HOT NEWS: Rolex present us soon the new, 45 mm DeepSea Challenger, 11 km Waterproof..

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Piccard & Walsh cabled Rolex & told them the watch was working......I wonder if Cameron called Bienne?????

No word about that, but we do know that Cameron was tweeting, although exactly how that was accomplished hasn't been revealed.

The Rolex site says that the watch set a record for the deepest dive.

I'd say that it must have passed with flying colors.

http://www.rolex.com/en#/world-of-ro...psea-challenge

[Smoker]

Originally Posted by Pep04

Call me crazy, but I would like to try one on. I would buy it simply because of the engineering genius behind this watch.

Most (if not all) of the Submariner owners and DSSD will never use it at the depths that these were designed for, so why is this any different? We buy watches that tickle our fancy not the specified design.

I fail to see the negative responses to this watch. No one, and I mean NO ONE, can admit that it is not an impressive watch. Recreational divers wearing a Rolex will not dive any deeper than 100'. I have been a diver since 1996 and I can tell you that I have never dove recreationally deeper than 85'. The amount of air in the cylinder and the compression of the lungs (make you breath faster using more air) make deep dives very short. Not to mention that there is not much to see past 60' ( it keeps you in the 6-8 pressure bar meaning you breathe 6-8 times faster than on the surface) save for a wreck or wall dive. Diving too deep increases your chances of nitrogen narcosis (loss of senses and movement) if you are not thoroughly trained. I was certified by the Navy Seals and the deepest we were trained at was 150' (thats over 10 times faster than you breathe on the surface) and that was using Nitrox and two tanks with a mixture of Helium in order to stay down longer. Anything more and you were in a different program. There is simply nothing to do deeper other than research or exploration of a different nature.

My point is, that we buy what we like. So, if you like the watch, buy it. If you don't, then well, don't.

Well said!

I really don’t understand the Rolex Deep Sea Challenge bashing that is coming from some posters on this thread.

I personally think this watch is freaking beautiful and I am freaking impressed with the Rolex engineers and every one at Rolex responsible for getting this watch into a prototype. Also for the Rolex engineers making it even more impressive by keeping the deep dive champion as a mechanical watch.

I even salute the Rolex marketing people that had the foresight to make dam sure that it was a Rolex that once again went to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

It really was cool to see a Rolex and on a Rolex band on the wrist of that Robot arm.

Also a high five goes out to James Cameron for doing this freaking impressive dive with his cash and spare time rather than buying a sports team or chasing supermodels (not that there is anything wrong with that) or whatever.

Like Deepsea Challenge bashing on this thread there were dozens of posts bashing James Cameron on the BBC thread coving the dive. I really don’t get what makes some people tick.

I have been diving since the 1972 when at 14 I bought my scuba gear mail order with money from cutting lawns from Berry’s in New York. The deepest I have ever been is 270 feet with a single 72 doing a bounce dive off a wall in the Caymans as a teenager that thought he was immortal. Hey in the 1970s everyone was doing dives like that but since the mid 80s I haven’t been below about 150 feet on air.

So dive watches for decades have been way over engineered for sport divers. In Practical terms since they first appeared dive watches have been tested to ridiculous depths so why the freak out over 35 or 36 thousand feet?

Who cares when it is so freaking cool!

I have a Deep Sea on my wrist as a type this and love it. I have no doubt I will love the Deepsea Challenge if it ever goes into production because if this watch ever becomes available I will own one.

And dollars to donuts I will be wearing it at my desk as I am prop trading even though I am not 36,000 feet under the sea.

Congratulations to Rolex; great to see you have your mojo back and suck it Swiss Military Watches (even though I really do like their watches which are also cool).

All the best to the Rolex Form crew.

Warmest Regards, Smoker

[Smoker]

I really don’t understand the Rolex Deep Sea Challenge bashing that is coming from some posters on this thread.

