Did Rolex lose it's soul with the 43mm Sea Dweller?

[subdateII]

The professional line has always evolved driven by innovation. Here is my grip with this version:

1. The increase in size from 40mm did not come with any increase in performance. The watch is still rated for 4,000 feet.

2. I don't understand the addition of the two tone version in 2019 for such a technically capable watch.

[Rashid.bk]

Yes, 40mm was classic and perfect.
And no, the 43mm is just as beautiful. The only concern I really see is that the case back protrudes a little and can be a bit uncomfortable. If I honestly liked it before, I still like it today.

[GreatScott]

I was not really digging that the dial was the exact same size, they just increased the bezel. So, no enhancement to legibility was made.

As for losing a soul, not sure inanimate objects have one.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[037]

Originally Posted by GreatScott

I was not really digging that the dial was the exact same size, they just increased the bezel. So, no enhancement to legibility was made.

The dial is 1mm larger in diameter, minute hand is longer and the hour hand is wider/larger overall. And, the date is easier to read with a cyclops. That's four enhancements to legibility, despite being incremental.

I still prefer the 40mm myself.

[fsprow]

I love this watch and it has done 30+ hours of diving. Bezel is easy to turn and the cyclops makes it easy to tell the date -- not that this is a really essential piece of information underwater!! The divers extension works perfectly with my wet suit when it is used.

I imagine the addition of a two tone version was to sell more watches, which of course is their business.

[subdateII]

Originally Posted by GreatScott

As for losing a soul, not sure inanimate objects have one.

Published by Rolex:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vooDhbcZSYA

At the end you can hear this "...a philosophy that embues every timepiece... his spirit lives on it is perpetual"

[33JS]

Not with the stainless, but they sold their soul on the bi-metal horror.

[subdateII]

Originally Posted by fsprow

I love this watch and it has done 30+ hours of diving. Bezel is easy to turn and the cyclops makes it easy to tell the date -- not that this is a really essential piece of information underwater!! The divers extension works perfectly with my wet suit when it is used.

Thank you! Great to here that these are actually used for diving. So the increase in size from 40mm is better for underwater use/readability?

[subdateII]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Yes, 40mm was classic and perfect.
And no, the 43mm is just as beautiful. The only concern I really see is that the case back protrudes a little and can be a bit uncomfortable. If I honestly liked it before, I still like it today.

I had the same reasoning but then the way the watch sits on wrist became a deal breaker for me.There a couple of models where the increase in size actually made me lose interest even though the makers preserved the lineage, aesthetics and quality:

- 43 mm Rolex SD vs 40mm
- 41 mm 15400 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak vs 39mm of the 15300/15202

[abozz]

I LOVE Rolex because are badass/elegant sport watches with tool features and a lifespan realiability, and my grail is the SD43, the best diver ever made (I.M. may be not humble O.).

My answer is: NO


The SD43 is the best representation of the modern Rolex soul.

[petay993]

The bi metal SD 43 is misguided nonsense, the worst kind of premium fashion bling, a watch that has sold it's soul and heritage. The only thing worse would be a bi metal DSSD and whilst that would be clearly insane, this is nearly as bad.

My AD showed me one a few weeks ago with an excited face, I told them to put back in the deepest part of their safe.

Someone bought it an hour later, crazy times!

[Noonan]

What's different between a TT SD and a full gold Sub?? The Sub is still a tool/diver watch as well.

[33JS]

Originally Posted by Noonan

What's different between a TT SD and a full gold Sub?? The Sub is still a tool/diver watch as well.

No, the SD is a diver's tool-watch, the sub is jewellery worn snorkelling...

[33JS]

Originally Posted by petay993

The bi metal SD 43 is misguided nonsense, the worst kind of premium fashion bling, a watch that has sold it's soul and heritage. The only thing worse would be a bi metal DSSD and whilst that would be clearly insane, this is nearly as bad.

My AD showed me one a few weeks ago with an excited face, I told them to put back in the deepest part of their safe.

Someone bought it an hour later, crazy times!

I so agree!!

[Noonan]

Originally Posted by 33JS

No, the SD is a diver's tool-watch, the sub is jewellery worn snorkelling...

Every Rolex is jewelry worn during whatever activity the buyer engages in.

Can't tell if by jest but saying the Sub is jewelry and not a diver watch is funny.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by subdateII

Thank you! Great to here that these are actually used for diving. So the increase in size from 40mm is better for underwater use/readability?

