New Seadweller...record setting interest?

[moby33]

Originally Posted by Flywheel

That sounds exactly right. I enjoy this forum, but I've often thought that it, in no way, represents the vast majority of the buyers who walk into an AD on a daily basis. I think the SD43 will be a huge hit.

This mentality always fascinates me. I've read pretty much every post about the SD43 (and been part of most of the discussions since I'm a huge fan already) and I contend the vast majority of people give this watch a . Yes there are going to be the haters (always are) and there are aspects that people don't like, but from my weeks of reading comments about the watch on TRF, I would say in general it has one of the strongest followings I've seen of a completely redesigned/new watch.

I clearly remember when the DSSD originally came out how there was a LOT more haters and that was a pretty clear cut 50/50 (if not 60/40) haters to lovers split. I don't think the new SD43 is even close...the vast majority actually dig it. After the initial few days of "WHYYYYYY does a SD have a Cyclops?????" died down, it appears to have a pretty strong reception.

Cyclops and slightly bigger case aside...there's no denying the sleeker, better proportioned lugs, upgraded bracelet & 3235 movement are hard to scoff at...regardless of if you are planning on buying it or not, I think it's hard to deny it's a good looking watch. That wasn't the case when the DSSD came out & I think THEN TRF members weren't representing the general public opinion too well.

[cataby]

Originally Posted by cdm765

AD is not going to address the point that this watch is an absolute dog.

don't think so

[moby33]

Originally Posted by Dyim

Have to look at grey prices to gauge popularity.

Bingo! There's your true answer on popularity question. Unfortunately...we won't really know that for at least a year (if not longer) to allow for more to hit the market via grey and the novelty of "newness" wears off.

[direwolf]

Great shots. I wonder what size wrist he has? I am assuming under 7 inches and rather round. The 43mm appears a bit too big for his wrist.

[j-watch]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Great shots. I wonder what size wrist he has? I am assuming under 7 inches and rather round. The 43mm appears a bit too big for his wrist.

Really! Initially, I thought it looked small considering it's a 43mm watch. I'd have to say it looks just right, and a traditional 40 would like very small on his wrist. I'm guessing his wrist is well in access of 7"

Cheers

Joe

[speedmaster73]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Record setting? I seriously doubt it is getting more interest than the blnr did upon release, never mind the 116500.

or the dssd-b for that matter.....

[samson66]

Originally Posted by lexconsult

It's big, it's thick, heavy and the main feature is absolutely useless for ordinary joe. I'm happy with Sub.

Couldn't disagree more. These pictures are fantastic and this watch looks perfect for the wearer's wrist. I'm guessing his wrist is in the 7.5" range which would nearly match mine. If this watch looks like this on my wrist I'm absolutely getting it.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by rjstuf001

It's very simple, really. Joe Public likes bigger watches and likes to be noticed. He thinks the Sub is a bit too small, so he looks at the SD4K. Nope, it's exactly like the Sub, only a bit thicker and it doesn't have that bubble on the glass that screams ROLEX! and it's more expensive. He looks at the DSSD. Nope, it's fat, heavy, awkward and unbalanced, and again, no bubble on the glass. In comes the SD43. It looks just like the Sub, but bigger! It's well-balanced, it has that bubble on the glass and a touch of red on the dial. Joe Public is happy and pays the extra $$$ for it. The end.

In other words, the SD43 will be a success. The key to understanding this is to get out of our TRF bubble, disregard the history of the SD, and put ourselves in a "normal" person's shoes.

Agree that your post does apply to some people who just like bigger watches and want the Rolex "bubble", however in addition to these people there are folks like me to have larger wrists and find the Sub/GMT line to look a little small on their wrists and would like something a bit larger. As for the cyclops, I don't care that it identifies it as a Rolex. I care that I can easily SEE the date! It's not just for the aesthetics, it serves a useful purpose that I utilize several times a day. I think the date on the old SD's looks too small. I love the magnification the cyclops provides and wouldn't consider a Rolex without it.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by samson66

Couldn't disagree more. These pictures are fantastic and this watch looks perfect for the wearer's wrist. I'm guessing his wrist is in the 7.5" range which would nearly match mine. If this watch looks like this on my wrist I'm absolutely getting it.

I think this gentleman may have a massive wrist...or the SD lugs are much shorter than the Sub's. Here's my exactly 7.5 inch wrist with a 116610LN. Either way I'd be surprised to hear about so much early interest from non-WIS, heck I'd guess most of those haven't even heard of this piece yet. Perhaps self-driven demand perception from the AD?