I personally think this watch is freaking beautiful and I am freaking impressed with the Rolex engineers and every one at Rolex responsible for getting this watch into a prototype. Also for the Rolex engineers making it even more impressive by keeping the deep dive champion as a mechanical watch.

I even salute the Rolex marketing people that had the foresight to make dam sure that it was a Rolex that once again went to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

It really was cool to see a Rolex and on a Rolex band on the wrist of that Robot arm.

Also a high five goes out to James Cameron for doing this freaking impressive dive with his cash and spare time rather than buying a sports team or chasing supermodels (not that there is anything wrong with that) or whatever.

Like Deepsea Challenge bashing on this thread there were dozens of posts bashing James Cameron on the BBC thread coving the dive. I really don’t get what makes some people tick.

I have been diving since the 1972 when at 14 I bought my scuba gear mail order with money from cutting lawns from Berry’s in New York. The deepest I have ever been is 270 feet with a single 72 doing a bounce dive off a wall in the Caymans as a teenager that thought he was immortal. Hey in the 1970s everyone was doing dives like that but since the mid 80s I haven’t been below about 160 feet on air.

So dive watches for decades have been way over engineered for sport divers. In Practical terms since them first appeared dive watches have been tested to a ridiculous depth so why the freak out over 35 or 36 thousand feet?

Who cares when it is so freaking cool!

I have a Deep Sea on my wrist as a type this and love it. I have no doubt I will love the Deepsea Challenge if it ever goes into production because if this watch ever becomes available I will own one.

And dollars to donuts I will be wearing it at my desk as I am trading derivatives even though I am not 36,000 feet under the sea.

Congratulations to Rolex; great to see you have your mojo back and suck it Swiss Military Watches (even though I really do like their watches which are also cool).

All the best to the Rolex Forum crew.

Warmest Regards, Smoker

[Subfiend]

Originally Posted by Smoker

I really don’t understand the Rolex Deep Sea Challenge bashing that is coming from some posters on this thread.

I personally think this watch is freaking beautiful and I am freaking impressed with the Rolex engineers and every one at Rolex responsible for getting this watch into a prototype. Also for the Rolex engineers making it even more impressive by keeping the deep dive champion as a mechanical watch.

I even salute the Rolex marketing people that had the foresight to make dam sure that it was a Rolex that once again went to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

It really was cool to see a Rolex and on a Rolex band on the wrist of that Robot arm.

Also a high five goes out to James Cameron for doing this freaking impressive dive with his cash and spare time rather than buying a sports team or chasing supermodels (not that there is anything wrong with that) or whatever.

Like Deepsea Challenge bashing on this thread there were dozens of posts bashing James Cameron on the BBC thread coving the dive. I really don’t get what makes some people tick.

I have been diving since the 1972 when at 14 I bought my scuba gear mail order with money from cutting lawns from Berry’s in New York. The deepest I have ever been is 270 feet with a single 72 doing a bounce dive off a wall in the Caymans as a teenager that thought he was immortal. Hey in the 1970s everyone was doing dives like that but since the mid 80s I haven’t been below about 160 feet on air.

So dive watches for decades have been way over engineered for sport divers. In Practical terms since them first appeared dive watches have been tested to a ridiculous depth so why the freak out over 35 or 36 thousand feet?

Who cares when it is so freaking cool!

I have a Deep Sea on my wrist as a type this and love it. I have no doubt I will love the Deepsea Challenge if it ever goes into production because if this watch ever becomes available I will own one.

And dollars to donuts I will be wearing it at my desk as I am trading derivatives even though I am not 36,000 feet under the sea.

Congratulations to Rolex; great to see you have your mojo back and suck it Swiss Military Watches (even though I really do like their watches which are also cool).

All the best to the Rolex Forum crew.

Warmest Regards, Smoker

x2

[Minutehand]

I read that the robotic arm malfunctioned during the actual dive. Perhaps the Rolex strapped to the arm weighed too much......

