch with bezel), compass, and my charts are all I need for a dive besides my SCUBA kit. 2. Even if you use a compu... 

Speaking of dive watches...

 
By: vandice : October 9th, 2008-14:25
I'd like to purvey the board's opinion on two questions that's been bothering me. 1. Are modern high-end mechanical dive watches jewelry first and engineered wonders second? I've read with interest the various pressure tests conducted by watch magazines r...