Horological Meandering - The 100° C. challenge

The 100° C. challenge

Almost a year ago, a friend of mine has bought a nice watch for a special occasion: an IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition "Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau". Yesterday, I've asked him how about his new, long desired toy. Of course he's very happy with it, but he told me that the watch that still gets more wrist time is his trustworthy Rolex Submariner. I don't know exactly which reference he wears, but I think it's from the nineties. He added that his Submariner is simply irreplaceable in robustness and reliability. And finally let me speechless when he asked me a question I wasn't able to reply:

"Which watch can easily withstand the sudden jump in temperature from a ski run to a steam room and vice versa during an entire ski holiday, for ten years or more, without any special attention nor servicing?"

Well, sadly I yet didn't find an answer, since I'm quite sure that no watch can face a similar treatment remaining flawless. If it's true, it's the first time I have to recognize the Rolex superiority: it's easy to win having no competition. Still, I can't understand: hundreds of years of horological marvels built by dozens of Manufacture and no one is able to compete in the reliability field, leaving unchartered waters (and tons of $$$) to Rolex?

Let's discuss...

Ciao,

Elio

💰1867 Marketplace Listings for Rolex›

Not positive about this statement

By: Ares501 - Mr Green : April 2nd, 2016-01:36

that only Rolex can withstand such diverse conditions remaining functionality and precision. Breitling Seiko Omega comes to mind I think that more fair statement would be that largest number of Rolex units can do it but then again the produce largest numb...

Let's imagine that...

By: heartbreaker : April 4th, 2016-11:44

Thank you Damjan. Let's imagine that a single car maker, only one, could sell a very large number of really reliable cars, designed to withstand the worst condition, for decades. While all of the other car makers continue proposing only limited numbers of...

When I look around

By: Ares501 - Mr Green : April 4th, 2016-23:40

I see horological world to be just like that Cheers D

Is it perception or reality?

By: mkvc : April 2nd, 2016-01:54

I'm not questioning the durability of Rolex; rather whether there are other watches that are equally strong. On perception, Rolex's advertising is almost entirely oriented toward toughness (although usually subtly so), which gives it an advantage. A compa...

I'd also imagine that most Prospex watches from Seiko could do that...

By: KMII : April 2nd, 2016-03:36

And certainly some others, too. This is not to detract from the robustness of Rolex at all and the watches are certainly well made - marketing alone could not keep the brand going if the products did not deliver...

Prospex?

By: heartbreaker : April 4th, 2016-11:45

Thank you KMII. Curiously, the claim of Prospex watches is "Built for the challenge". Yup! It's the same term I've used in my post. Ciao, Elio

Their dive watches are nothing if not robust

By: KMII : April 4th, 2016-13:15

Especially the more expensive ones

The perfect marketing&technology recipe?

By: heartbreaker : April 4th, 2016-11:44

Thank you mkvc. Of course I admit the power of marketing in general and the Rolex one in particular. Moreover, if I'm not wrong, Mr. Hans Wilsdorf was a marketing forerunner genius. The Rolex technologies you have cited are indeed very consistent. I don't...

The JLC Extreme Lab One can do it. [nt]

By: amanico : April 2nd, 2016-05:22

How about a JLC Extreme Lab after 40 years and 8 servicings,

By: mkvc : April 2nd, 2016-13:27

most of which were done by qualified independent watchmakers? The Rolex will still be going strong.

Due to its lack of lubrification, I guess that no service will be needed for a good 20 years. [nt]

By: amanico : April 2nd, 2016-13:55

Very cute and exceptional watch, but...

By: heartbreaker : April 4th, 2016-11:45

Thank you Nicolas. The EL1 is for sure a very cute and exceptional watch, but It's a limited edition piece, not a current production one, and a Rolex Submariner can be bought at a fraction price. Ciao, Elio

That's for sure, but the EL I is much more complex and sophisticated, don't you think? [nt]

By: amanico : April 4th, 2016-11:49

Right, some sort of "watch of the future". And we need more similar proposal. [nt]

By: heartbreaker : April 4th, 2016-12:05

And one of the rare watches which can stand so big differences in temperatures! [nt]

By: amanico : April 4th, 2016-12:12

Absolutely no problem for any mechanical movement ....

By: Marcus Hanke : April 4th, 2016-00:27

... that is in a working condition. You should keep in mind that a watch that is worn on the wrist does not change its internal temperature according to the environmental temperature, but is mainly tempered by the human body temperature. Swiss watch exper...

Thank you very much Marcus!

By: heartbreaker : April 4th, 2016-11:47

Dear Marcus, I knew I could trust on PuristSPro to have the right answer! I indeed don't know any other source for fair and objective information. And having "information" is different than having "opinion". And unfortunately I often find the thoughts sha...

Thanks a lot, dear Elio, for the compliments!

By: Marcus Hanke : April 5th, 2016-00:18

Yes, information is much more difficult to find than opinion, further complicated by the fact that the latter most often comes disguised as the former ... Thomas Ernst was very active as a writer on horology in earlier years, having been a regular contrib...