Btw, loved the event and the Rolex involvement

[accutronman]

Wonder if the watch was certified to ISO 6425 which would make it good to a whopping 15,000m?

[Dr. Robert]

Was the watch working after the dive????????
I can't find any info??????

[Boothroyd]

Intact! Not sure about running, or whether seals held however. Photos at link attached:

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/

[Varoom]

Awesome!

i think ill stick with my deepsea though......i could be tempted if it does get released to the public.

[Boothroyd]

Dr. Robert, Cameron's DSSD shows 7:20 local time as he poses while getting out of sub. I can't tell from the refraction what time it is on Deepsea in photos...if only he had turned it a bit, we could tell whether it was still running. My sense is, through heavy refraction, that watch is fine. I think that's the best we will be able to do short of a detailed press release.

I got a publication while at AD's on Monday..like a book, called "Perpetual Spirit" by Rolex with history of models. (Trieste, Diving watch history, Exploration watch history, etc.).

Net is, inside front cover is the teaser, and I quote, "Available on App Store--Rolex Perpetual Spirit for IPad, with exclusive videos". I bet the first details are going to come out on that medium.

Best I can do! Hope that helps.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Was the watch working after the dive????????
I can't find any info??????

I've been searching my a$$ off and can't find anything. I'm almost wondering if it leaked. From what I've read I can't find actually how deep the watch was tested too before the dive. It probably made it just fine but you wouldve thought Rolex would show the watch workng as the Sub was put back on the ship. I know they showed the Deep Sea Special working right after the Trieste dive. Maybe it just hasnt' been released yet but there is really no reason to wait unless something bad happened. I have magnified all the post dive pics I can find. None show the watch worth a crap.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by gwalker

I've been searching my a$$ off and can't find anything. I'm almost wondering if it leaked. From what I've read I can't find actually how deep the watch was tested too before the dive. It probably made it just fine but you wouldve thought Rolex would show the watch workng as the Sub was put back on the ship. I know they showed the Deep Sea Special working right after the Trieste dive. Maybe it just hasnt' been released yet but there is really no reason to wait unless something bad happened. I have magnified all the post dive pics I can find. None show the watch worth a crap.

I checked online too, I've found no info as of a few minutes ago.......I would think a "plug" would be instantly given upon surfacing that the watch was working fine.....I saw Rolex & the coronet painted on his submersible craft.....you'd think the sponsor would want to "plug" the special watch....as the new 14060 sub is coming out soon
& was there 1 watch on outside or 2??????

[psv]

Relax lads, Rolex will put together something overproduced and glittzy in good time. They are hardly the people that do real-time and/or social media impression well, so it will take some time.

There were two watches involved: 1) Deepsea Challenge on the outside, on the robotics arm, and 2) the DSSD that Jim Cameron had on his wrist.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by psv

Relax lads, Rolex will put together something overproduced and glittzy in good time. They are hardly the people that do real-time and/or social media impression well, so it will take some time.

There were two watches involved: 1) Deepsea Challenge on the outside, on the robotics arm, and 2) the DSSD that Jim Cameron had on his wrist.

O.K. I'll give Rolex the benefit of the doubt.......because the cable that was sent in 1960......."Happy to announce that your watch works as well at 11,000 meters as it does on the surface"....Piccard wrote in a telegram addressed several days after the dive to Rolex HQ in Geneva.

.......but it is the 21st century & positive advertising is key....we have internet speed........bah humbug, I'm asking my AD for my deposit on that watch back

[joeh]

What would be the service costs on this watch?

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by joeh

What would be the service costs on this watch?

quite a few semolians.......

[GradyPhilpott]

The only clue that I can find is on the Rolex website where it says that the watch set the record for the deepest dive.

I think that this is typical of Rolex to take their sweet time to examine the watch and then to make a full report of the findings or not. With Rolex, you never know.

They may be making a blockbuster video about the results as we discuss this.

