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

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by BT1985

I’m going to start overtly replicating all your wrist shots now.....


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Well done my friend

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[gunhose]

When rolex made the SD43 they should have increased the depth rating along side the larger case !!!! Its a fashion watch pure and simple. Just like the subc. The DS is the only purposely proportioned Rolex dive watch left.

[HogwldFLTR]

FWIW, Dive watches are at large, large. A 43mm watch is nothing exceptional for a dive watch except in the case of the Rolex tradition of 40mm watches which were large when they were introduced. A 43mm watch would work great for me as a dive watch over a wet suit. Not so good for me on a bare wrist as an every day watch. It would be too large. Two questions come to mind if you're wrist is relatively small like mine: 1) Do you dive, and 2) can you afford to have an oversized watch set aside for that purpose alone. In my case the answer is no to both so the 43mm watch won't work for me.

As for losing its soul, that happened when Rolex starting focusing on selling jewelry instead of tools; about the time the folded clasp disappeared.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by gunhose

When rolex made the SD43 they should have increased the depth rating along side the larger case !!!! Its a fashion watch pure and simple. Just like the subc. The DS is the only purposely proportioned Rolex dive watch left.

Are you going to keep rolling out this "fashion watch" crap every time you see an SD43 thread?

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Nikrnic

After reading hundreds of posts about SeaDwellers my mind is made up. When I buy my first and most likely only one version it will be the SD4K

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You should probably base your decision on having seen, handled and tried on these watches.

And not on the often misguided opinions of the hundreds who have presented such opinions on forums such as this, yet not even seen either watch let alone put one on their wrists.

Just sayin'

[gunhose]

YES I AM !! You don't like my opinion don't read it DA !

[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by 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.

Do you lay awake at night trying to resolve these conflicts?

[1William]

I see the SD43 as an option in a line-up of Rolex Divers. Every customer will have a personal taste and Rolex is covering alot of bases. SS, TT, PM in the Submariner group of Divers. Dial and bezel colors, Date or ND and if you want something more you can go SD or DSSD. No issues. I think the SD43 is the perfect Rolex Diver for me. I have a 7.5-7.75 inch wrist and I like the fit and feel.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Devildog

Are you going to keep rolling out this "fashion watch" crap every time you see an SD43 thread?

Yes, afraid he is ...

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[gunhose]

Lol

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Yes, afraid he is ...

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[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by gunhose

When rolex made the SD43 they should have increased the depth rating along side the larger case !!!! Its a fashion watch pure and simple. Just like the subc. The DS is the only purposely proportioned Rolex dive watch left.

The irony here is that had Rolex increased the depth rating of the SD43 it would have been for absolutely no reason other than marketing (i.e. fashion) purposes.

Since no human has descended to even half the SD43's depth rating, the only practical purpose served by the DSSD beyond that of the SD43 is that it will allow easy identification of your corpse at a greater oceanic depth.

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by gunhose

When rolex made the SD43 they should have increased the depth rating along side the larger case !!!! Its a fashion watch pure and simple. Just like the subc. The DS is the only purposely proportioned Rolex dive watch left.

Bingo! The Deepsea is THE ultimate Rolex Dive watch. The new Sea Dweller is nice, I had one, but it certainly feels gimmicky and fashiony. If we are being honest, these are all overpriced and unnecessary, but the Seadweller feels like an oversized Sub. By making it slightly smaller, lower depth rating, and less expensive, Rolex is positioning it as being less of a watch than the Deepsea...that is factual. Opinions will vary regarding preference, but that is a fact.

[sagalassos]

Originally Posted by IAN1

Sub should be 43 as well and probably will eventually. Once you go 43, you wont go back to 40.

I think Rolex is preparing a totally new Submariner line and uses SD43 to predict market response for a bigger one.

[watchwatcher]

If you can honestly look at the current line up of Rolex watches and single out the SD43 as the "fashion watch" out of the bunch, or the one that's "lost its soul," I'm sorry...I can't agree with you.

To each their own, though.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

The irony here is that had Rolex increased the depth rating of the SD43 it would have been for absolutely no reason other than marketing (i.e. fashion) purposes.

Since no human has descended to even half the SD43's depth rating, the only practical purpose served by the DSSD beyond that of the SD43 is that it will allow easy identification of your corpse at a greater oceanic depth.

Originally Posted by Sublovin

Bingo! The Deepsea is THE ultimate Rolex Dive watch. The new Sea Dweller is nice, I had one, but it certainly feels gimmicky and fashiony. If we are being honest, these are all overpriced and unnecessary, but the Seadweller feels like an oversized Sub. By making it slightly smaller, lower depth rating, and less expensive, Rolex is positioning it as being less of a watch than the Deepsea...that is factual. Opinions will vary regarding preference, but that is a fact.