[Wingman244]

Originally Posted by lexconsult

It's big, it's thick, heavy and the main feature is absolutely useless for ordinary joe. I'm happy with Sub.

I am in love... Dang that is a good looking watch. I will buy one - some day.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by 904VT

I think this gentleman may have a massive wrist...or the SD lugs are much shorter than the Sub's. Here's my exactly 7.5 inch wrist with a 116610LN. Either way I'd be surprised to hear about so much early interest from non-WIS, heck I'd guess most of those haven't even heard of this piece yet. Perhaps self-driven demand perception from the AD?

Interesting. I see what you mean. I really wish when these sites posting photos of the new Sea Dweller being worn they would indicate the wrist measurement. Well I think for all of us who want one, we would be best served by trying one on before purchasing for sure.

[Wingman244]

Originally Posted by 904VT

I think this gentleman may have a massive wrist...or the SD lugs are much shorter than the Sub's. Here's my exactly 7.5 inch wrist with a 116610LN. Either way I'd be surprised to hear about so much early interest from non-WIS, heck I'd guess most of those haven't even heard of this piece yet. Perhaps self-driven demand perception from the AD?

Ugh... Optical Distortion! Smart phone wrist shots are totally distorted and your hand looks much smaller in the picture than in real life - making the watch seem much bigger than it would in real life. Here is my example, look how much distortion in the picture from just the near to the far side of the watch. In real life you eyes don't show that type of perspective compression because we have 2 eyes set about 3 inches apart. Wrist shots should be banned - our brains fool us into thinking this picture is OK, it is not.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by Sublovin

Had a very interesting conversation with an AD in Dallas yesterday while traveling. He said he has been in the business for over 20 years and the new SD announcement has generated more calls and questions than any other Rolex offering he has seen!
He said he already has 15 pre-paid and it far exceeds his wait list for the new Daytona.
We went on to discuss the things that some collectors here don't like such as cyclops and case size.
He sounded pretty in tune with the watch forum chatter and was quick to remind that collectors here represent a very small minority, and that 99%of the general buying public couldn't care less about the history, the cyclops, or the red print...
They want larger watches and the old SD "looked like a sub but for $2,000 more...nobody wanted it".
Interesting conversation....
I really like the new SD (not currently on a list), but it is funny how we caught up in the tiny nuances that the overwhelming majority don't give a thought to.

not shocked, everything is bigger in texas.

[phillycheez]

I know how it will wear.

Bigger than a SD4k and smaller than a dssd.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[direwolf]

I guess what I was referring to is how much the lugs seemed to be lifted up off his wrist. I had read this new SD's lugs were more down turned than the the SD 4000's. Again, it could be that his wrist is a bit rounder than others.

[Jakko]

Originally Posted by 904VT

I think this gentleman may have a massive wrist...or the SD lugs are much shorter than the Sub's. Here's my exactly 7.5 inch wrist with a 116610LN. Either way I'd be surprised to hear about so much early interest from non-WIS, heck I'd guess most of those haven't even heard of this piece yet. Perhaps self-driven demand perception from the AD?

Actually this gentleman is Percy from r-l-x.de an he has an 18.5 cm wrist.

I was pondering the same question and asked him...

[904VT]

Originally Posted by Jakko

Actually this gentleman is Percy from r-l-x.de an he has an 18.5 cm wrist.

I was pondering the same question and asked him...

Interesting. Thanks for sharing


So is this new SD, just using the old SD4K maxi case itself and adding a new bracelet and movement, along with larger dial and bezel??

[Hamish]

be the best response ever.....

Originally Posted by samson66

Agree that your post does apply to some people who just like bigger watches and want the Rolex "bubble", however in addition to these people there are folks like me to have larger wrists and find the Sub/GMT line to look a little small on their wrists and would like something a bit larger. As for the cyclops, I don't care that it identifies it as a Rolex. I care that I can easily SEE the date! It's not just for the aesthetics, it serves a useful purpose that I utilize several times a day. I think the date on the old SD's looks too small. I love the magnification the cyclops provides and wouldn't consider a Rolex without it.