For now, there is no reason for me to doubt that the watch performed as expected.

You can bet that whatever happened, Rolex will make the very best of the event.

http://www.rolex.com/en#/world-of-ro...psea-challenge

[threemonkeys]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

How could anyone possibly be offended by an opinion of a watch?

Are you, dear sir, implying that it's 'just a watch'?

Well, then, bully for you.

Carry on. That is all.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by psv

Relax lads, Rolex will put together something overproduced and glittzy in good time. They are hardly the people that do real-time and/or social media impression well, so it will take some time.

There were two watches involved: 1) Deepsea Challenge on the outside, on the robotics arm, and 2) the DSSD that Jim Cameron had on his wrist.

You mean glittzy like the Fed and Tiger videos of the Sky Dweller. They were so good I bet James Camron did them..... NOT....

The watch Cameron was wearing has nothing to do with what anyone is interested with. He could've been wearing a PP 5002 and it would've been fine. A little release from Rolex in the internet age would prevent any rumors getting going. All I'm saying. Doesn't take a whole lot. Heck even just one of the guys on the boat saying the watch was fine would suffice. I just find it a little strange that not 1 word was said about it after the dive.

[Minutehand]

Originally Posted by gwalker

I've been searching my a$$ off and can't find anything. I'm almost wondering if it leaked. From what I've read I can't find actually how deep the watch was tested too before the dive. It probably made it just fine but you wouldve thought Rolex would show the watch workng as the Sub was put back on the ship. I know they showed the Deep Sea Special working right after the Trieste dive. Maybe it just hasnt' been released yet but there is really no reason to wait unless something bad happened. I have magnified all the post dive pics I can find. None show the watch worth a crap.

I am guessing here that the watch went down on the unmanned test dive. I have not seen any confirmation on this, but we have seen footage of the watch strapped to the robotic arm during test dives and we know of an unmanned dive going all the way down.

Also we know the watch was factory tested to 15,000 meters in a pressure machine (excuse layman's term).

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Minutehand

...we have seen footage of the watch strapped to the robotic arm during test dives and we know of an unmanned dive going all the way down. [emphasis mine]

Do you have a link to this footage?

[Dr. Robert]

According to National Geographic, James Cameron's trip in the Deepsea Challenger submarine took him 35,756 feet (10,898 meters) deep. He traveled where only two men have ever gone, to the Challenger Deep valley of the Mariana Trench (the deepest part of the ocean).

"Falling through darkness--that's something that a robot can't describe," Cameron said. "Most importantly, though, is the significance of pushing the boundaries of where humans can go, what they can see and how they can interpret it." Source: Yahoo

This was the first journey to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 50 years. In 1960, two explorers, Jacques Piccard and Lt. Don Walsh, descended in their submarine, the Bathyscaphe Trieste, to break the all-time human depth record - 35,813 feet (12,138 meters). During the dive, the Rolex Deep Sea special was strapped to the outside of the sub. Needless to say, the Rolex and the explorers both survived the journey intact.

Fifty years later, James Cameron descended to the bottom of the Marina Trench, with the Rolex Deepsea Challenge strapped to the outside of the sub. The new watch was specifically created for this dive, and is rated to 12,000 meters (39,370) - it made it down and back with no problem.

READ MORE


I got this from "Professional Watch"....the article dated 3/27/12........it appeasr to me James Cameron is a bit dramatic holding this info....Piccard & Walsh checked the watch upon surfacing......they said, "cool, it's working" & cabled Rolex & told them it worked. I was lucky to be at the Rolex shop in South Coast Plaza on 1/22/2010 when Don Walsh
gave a talk, the watch was there, ticking along, there was a big scale model of the Trieste.....he was very cool, his talk very exciting & informative....he was wearing a pepsi GMT.....w/ lug holes.
Bah humbug, the old guys did it right.....plus the Trieste looks much cooler than Cameron's torpedo.
(I may be prejudiced, my dad was born in Trieste.)