As I posted on another thread, whilst a Deep Sea is an engineering masterpiece, and a very fine timepiece in its own right, in reality it's only benefit is bragging rights, nothing more. Because nothing that can actually read, or make use of the time, is ever going to be alive at 4000 feet, let alone 12,800 feet.

[gttime]

Oh the horror of it all.

[strafer_kid]

Does anyone really think that any of this discussion will influence Rolex's thinking or 'swing' them any particular way? After all, they are still selling any amount of their watches!

[gunhose]

I did put the subc in the category of bigger case to satisfy the consumer !!! Like the SD43 Fashion induced !

[gunhose]

Bragging right absolute . Thats why your driving a 400hp plus car. Hello

[GoingPlaces]

I can't wait for the YG Deep Sea to come out!!

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by Devildog

As I posted on another thread, whilst a Deep Sea is an engineering masterpiece, and a very fine timepiece in its own right, in reality it's only benefit is bragging rights, nothing more. Because nothing that can actually read, or make use of the time, is ever going to be alive at 4000 feet, let alone 12,800 feet.

Well, no kidding. And by your rationale, an iPhone keeps better time than all of these so what’s the point, right? GMT, dive watch, chronograph, it’s all unnecessary jewelry isn’t it? If you have the passion, you appreciate things like depth rating, and it has little to do with actually using it....ask any Range Rover owner

[drgoro]

I don't own, but like the SD43. I do not think it was misguided, the opposite in fact.

[Mystro]

Let’s not get it twisted, Rolex watches are functional jewelry. No one needs to spend this kind of money for the function they provide. It’s been that way for over 40 years now. I am a diver but will admit a DJ is just as WR as what I would ever need as a diver. Point of fact, there are some very famous divers that only use a Rolex DJ.

I own these because I love mechanical watches and technical achievements. It’s a luxury pure and simple.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by gunhose

Bragging right absolute . Thats why your driving a 400hp plus car. Hello

Er..no. If your reason to have 400 hp plus is "bragging rights" perhaps you need to attend a trackday or performance driving course

Its easily possible to use all 400 plus of those horses (and more). You can't say the same about the watch.

Originally Posted by Sublovin

Well, no kidding. And by your rationale, an iPhone keeps better time than all of these so what’s the point, right? GMT, dive watch, chronograph, it’s all unnecessary jewelry isn’t it? If you have the passion, you appreciate things like depth rating, and it has little to do with actually using it....ask any Range Rover owner

We all know what the point is, otherwise we wouldn't be here on TRF (well, most of us).

I fully appreciate why, for example, a 16600 is a much more special watch than a 16610 (I had both) I also appreciate how much more special a 126600 is than a 116610 (I have/have had both). But one is not "better" than the other in any practically usable way.


What I was attempting to convey is that "better" can only be subjective. Objectively, its a moot point and other posters' comments such as "the DS is the only purposely proportioned Rolex dive watch left" are factually flawed.

[gunhose]

Hate I never used it ! Just my opinion on a Rolex model. Fashion is good sometimes. Ive got a serti sub love it . Some hate what they did to the sub, made a fashion piece out of a tool watch. Just like Rolex super sizing a lot of their models. But making a dive watch case larger without increasing the WR makes no scene to me. Just opinion on a great forum !! No one should get upset just because you own a watch that is criticized.

[playford]

Rolex is a luxury brand now. It caters to the wishes of that luxury market.

What percentage of buyers ever dive with a sea dweller (and virtually none at a depth below where a sea dweller would be required functionally), if its a luxury sport watch then TT is hardly a surprise, its a decent upcharge with minimal cost to rolex.

The move towards polished sections and PM/TT reflects this too.

Rolex sports is to now what the the TT DJ was to the 80's.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by gunhose

Hate I never used it ! Just my opinion on a Rolex model. Fashion is good sometimes. Ive got a serti sub love it . Some hate what they did to the sub, made a fashion piece out of a tool watch. Just like Rolex super sizing a lot of their models. But making a dive watch case larger without increasing the WR makes no scene to me. Just opinion on a great forum !! No one should get upset just because you own a watch that is criticized.

No one's getting upset bud. Not as far as I can see

[Mystro]

I owned the SD43 and it’s main advantage was a larger face for reading and fits larger wrist. A big Sub is its niche. The bragging rights tend to be only given to the most extreme of the breed and that is owned by the DSSD. This leaves the SD43 in the middle child slot. 4000ft is beyond practical use even as a professional diver so it has been left in a odd slot in the line up. Other than tradition, there really is no reason for the SD43 to have a higher WR than the Subs 300M. 4000ft only gives it a silver medal in the technical bragging arena.

[travisb]

Originally Posted by brandrea

It's an abomination

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Enough said!
I'm a fan of the entire SD line. Top two will remain 126660 & 12660 for me.