New wrist gear-non rolex smurf? From Perrelet

[Georg]

Alright, so I wimped out. The wife found out how much a Rolex was going to cost, and ignore wasn't pretty. I went with the Perrelet diver in blue on an SS bracelet. It's a 2012 OSIB from a gray market dealer on the web.

The Good

Excellent value on a beautiful diver, good to 777 meters with GMT and date complications. Everyone talks about the quality case construct and amazing bracelet. Bracelet has glide lock even.

The Bad

The bezel isn't ceramic, is bi-directional, and feels less than top-notch.

The Ugly

Perrelet is owned by Festina and the movement is a customized soprod(quasi in-house).

The value is substantial. List price that only a fool would pay was $5200. They had it on the site for $24000, and I found a coupon to get it for $1700. Considering its on par with the Submariner in many ways, I'm quite pleased.

Sorry for the poor quality iPad photos. I'm not allowed to use my wife's DSLR.

[Georg]

Another photo with clasp opened

[T. Ferguson]

Looks good on you and wear it in the best of health but in all honesty I'd hardly call it a non-Rolex Smurf. To my mind it's not even a diver but a GMT, and it isn't white gold.

BTW, you meant $2,400, not $24,000, right?

The Blue dial/bezel Omega PO or Seamaster 300M would be closer, but they're not WG either.

[Georg]

Correction: $2400 not $24K.

[Georg]

You originate an excellent question: what makes a diver, a diver?

And oh yeah, the title is misleading. I was thinking mostly about the coloring when I composed the OP. Not trying to say I picked up a WG watch, when I didn't.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by Georg

You originate an excellent question: what makes a diver, a diver?

And oh yeah, the title is misleading. I was thinking mostly about the coloring when I composed the OP. Not trying to say I picked up a WG watch, when I didn't.

NP, I didn't think you were representing a WG watch, just making the point that WG is a big part of what makes the 116619 a "Smurf".

To me a diver is a piece that is designed for the function of diving. I see WR as only a portion of that function. But without a unidirectional ET bezel I personally just don't consider a watch to be in that category.

[Georg]

That makes sense. It's sort of a hybrid GMT-diver. It has a helium rel valve(unnecessary? Yes), so it's more than just WR. But, I would agree it's more GMT than diver.

I have to ask myself, how many divers ever actually touch seawater?

[Longhorn]

Maybe that explains the name of the watch? Meant to be worn on a seacraft and not submerged by divers!