Greystash

Hey Guys,

Does anyone know what were the largest diameter (war time) Pilots Watches ever produced? Any brand?

I was talking to a friend today who is a collector of war time memorabilia, (this is the kind of guy that actually owns and is restoring an artillery cannon - and I don't mean a small one ), anyway he was talking to me about very large Pilot watches around 60mm in diameter, that were strapped over the Jacket Sleeve.

I thought that was perhaps a little too big but I don't know, were any Pilot Watches made to this size?

Guys, I've never owned a PVD watch before. The whole physical vapor deposition process, it leaves such a thin layer, can I assume that the coating is easily scratched through? Or is it like super scratch resistant?

I think the black sub looks alright, one with the SS showing through the scratches though would look poor I think.

Pro-Hunter sounds lame. They should get rid of it altogether or replace it with something more fitting like 'Tactical' or something.

I'm also down-under.

Something that relates. I was in an AD late last year, handling a SS Sub. I went to deploy the divers extension and the sale girl literally jumped like I was just about to break the buckle. I stopped short and relocated the link. It left me with the impression that, if I had fully opened the extension it would have been the first time she'd ever seen it done.

Thanks for sharing stility.

Still, I'd take the Pro Hunter Sub over the new Smurfmariner any day. Nice to see a flash of red on the dials again.

Ditto wheaton26 congratulation - great choice.

I rang up a Sydney (Australia) Rolex Service Centre in January and they told me their service fee for a SS Sub started at $800au. (That's about $750US)

If the buttons were still here I'd be clicking on Artistic.

Nice watch and nice shots eosurc.

ahaha yeah yeah. B==o

Seriously, It almost a faux pah in my opinion to see some guy yank out the divers extension and strap his submariner onto his wetsuit, all the while, his dive computers hanging a foot away. Thats the guy that wants attention not only from the other divers, but the baracudas who happen to love (and have no problems coming over to inspect) shiny chew toys.

Heh! So now we've gone from it's an embarrassment if you wear a Sub and don't dive to, it's an embarrassment if you wear a Sub and do dive?

Give me a break.

Oh, I thought they we limited edition colored dials. You're saying they're the odd black dials that have turned brown? I didn

Without having to search through a dozen pages, mate how rare is that Chocolate dial? Did they make Choc Subs or just the Sd's?

Nanuq - I love it when you post these stories. Never stop posting them.

Oh yeah...and then what happend...

The one auctioned under the ebay link I posted also has an ETA 2836-2. Although I am far from being an expert, I think it also looks pretty good.

Here is the link again: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUBMARINER-DIVERS-WA...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hmmm.... what to do :-))

Heh, that is the exact seller I purchased this one from. Though it looks like the watch has changes just a little. Mine does not have the display back and the CG

I got one off the Bay a year or so ago. The bracelet is hollow link, with solid end links 93250 (I think that's the right code for the modern bracelet) It's really very good, has the extension as well. There is not a rolex mark on it or the watch anywhere.

It has the maxi dial and fat hands and it's a bit woky. It sports a 2836 though so it keeps good time, I also have had it uder 2m of water. No leaks.

When I compare the CG's to my gen they are pretty dam good. They look better than the angle of this pic shows.

But hang on, remember a few months back when the new super seadweller rep got taken on a saturation dive. The crew all had traditional (now luxury) mechanical divers. Must be a reason for that. Tradition? Does the saturation process kill computers?

Could they be the last of the old school divers.

EDIT: There it is...

Prior to blowing the watch into saturation on the Diver's wrist in the chambers, I asked twelve Divers, Four Diving Supervisors and a Diving Superintendent for their thoughts on the watch as many of them have gens on their wrists and all of them have seen and handled real Sea Dwellers. Please bear in mind that these guys aren't into watches as much as the people on this forum and only want a reliable and high quality timepiece to wear in the water without really paying that much attention to them. Their initial impressions when I showed them the watch on my wrist was that it is a real Sea Dweller that looked brand new and just out of the box. However, after I took it off and handed it to each of them for a close up comparison they all immediately noticed it wasn't a gen just by the feel of the bracelet in their hands. I asked them to forget about the bracelet and just concentrate on the watch itself and noted all their comments -

"The face just doesn't look right around the edges of the crystal (rehaut? / crystal height? / crystal cut?)" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"That pearl is wrong (too small)" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"Very smooth sweep" (wearing solid gold Submariner Certi)

"Looks exactly like mine" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"Best fake watch I've seen" (wearing limited edition diving company Panerai)

"Caseback edges need grinding (too sharp)" (wearing two tone Submariner)

"Writing (face) is brighter than mine" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"How can I get one" (wearing G Shock)

"Three hundred bucks is a bargain" (wearing vintage Sea Dweller)

"Looks decent but it's still a fake" (wearing G Shock)

"Bits round the crown (crown guards) don't look right" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"Can't believe this is a fake" (wearing Breitling Superocean)

"Numbers (date font) are slightly different" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"Awesome fake" (wearing Omega Seamaster)

"The glass (crystal) is higher" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"If it lasts (saturation and diving test) I'm getting one" (wearing Sea Dweller)

"Feels like a good quality watch" (wearing Divex)

Very clean Cats, great effort.

That watch was the first gen I bought after joining this RWG. I love the dial, the scalloped bezel and I really like the bracelet, it is heavy, but it feel like silky smooth quality.

She's a keeper alright, and I don't mean your watch.

Wear it well sidak.

I've made a gallery of all 270 lots.

Respect

In my view dive watches are a great all rounder because they are built tough by design and of course, are very waterproof.

I've always preferred the dive watch look and I see divers as a very practical choice for a general wear watch. I asked a mate of mine last month where his new work watch was, he said it got water in it when he was fixing some pipes.

Next year in my long service leave I'm actually going to learn how to dive, it is something I have always wanted to experience. The thought that I should have waited half my life to wear a dive watch, because I'm not yet a diver is utterly ridiculous.

Where does that line of thinking go? If you haven't climbed the big three you can't wear an Explorer? If you don't own a yacht you shouldn't wear a Yachtmaster? What if you don't own a full blown race car? Well you had better not be seen wearing a Daytona?

The guys either just got his dive ticket and he thinks he's '1337', or he's just young.

Did you see the size of the pics if you click on the watches. Great for reference.

That seems a bit awkward, how would it work? The hostess brings you a cup of tea and a muffin, then you turn to her and ask where is the $14000 timepiece you just purchased? I guess after that you would ask her for her number.

Thanks for that 310jag,

Seeing that little forrest of Rollies in their nice display case makes me smile.

Nice read. Thanks for posting the link.

I didn

-EZ- what an excellent job on those CG's. Great effort and thanks for taking the time to show us the technique.

Really nice work Ubi. Stop tempting me.