Any ROLEXes retrieved from the Titanic?

[RolexDivers]

Eventhough Rolex as a company was in its infancy, they were indeed catering to the high society at that time ---So it is possible, there might be a passenger wearing a Rolex, when Titanic went down -- I am just curious to know if a ROLEX was ever brought up from the depths?

[gwalker]

Well considering Rolex as a company was only a few years old in 1912 and the oyster wasn't released until 1926 I'd say with almost certainty, no. Very few watches were made between the company being founded and the Titanic sinking. Even if there was a Rolex on the ship I don't think anything would be left after 100 years in salt water.


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[MP5]

Geraldo is on it.

[kilyung]

Even if they found some remnant of a Rolex, I think it'd be morally questionable to pilfer from some poor soul resting at the bottom of the sea.

[bayerische]

I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be much left of a 904L case, let alone the materials that was available at the time.

[MP5]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Even if they found some remnant of a Rolex, I think it'd be morally questionable to pilfer from some poor soul resting at the bottom of the sea.

What? Not only would they do that they would make a huge production on it in Prime Time with armed guards and a cursed mummy with representatives from Van Cleef & Arples

[waspy1]

And I'm very sure 904L was not even conceived of then!

[MP5]

Originally Posted by waspy1

And I'm very sure 904L was not even conceived of then!

Nope, or else that Titanic might not have split so tragically.

[Watchonisto]

Originally Posted by bayerische

I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be much left of a 904L case, let alone the materials that was available at the time.

x2

[Elementa]

Originally Posted by MP5

Geraldo is on it.

[TARDIS]

Got me thinking how a DSSD would have faired at that depth.

The wreck of the Titanic remains on the seabed, gradually disintegrating at a depth of 12,415 feet (3,784 m).

[NYC6]

Todays state of the art S/S and sapphire is a far cry from steel plate of yesteryear. I have not doubt the watch would still be there is pretty good shape visually, needing only a good scrubbing to remove accumualated decades of life matter. I dont think the internals would survive intact due to gasket deterioration. Of course its only my opinion and pure speculation.

[joe100]

Of all the artifacts from the salvage expeditions I've seen in person I don't remember any W&D watches.

Being an amateur Titanic historian, I have had the privilege of meeting and talking with some if the big experts and authors. Titanic is a fascinating story not just for the sinking but the construction as well. The naval arms race taking place between Britain and Germany also translated to their liners. Titanic and her sisters never had a shot at the transatlantic speed record (the Blue Riband) but they were more like stately English hotels set at sea. The public didn't center on battleships and fleets but the liners were always in the news and always capturing public attention.

I suggest picking up a book or two on the race for the Blue Riband. It's an excellent story spanning the late 19th century to 1952 when the fastest ship ever built, SS United States, captured the BR or the last time. SS United States achieved 38.3 knots or around. 44mph...at 990 feet long and displacing 53,000 tons!


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[GeoGio Greece]

I have mentioned in another post that I have seen in a Titanic exhibition ( I think it was in London ), a gold watch case, and only that, of a watch retrieved from the depths.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by gwalker

Well considering Rolex as a company was only a few years old in 1912 and the oyster wasn't released until 1926 I'd say with almost certainty, no. Very few watches were made between the company being founded and the Titanic sinking. Even if there was a Rolex on the ship I don't think anything would be left after 100 years in salt water.


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Sorry to disagree. Metals do not rust that much under water - not enough oxygen. For example a steel pile does not rust below the water line.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by mrbill2mrbill2

Sorry to disagree. Metals do not rust that much under water - not enough oxygen. For example a steel pile does not rust below the water line.

Well the metal eating bacteria that lives in salt water will do the trick. It's bacteria that makes shipwrecks basically dissolve. It's been suggested that in as little as 25 years the Titanic will be nothing more than a rust stain on the bottom of the Atlantic. Studies have shown these microorganisms are breaking the ship down at a very rapid pace.

[FeelingTheBlues]

There is an old tale of a Rolex that almost made it to the Titanic. Its original owner, who had bought it brand new a few days ago, wanted to bring it with him until his wife convinced him otherwise...































































Bringing your Rolex on the Titanic!? Are you crazy? And then you're going to tell me you want to shower and sleep with it!

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by gwalker

Well the metal eating bacteria that lives in salt water will do the trick. It's bacteria that makes shipwrecks basically dissolve. It's been suggested that in as little as 25 years the Titanic will be nothing more than a rust stain on the bottom of the Atlantic. Studies have shown these microorganisms are breaking the ship down at a very rapid pace.

That is true for steel. The only thing similar that I am aware of with stainless steel is microbiologicaly induced corrosion (MIC) and it needs oxgen. The waste product produced by the criters corrodes stainless steel.

I'm not here to argue, just discuss.

Yes my example was steel piles. Maybe not the best example.

[mwasheikh]

If any watch was Salvaged for the titanic regardless of it being a rolex or not I'm sure it would be placed in a museum due to its historical significance

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by MP5

Geraldo is on it.

Love this!

[pol]

I was at the Titanic museum in Branson MO and saw something that was kind of chilling. A pocket watch was on display which had been taken from a recovered body. Titanic sank at 0220 and this watch had stopped just afterwards at 0235.

[77T]

Originally Posted by RolexDivers

Eventhough Rolex as a company was in its infancy, they were indeed catering to the high society at that time ---So it is possible, there might be a passenger wearing a Rolex, when Titanic went down -- I am just curious to know if a ROLEX was ever brought up from the depths?

Highly doubt any Rolex made it to the bottom.

If any watches with Rolex on the dial were aboard the Titanic, then they surely were with the 1st Class passengers.

The survival rate amongst 1st Class was about 62% - more of a chance that any Rolex survived aboard a lifeboat. Either way, they wouldn't have been "wearing a Rolex"; rather they'd be carrying it. Wristwatches didn't become popular until WWI.

[RolexDivers]

Originally Posted by pol

I was at the Titanic museum in Branson MO and saw something that was kind of chilling. A pocket watch was on display which had been taken from a recovered body. Titanic sank at 0220 and this watch had stopped just afterwards at 0235.

Enough about waterproofness of watches of that time!