Do you think Rolex have come up against a brick wall?

[chris russell]

Here's something to think about: Stainless steel has a yield strength of about 400 Mpa, around 60,000 psi. Titanium has a yield strength of around 800 Mpa, roughly 120,000 psi; that's why they use it for the back cover of the Deepsea.

Annealed silicon, otoh, has a yield strength of roughly 8 Gpa, or about 1.2 million psi; ten times as much as titanium.

Sapphire can withstand about 2 Gpa/300,000psi.

High-S glass has a yield strength of around 75 Gpa, or as much as 11,250,000 psi.

Thus, Rolex could make a diver's watch out of annealed silicon, (not expensive stuff), with a GLASS crystal, (possibly laminated with a thin layer of sapphire to prevent scratches), that could have a depth rating of 12,000 Meters/39,000 feet, (!), without being any thicker or bulkier than the Sea Dweller 16600. THAT'S what I'm looking for.

[dsio]

12,000 Meters is a bit deeper than Challenger Deep, but then, how deep are the oceans on Europa? Its an ice moon with water under its crust, and is a market that has long been neglected by the pointlessly deep dive-watch making community. Its got to be at least twice as deep as Challenger Deep.

[Rolex Junky]

I would buy a DLC Sub or DSSD made by Rolex in a heartbeat!

[Christiaan]

JJ, are you talking about tech advancements such as breguet, Patek, and Lange with the use of "new" matierals for hairsprings, longer power reserves, lighter baseplates, etc...?

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by Dan2010

The Sub C needs a red minute hand and red "Submariner".

Those are excellent ideas.

[DanP]

Hi JJ . Id love to see a nice ol power reserve or a moonphase. Two things i think Rolex will never do now however.

[Rolexsd4000]

1-Would like to see full AR coating underneath the crystals.
2-Bracelet even width to the clasp.
3-DS quick adjustable clasp on the SubC

[sandybax]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Rolex already have the 43 mm DSSD, so I don't see them pumping up the Sub from its present 40 to 44 mm..............and then have it competing against the DSSD for size.

JJ

Yeah, but DSSD is too damn thick. I want a bigger watch, but that brick just does not sit right on my hand and I am not a small guy. 44mm Sub is the way to go!!!

[Paracentesis]

Originally Posted by Mockingbird

I really think that when things like the JLC Mater Compressor Extreme LAB, which is basically a watch completely made out of concept materials and completely abandons lubrication etc, exist Rolex is miles behind and has a ways to go.

+1. Rolex aren't anywhere close to any "wall". Check out Richard Mille, et. al.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Christiaan

JJ, are you talking about tech advancements such as breguet, Patek, and Lange with the use of "new" matierals for hairsprings, longer power reserves, lighter baseplates, etc...?

Possibly, Christiaan, but I was more interested in knowing what the "Think Tanks" at Rolex would be thinking in terms of making further improvements to watches like the new Sub-C, GMT-IIC, Daytona, Milgauss, etc. where I see no room for improvement.

JJ