AP Diver using internal bezel

[Jim12345]

A few say the internal bezel is hard to use on the left wrist, and although I agree nothing can beat an external bezel for turning ease, the internal on the ROO Diver is not that difficult. For anyone who is on the fence about it I thought I would do a video to show its not hard to turn and set.

http://youtu.be/HFyOpMhBS2I

[Cru Jones]

nice video, thanks. also nice to hear the sound of the bezel as it turns.

[Rashid.bk]

The AP Diver is my grail watch, but let's make one thing clear, the internal bezel is useless as a diving measurement device. Sure you could time the rice cooking or clothes in the dryer but I could not imagine using the bezel with a wet hand and forget about a wet glove. It does look cool though.
I don't own a Diver but spent about ten minutes with one on and attempted to articulate the bezel while on my wrist, it was a pain the ass compared to external Rolex bezel.
Love the Diver though, just can't take it serious as a dive tool at all.
Even Hodinkee who love AP declared the internal bezel useless as they have dived with all three Divers.
http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/2011/7/...ffshore-d.html

[Rashid.bk]

Oh....nice video. Shows the beauty of the watch.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

The AP Diver is my grail watch, but let's make one thing clear, the internal bezel is useless as a diving measurement device. Sure you could time the rice cooking or clothes in the dryer but I could not imagine using the bezel with a wet hand and forget about a wet glove. It does look cool though.
I don't own a Diver but spent about ten minutes with one on and attempted to articulate the bezel while on my wrist, it was a pain the ass compared to external Rolex bezel.
Love the Diver though, just can't take it serious as a dive tool at all.
Even Hodinkee who love AP declared the internal bezel useless as they have dived with all three Divers.
http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/2011/7/...ffshore-d.html

I tend to agree that internal bezels, while cool, are a pita to use on a dive. I tried for a few years with an IWC 3548 Aquatimer (which has the crown on the 'right' side vs the Diver's 'gauche') but couldn't easily work it. Still the Diver is a sexy beast.

[Jim12345]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

The AP Diver is my grail watch, but let's make one thing clear, the internal bezel is useless as a diving measurement device. Sure you could time the rice cooking or clothes in the dryer but I could not imagine using the bezel with a wet hand and forget about a wet glove. It does look cool though.
I don't own a Diver but spent about ten minutes with one on and attempted to articulate the bezel while on my wrist, it was a pain the ass compared to external Rolex bezel.
Love the Diver though, just can't take it serious as a dive tool at all.
Even Hodinkee who love AP declared the internal bezel useless as they have dived with all three Divers.
http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/2011/7/...ffshore-d.html

Yes, I'm definitely not saying it is easier to use than an external bezel dive watch as a dive tool, just wanted to show it being used on the wrist, and make the point it is not as hard as some have made out, certainly on dry land! I look forward to getting it wet, having a play, and looking at it the water. With dive computers these days its not so much of an issue. I just enjoyed messing about with it, and wanted to share the vid with you guys. I agree it does look one cool watch!!

[simongpaez]

Plus I would say a very big % of the owners will never dive with it, starting with me ;)

[SMD]

My sense is that any serious diver is not using this (or a sub or DSSD for that matter) -- they are using a proper dive computer. As such, forget about which luxury watch is a better dive watch and focus on what you like since very few serious divers are going to use any of these for diving.

[subtona]

Diver's bezel is not difficult to use,
However, having to unscrew the crown to operate the internal bezel compromises the water resistance and increases the chance of accidentally leaving it unscrewed.

Vs

Traditional rotating bezel = zero chance.

[masterserg]

In my experience, it is super easy to use, on or off the wrist.

[SaddleSC]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

The AP Diver is my grail watch, but let's make one thing clear, the internal bezel is useless as a diving measurement device. I could not imagine using the bezel with a wet hand and forget about a wet glove. It does look cool though.

Love the Diver though, just can't take it serious as a dive tool at all.
Even Hodinkee who love AP declared the internal bezel useless as they have dived with all three Divers.

I agree 100%. It is a beautiful watch and the internal bezel allows it to retain the stylistic cues of the original RO, but as a real dive tool it is a complete non-starter.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by SMD

My sense is that any serious diver is not using this (or a sub or DSSD for that matter) -- they are using a proper dive computer. As such, forget about which luxury watch is a better dive watch and focus on what you like since very few serious divers are going to use any of these for diving.