[Mr Crown]

Originally Posted by Sublovin

Had a very interesting conversation with an AD in Dallas yesterday while traveling. He said he has been in the business for over 20 years and the new SD announcement has generated more calls and questions than any other Rolex offering he has seen!
He said he already has 15 pre-paid and it far exceeds his wait list for the new Daytona.
We went on to discuss the things that some collectors here don't like such as cyclops and case size.
He sounded pretty in tune with the watch forum chatter and was quick to remind that collectors here represent a very small minority, and that 99%of the general buying public couldn't care less about the history, the cyclops, or the red print...
They want larger watches and the old SD "looked like a sub but for $2,000 more...nobody wanted it".
Interesting conversation....
I really like the new SD (not currently on a list), but it is funny how we caught up in the tiny nuances that the overwhelming majority don't give a thought to.

Similar story here in the U.K., Massive interest ..I rang 5 ad, s the day after details came out and most had 15 plus on the waiting lists, many just fobbed me off saying the lists were too long and wouldn't take details, ceramic Daytona was bad but this seems worse , given up as a bad job probably 10 years away

[Mazuri1]

It's funny, us with larger wrists have just been waiting for this fellow. A sub with its outsized case but 40mm dial is just compromise because it's an "icon" but in reality it's a compromise and the ceramic bezel just accentuate the small dial. Same with the last sea dweller, it just look ridiculous on my wrist. In the same way the dssd always was awkward because the size was good but the bracelet was wrong. This is just perfect. I tried to join a list at 1 minute after the announcement and my sd said, no list, but you're a vip (just hate the connotation) at our store and you'll get one of the first but here's an invitation to an evening to just make sure it fits you. This seems a really mature approach and completely at odds with what I read here... Am I just falling for bs?

[faz]

Originally Posted by rjstuf001

It's very simple, really. Joe Public likes bigger watches and likes to be noticed. He thinks the Sub is a bit too small, so he looks at the SD4K. Nope, it's exactly like the Sub, only a bit thicker and it doesn't have that bubble on the glass that screams ROLEX! and it's more expensive. He looks at the DSSD. Nope, it's fat, heavy, awkward and unbalanced, and again, no bubble on the glass. In comes the SD43. It looks just like the Sub, but bigger! It's well-balanced, it has that bubble on the glass and a touch of red on the dial. Joe Public is happy and pays the extra $$$ for it. The end.

In other words, the SD43 will be a success. The key to understanding this is to get out of our TRF bubble, disregard the history of the SD, and put ourselves in a "normal" person's shoes.

My thoughts exactly. And I being a newb, am a lot closer to that Joe Public guy than to any experienced WIS, and this would be my reason to buy the new SD.

[faz]

Originally Posted by lexconsult

It's big, it's thick, heavy and the main feature is absolutely useless for ordinary joe. I'm happy with Sub.

Nice pics. Makes me really want one now!

[TickTockChuck]

I think the Submariner will still be ruler of the sea, they just had to do something with the Sea-Dweller as it was the lesser known cousin and they decided to roll the dice and go bold. It will initially be a decent seller since it addresses a certain segment plus any anniversary edition usually is popular. Cheers!

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by Airborne

It's too expensive for those just 'looking to buy a Sports Rolex'. The Submariner will still be the watch of choice.

Agreed.

[regaltrojan]

I'll pass on the new Sea Dweller.

[NothingToSeeHere]

Brilliant move by Rolex. They're beginning to realize we're not all 5'6

[baymax]

I think the watch looks good.

Its a great alternative to guys with larger wrists. Not everyone can wear skinny jeans.

[moby33]

Originally Posted by baymax

Not everyone can wear skinny jeans.

Everyone can...but those of us with functioning eyes, a mirror and a brain choose not to.

[kboy2379]

The new Sea-Dweller is a gorgeous looking watch! I can't wait to try one on.

[dadonn2]

Originally Posted by Mazuri1

It's funny, us with larger wrists have just been waiting for this fellow. A sub with its outsized case but 40mm dial is just compromise because it's an "icon" but in reality it's a compromise and the ceramic bezel just accentuate the small dial. Same with the last sea dweller, it just look ridiculous on my wrist. In the same way the dssd always was awkward because the size was good but the bracelet was wrong. This is just perfect

X2! The blnr looked tiny on my wrist. Everyone who knew me and a thing about watches agreed. I'd have a friend try it on and it came to my life. My wrists are about 7.75" but I have long arms (38"+ sleeve) and big hands. A submariner looked fine and appeared quite understated for a sizable watch. I couldn't get with the DSSD because of the bracelet. And I tried. Don't know why or how this wasn't a big deal to people who bought the watch. To me, this SD43 is a home run.