What is a "Sports" watch?

[Le Chef]

What's the definition, and then which watches fit that definition?

[Solo118]

Basically any rolex with a flip lock clasp.

If you want to get more technical, the tactical watches that serve a purpose other than telling time. A divers watch, a gmt watch, a chronograph etc.

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

What's the definition, and then which watches fit that definition?

also to me usually a thin watch on a strap, i.e. Cellini line, is more of what I would consider a dress watch and not sport

so any Rolex GMT, sub, Daytona, Explorer would be a sport line "professional" watch

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

What's the definition, and then which watches fit that definition?

It's a loose generality..

Rolex doesn't have a "Sport Watch" line, they have "Oyster Collection"" and the "Cellini Collection" which used to be their Professional and Dress series.

[Le Chef]

That's why I was asking for a definition, not just examples.

E.g. I don't think the Sub, Deepsea, GMT, Daytona are sports watches. They have a professional function that's their raison d'être, rather than a sport per se. And as you say Rolex never refers to them as sports watches.

[GB-man]

It's what I'd love lange to introduce

I'll duck the shoes being hurled my way now

[Old Expat Beast]

Think sports jacket, sports car, etc.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

That's why I was asking for a definition, not just examples.

E.g. I don't think the Sub, Deepsea, GMT, Daytona are sports watches. They have a professional function that's their raison d'être, rather than a sport per se. And as you say Rolex never refers to them as sports watches.

I guess by that definition the reverso qualifies.

[powerfunk]

I don't use the term sports watch because it doesn't mean anything to me.

[AK797]

Ask Juliet.

[sunnyd]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

E.g. I don't think the Sub, Deepsea, GMT, Daytona are sports watches. They have a professional function that's their raison d'être, rather than a sport per se. And as you say Rolex never refers to them as sports watches.

So then by your definition, any timepiece that has a function usable while playing a sport (e.g. football, basketball, etc.) would be considered sports watch? Then any timepiece with a chronometer/countdown function qualifies.

[Le Chef]

No - I'm saying that some Rolex's have a professional function, but I don't consider them to be "sports" watches. And no the Reverso doesn't qualify as its original design was not for professional purposes.

So I still don't have a clear distinction between "professional" and "sport".

[Archduke]

My understanding is that the term 'sports watch' originated in the 1970s with the Genta Nautilus and Royal Oak watches, which were conceived as watches to wear when watching sport (e.g. Polo).

So a 'sports watch' IMO is an uncomplicated watch (time and date only) with a fixed bezel like the Nautilus, Royal Oak, DateJust, AquaTerra, etc.

[alanc]

Man, I miss Padi already...

[locutus49]

I would define sports watch as any watch you don't have to baby or coddle. You can exercise with one and not feel like you are risking it. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking, as Timex famously proclaimed.

[GolfPunk]

Daytona - Car Racing
Sub - Recreational Diving
GMT - Recreational Flying
Explorers - Mountaineering, pot holing etc
Yachtmasters - Racing Yachts

All the above can be 'Sports'!!

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

Daytona - Car Racing
Sub - Recreational Diving
GMT - Recreational Flying
Explorers - Mountaineering, pot holing etc
Yachtmasters - Racing Yachts

All the above can be 'Sports'!!

+1

I would include the JLC Riverso too as Polo is also a sport!

[landroverking]

What happen to Padi?

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

That's why I was asking for a definition, not just examples.

E.g. I don't think the Sub, Deepsea, GMT, Daytona are sports watches. They have a professional function that's their raison d'être, rather than a sport per se. And as you say Rolex never refers to them as sports watches.

I've always thought of diving, flying, and car racing as sports...

[Solo118]

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-sport-watch.htm

[Sixshooter]

Originally Posted by GB-man

It's what I'd love lange to introduce

I'll duck the shoes being hurled my way now

None being thrown from me!

[returntorolex]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

What's the definition, and then which watches fit that definition?

Any watch you can go swimming with.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by landroverking

What happen to Padi?

He put up a thread. All the nonsense combined with his health finally got to him.

[Anthon]

Originally Posted by locutus49

I would define sports watch as any watch you don't have to baby or coddle. You can exercise with one and not feel like you are risking it. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking, as Timex famously proclaimed.

So, to which watches does that apply according to Rolex?

[datejusting]

I would walk, jog, swim, golf, play tennis, hunt, fish, drive a race car, ski, work out at the gym, and bowl with my Datejust. I would also call it a sports watch, or even a dress watch. I would think the same could be said for any Rolex Oyster.

[alanc]

Originally Posted by Anthon

So, to which watches does that apply according to Rolex?

Probably all of them.

Apologies in advance if I sound testy. Padi's situation has really bummed me out; I will miss him. His posts were like a breath of fresh air.

To the OP. I don't think there is an official definition of "sports watch," at least as far as Rolex goes and not in the 3+ years I've been here have I seen one.

I would say that a sports Rolex is anything that's not a dress Rolex. As to what is a dress Rolex, I'd say, I don't know, but like the famous description of obscenity, I know it when I see one.

I don't think it's as simple as leather band=dress; oyster band =sport. Plenty of Rolex watches have oyster bands and are dress nonetheless, at least to me. Take a DJ II with the green dial and romans. That I'm wearing to a wedding (when I get one).

As to what is sport, take the sub. 16610 stainless - definitely sport. 16618 gold with a sunburst dial - still sport? Not to me, that's not going in the ocean; sorry. Not that it couldn't, I just wouldn't want to risk losing it.

Or take my humble 114270. Sport or dress? yes and yes. I wear it with a suit and with a t-shirt. Looks great either way.

My point, I don't think you can define what is sport. And, as Padi would say, what's the need to do so?

Again, sorry if I sound testy.

[brandrea]

Pretty much every Rolex is a sports watch

[Shawn1]

How about my TOG?

[watchwatcher]

Everyone's definition (and opinion) is going to be different on this one, and has been stated, there is no official definition or "sports" category according to Rolex. So, draw your own conclusions...

[Catyack]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

Everyone's definition (and opinion) is going to be different on this one, and has been stated, there is no official definition or "sports" category according to Rolex. So, draw your own conclusions...

If one wanted to draw an even semi-valid conclusion of what a "sports watch" is, you'd have to first know the definition of the word "sport", and what sports are. "Sport" is a competitive activity, usually physical in nature. A physical activity that isn't competitive, it isn't a sport. A competition involving nothing physical in nature isn't a sport either. Both elements need to be there.

I can think of only 2 Rolex models that were specifically designed with any form of competition (sport) in mind. The Daytona (motorsports) and the Yachtmaster 2 (boat racing). Applying the term "sports watch" to other models is a mis-application due to using the term "sports" so loosely it renders it virtually meaningless, which is why it seems to be confusing to some. If definitions didn't matter, nobody would have come up with a special words (like "Sport") to describe things in the first place.