I use a dive computer but prefer analog backups so a good diving watch is a must.

[wetfeet]

A case of function following form I think...

They must have sat down and computed the number of people actually diving with these vs. the number of people buying, and the compromise of design as well as cost, and ended up where they were.

Kind of following the SUV model where 99% of them never see offroad conditions.

I too would not want to be compromising water-tightness anywhere near salt water.

I wouldn't say "useless" as it works, but I would say it is low on the utility scale.

As well I have no intention of bringing a super expensive watch under water anyway. I'd be way too nervous as my net worth doesn't allow me to consider these things as disposable.

[subtona]

The diver is not all design hype, it is the solution to a problem, namely securing the timing bezel in such a way so it can not be accidentally moved,

In the diver it is done via the additional crown, in the ploprof for example it is done by the security of the orange button that must be depressed in order to rotate the bezel... The diver's solution has imho a nicer aesthetic but it does give up functionality.

[B. Doggy]

Clickety click..

[masterserg]

In my humble opinion, the weak lume is a bigger functional problem than the bezel.

[Hairdude1]

I am not a diver and when I do go swimming with it I would never mess with it. I still think it is such a great watch. Plus the clicking sound is music to my ears!

[craniotes]

FYI, the Diver retains it's water-resistance even with the crown unscrewed, so don't be afraid to use it when the watch is wet.

As for its functionality, no, it's not as easy to use as an external timing bezel, but it still gets the job done. Oh, and FWIW, the bezel mechanism seems to be easier to set on the FC Diver, with no slipping and firmer, more tactile clicks.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Lume is fine on both of my Divers. It's not Seiko-quality, but I can still tell the time at 4:00am, so I ain't complaining.

[Jorssen]

Originally Posted by masterserg

In my humble opinion, the weak lume is a bigger functional problem than the bezel.

I agree with this. The lume is very weak being a diver's watch. As for the bezel functionality, it's not great but who is using his diver as a divers watch? Most of us will use a computer and a mechanical piece as a back up or an extra...


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[oworkman]

I dived with mine once.....into the pool

[simongpaez]

Originally Posted by craniotes

FYI, the Diver retains it's water-resistance even with the crown unscrewed, so don't be afraid to use it when the watch is wet..

Is this the case for both crowns?

[SMD]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I use a dive computer but prefer analog backups so a good diving watch is a must.

Which of course is why you need the FC Diver!

[diver2012]

Originally Posted by simongpaez

Is this the case for both crowns?

I believe so...although I am not sure why you would want to change the time under water?!

[simongpaez]

Originally Posted by diver2012

I believe so...although I am not sure why you would want to change the time under water?!

My concern is that the crown is not thight enough and you get water in.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by craniotes

FYI, the Diver retains it's water-resistance even with the crown unscrewed, so don't be afraid to use it when the watch is wet.
....
.

I am skeptical ... But if you have it in print from the manufacturer, i would like to see it.

[steveclocks]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

nice video, thanks. also nice to hear the sound of the bezel as it turns.

I agree

[RUpanerai]

I never use the internal bezel on the Diver. It is so hard to use in terms of engaging the mechanism to make it turn I always feel like I am slowly rounding out the edges of it so I set it back to 12 and just leave it.

If they made it with much less effort like changing the date wheel that would be a different story but in its present form, you are correct, its pretty useless.

[Jorssen]

Originally Posted by simongpaez

Is this the case for both crowns?

I'm pretty sure it's not! I would not unscrew the crown at 3 under water!


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[craniotes]

Originally Posted by subtona

I am skeptical ... But if you have it in print from the manufacturer, i would like to see it.

Go ahead and ask AP, then; while they're not rated to a full 300M unscrewed, you're safe down to 30M. This is pretty much the case with most divers with screwdown crowns.

And yes, Brian, the mechanism on the stainless steel diver is a PITA to use, whereas it's been much improved on the FC Diver; it's still no where near as easy as a traditional external timing bezel, but it's quite usable all the same, even on the wrist.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Anyone here recall the prototype Royal Oak diver with an eternal bezel? It wasn't pretty.

[craniotes]

Originally Posted by Jorssen

I'm pretty sure it's not! I would not unscrew the crown at 3 under water!


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It is.

Regards,
Adam