[Minutehand]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Do you have a link to this footage?

The video is on www.deepseachallenge.com. I tried to find it now, but got the message "the video is currently unavailable".

Please also see the Deepsea Challenge item on the site "Jake's Rolex World". If you scroll some way down to the heading "Rolex DEEPSEA CHALLENGE Attached to Robotic Arm on DEEPSEA CHALLENGER - Rolex Probably Already Set New All-Time Depth Record" you will see frame grabs of that video of a test dive showing the Rolex strapped to the robotic arm.

Apologies for being able to provide a live link.

[AJAX]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

According to National Geographic, James Cameron's trip in the Deepsea Challenger submarine took him 35,756 feet (10,898 meters) deep. He traveled where only two men have ever gone, to the Challenger Deep valley of the Mariana Trench (the deepest part of the ocean).

"Falling through darkness--that's something that a robot can't describe," Cameron said. "Most importantly, though, is the significance of pushing the boundaries of where humans can go, what they can see and how they can interpret it." Source: Yahoo

This was the first journey to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 50 years. In 1960, two explorers, Jacques Piccard and Lt. Don Walsh, descended in their submarine, the Bathyscaphe Trieste, to break the all-time human depth record - 35,813 feet (12,138 meters). During the dive, the Rolex Deep Sea special was strapped to the outside of the sub. Needless to say, the Rolex and the explorers both survived the journey intact.

Fifty years later, James Cameron descended to the bottom of the Marina Trench, with the Rolex Deepsea Challenge strapped to the outside of the sub. The new watch was specifically created for this dive, and is rated to 12,000 meters (39,370) - it made it down and back with no problem.

READ MORE


I got this from "Professional Watch"....the article dated 3/27/12........it appeasr to me James Cameron is a bit dramatic holding this info....Piccard & Walsh checked the watch upon surfacing......they said, "cool, it's working" & cabled Rolex & told them it worked. I was lucky to be at the Rolex shop in South Coast Plaza on 1/22/2010 when Don Walsh
gave a talk, the watch was there, ticking along, there was a big scale model of the Trieste.....he was very cool, his talk very exciting & informative....he was wearing a pepsi GMT.....w/ lug holes.
Bah humbug, the old guys did it right.....plus the Trieste looks much cooler than Cameron's torpedo.
(I may be prejudiced, my dad was born in Trieste.)

Cool picture and story!

[joeh]

Rich guys like JC sure know how to play with their money.

[aeon888]

Originally Posted by joeh

Rich guys like JC sure know how to play with their money.

I doubt if he ever even spent a penny in the expedition. I bet National Geographic, Rolex and some other big companies like Virgin Group sponsored the event and maybe even paid JC a big lump sum of cash.

[psv]

Originally Posted by joeh

Rich guys like JC sure know how to play with their money.

Not really a fair statement. Jim Cameron has a long standing connection to the seas, having made movies like the Abyss etc. I read somewhere he had over 70 dives in submarine vessels before going down this one. That is a lot.

I got nothing but kudos and respect for him spending his time and money on science and exploration.

[joeh]

I am wondering if the lume worked after getting down to 11km below?

[GradyPhilpott]

I went to the NG website and watched this video.



Someone posted this picture before with a comical caption about the size of the watch.

After watching the video, I realized that this video footage showing the watch attached to the robotic arm is actually taken at the bottom of the trench.

Here is a screen capture:



Everything seems to be A-OK in this shot.

[witch watch]

Originally Posted by horseco

The real accomplishment would be making a watch that's normal sized that can do this... Then I would be impressed... Making the watch the dimensions of two cans of tuna fish stacked on top of each other is just silly...

Obviously this was not possible otherwise they'd have done so perhaps in the next deep dive in 'x' years they'll have perfected manufacturing learned from this dive and be able to produce a more pleasing to the eye watch.