As you go down in depth, multiple factors start coming into play. Loss of light resulting in reduced visibility, nitrogen narcosis, even stupid things like your mask fogging up. Although it’s a very marginal increase in size, every bit helps I suppose. I prefer an actual dive computer as opposed to a mechanical watch, but it’s nice to have one as a backup. In which case I would pick the one with the largest diameter. Fashion wise however, people complain about their “tool watch” size and demand smaller watches...

[othertbone]

I think the TT is nice. Not my cup of tea, but nice looking.

[scubadds]

Originally Posted by fsprow

I love this watch and it has done 30+ hours of diving. Bezel is easy to turn and the cyclops makes it easy to tell the date -- not that this is a really essential piece of information underwater!! The divers extension works perfectly with my wet suit when it is used.

I imagine the addition of a two tone version was to sell more watches, which of course is their business.

Curious if you also use a dive computer when you dive?

I stopped wearing my sub 15 years ago; but have also have had a brand new dive computer die on me mid-dive;
Now I use two computers; but year-year the batteries become issues.....

[locutus49]

I'm not sure animate objects have them either.

Originally Posted by GreatScott

I was not really digging that the dial was the exact same size, they just increased the bezel. So, no enhancement to legibility was made.

As for losing a soul, not sure inanimate objects have one.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[SearChart]

You're about 11 years late mate, 2008 is when they lost their soul with the 44mm monster DSSD

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by scubadds

Curious if you also use a dive computer when you dive?

I stopped wearing my sub 15 years ago; but have also have had a brand new dive computer die on me mid-dive;
Now I use two computers; but year-year the batteries become issues.....

Yes I have an Oceanic dive computer but put it on my opposite wrist only when going deep or long. Just got back from the Maldives. Phenomenal.

Best, Frank


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[Waxtactic]

1) SD is too big for my chickenwrist so I cant comment
2) The new one is a throwback to the original watches handed out to those who dove into places like the Mariana Trench back in the day
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ro...03-introducing

[Brew]

Can a business that's in the business to sell watches lose its soul for making product changes to sell more watches? Nope.

[AK797]

Rolex have to produce new variations of their watches every year, esp in this mad Social Media age that loves them off, so this is inevitable, esp as they will not be making new watch models very often.

[brandrea]

It's an abomination

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[subdateII]

Originally Posted by Brew

Can a business that's in the business to sell watches lose its soul for making product changes to sell more watches? Nope.

Is it a business?

https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-bl...on-profit.html

[scubadds]

Originally Posted by petay993

The bi metal SD 43 is misguided nonsense, the worst kind of premium fashion bling, a watch that has sold it's soul and heritage. The only thing worse would be a bi metal DSSD and whilst that would be clearly insane, this is nearly as bad.

My AD showed me one a few weeks ago with an excited face, I told them to put back in the deepest part of their safe.

Someone bought it an hour later, crazy times!

I can see where you are coming from as a tool perspective....along the lines of Saddam Hussein's gold "tools" shown as war trophies.

However, as I would gather most SD43's don't see heavy dive use...I can visualize someone that likes to dive (or did at one point in their life), likes big watches and wants a bit of gold. (the gold part is subjective and also age-relevant; I wear a platinum wedding band, but yellow gold is popular to some people)
As the expression in the car industry "there is an arse for every seat" applies here "there is a wrist for every watch"

I saw one in the case at my AD, tried it on for size; I can see it being worn and looking good for some of the "old Salts" in our coastal community;

[Brew]

Originally Posted by subdateII

Is it a business?

https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-bl...on-profit.html

It's not an eggplant.

Of course it's a business in the business of making and selling watches. It may have a curious corporate structure to minimize taxes, but that doesn't turn the operation into a church.

[crazycarlitos]

First of all, I m confused by ur title.
Are u saying Rolex lost its soul ? Or are u saying sea dweller lost its soul ?

Secondly, I didn’t realize companies and/or watches have souls..

Lastly, I find it that odd u have a problem with pretty-much-a-new-design sea-dweller (New size, new bracelet, new movement, etc) when Rolex has been re-issuing Daytona and gmt with nothing more than ceramic bezel and color changes...
Did u have same problem about sub-c “losing soul” when Rolex put the sub into a new Super-case and maxi dial with no other changes? Or did the ceramic bezel make it “innovative” enough for u to say “sub has soul”

[GoingPlaces]

I really like the TT, would make great beach watch.