Breitling Or Rolex

[johnbaz]

I was given this Navitimer gratis, it had been through the wars (almost all the hands were off and the crystal cracked badly)..
It could do with a new dial and christ only knows when it was last serviced but strangely I like it more than any of the more modern ones..

Can't really comment on Rolex as I don't own one..

Here's a recent aquisition that's nice (and accurate) to wear..

John

 

[JonathanD]

Old Navitimers are fantastic. I love the patina of the dials and the fading tritium. Yours looks to be around 1964-1971 by the movement and double tail logo. These were the best Navi's made.

 

[ED-E]

think i'll stick to my cheap, cheerful and function that exceeds my needs, ford, timex and mora thanks

ditto.

The way watch water resistancy is rated is misleading. Your 100m watch has been static tested to a 100m depth. You can create more than 100m of water pressure on the surface if you are swimming, jumping in and moving about quickly. Showers nowadays can create high pressures that can get into a 300m rated watch and over with the high temperatures they generate added into the equation. Therefore a 30m watch is really only mildly splashproof, 50m the same and 100m only suitable for surface swinmming. Rolex are one of the few brands that are static tested to a greater depth to ensure that a 300m rating is just that. Unfortunately, it is one of only three brands that have the technology to do this.

I've no problem in the shower, no problem with swimming on the surface and I go diving with my Casio watch but beside that, how important is high water resistance for the normal rolex/breitling clientele? Are they all tecdivers wearing high pressure/atmospheric diving suits?

 

[JonathanD]

I've no problem in the shower, no problem with swimming on the surface and I go diving with my Casio watch but beside that, how important is high water resistance for the normal rolex/breitling clientele? Are they all tecdivers wearing high pressure/atmospheric diving suits?

Then you are lucky as they aren't rated for that. High water resistance is pretty important in the Sea-Dweller or Submariner if you are one of those customers that is actually buying it for the water resistance. It is one of the most prominant and important features of the watch and what Rolex designed it to do. It would be a pretty epic fail to make a divers watch where the water resistance wasn't important don't ya think? A hell of a lot of people dive nowadays and such a shortcoming on water resistancy would not be appreciated on these watches, especially as the most people that do buy them would actually use them to do what they were made for.

 

[JonathanD]

.. and can I also add that the SBS and SAS still buy the Rolex Submariner and Sea-Dweller and issue them to troops. Albeit privately and for certain ops, not as standard issue. That is a massive testament to their unfailing ability to survive severe conditions, and also in emergencies, to be sold for almost what they paid for them.

 

[johnnythefox]

I was given this Navitimer gratis, it had been through the wars (almost all the hands were off and the crystal cracked badly)..
It could do with a new dial and christ only knows when it was last serviced but strangely I like it more than any of the more modern ones..

Can't really comment on Rolex as I don't own one..

Here's a recent aquisition that's nice (and accurate) to wear..

John

i would leave the dial etc. as it is thats what makes the watch to collecters or at least keep any bits you have replaced.

 

[millie-mail]

I got my military issue one from my dad. I bought mine in 1996 after I left the military. Some people spend money on branded clothes, cars, cushions, computers, books, stamps, complicated mobile phones or holidays. Some on a watch. We are all different. Can't say I would spend the money they are asking for the new Sub now, but I respect what they are and what goes in to building them (takes a year). I used to work for Rolex and then was made redundant so have little loyalty to the company. They are one of the few companies that really don't have flashy ads or push their product vigorously. They rely on reputation more than anything and are an old fashioned company that does everything in-house and I respect them for holding to such values and keeping their brand integrity intact throughout.

Don't like Rolex as a brand or as a product, I don't like 90% of what they claim to stand for but I do appreciate the "Families" and the charitable set-up that funds the apprentices. "Everything in house" is a claim that I wont challenge on here, suffice to remind you of the Daytona with the Zenith movement.
I think people spending what is perceived as a lot of money on anything, relative to what they can truly afford is usually driven by a passion for that item. We have differing tastes, thats what makes it interesting.

 

[JonathanD]

Don't like Rolex as a brand or as a product, I don't like 90% of what they claim to stand for but I do appreciate the "Families" and the charitable set-up that funds the apprentices. "Everything in house" is a claim that I wont challenge on here, suffice to remind you of the Daytona with the Zenith movement.
I think people spending what is perceived as a lot of money on anything, relative to what they can truly afford is usually driven by a passion for that item. We have differing tastes, thats what makes it interesting.

They haven't used the Zenith movement for over 15 years now. Shame though, that was a great movement.

But as I've already stated, I have reasons not to like Rolex as a company that are stronger than anyone elses here, yet I still respect them for their product.

 

[ED-E]

Then you are lucky

With a 20 ATM watch diving is not a big problem..

It would be a pretty epic fail to make a divers watch where the water resistance wasn't important don't ya think?

I think it would be a pretty epic fail to make watches which are inaccurate when compared to some cheap digitals, too..

 

[JonathanD]

With a 20 ATM watch diving is not a big problem..

I think it would be a pretty epic fail to make watches which are inaccurate when compared to some cheap digitals, too..

But they don't make digitals, they make mechanical watches. Which are 99.99% accurate and chronometer rated. The most accurately rated mechanical watch you can buy. So a pretty epic win there. They did make a quartz version some years back which were as accurate as a digital watch could get. No one bought them as that was not a movement people wanted in a top end watch. Now that was a fail.

 

[Ronnie]

well that's alright then, all i do is surface swimming and i dont wear it in the shower as i take it off so it doesnt get all soapy and i can wash my wrist.

so my timex expedition is perfect for my needs and doesn't cost more than some people have to live on a year

win win

i see you wear born in 1970, so guess yours wasnt issued then? maybe officer types can afford them... us nursey types cant..... and my "professional watch" bought as a gift for finishing my 3 year full time uni course whilst also working to feed myself, by my then girlfriend was this one

nowadays its £15 quid in argos and it didnt even need batteries! ally kit eh?

I've been looking for a cheap and decent fob watch for years. I think I've been through 5 of them already. They never seem to survive a battery change. Is it kinetic?

Sorry to bring the tone down on a thread about multi thousand pound timepieces

 

[JonathanD]

I've been looking for a cheap and decent fob watch for years. I think I've been through 5 of them already. They never seem to survive a battery change. Is it kinetic?

Sorry to bring the tone down on a thread about multi thousand pound timepieces

They don't make kenetic fobs, cos they won't get charged up as they don't move.

 

[Ronnie]

They don't make kenetic fobs, cos they won't get charged up as they don't move.

When I'm at work I move quite a lot! But yes, I take your point

 

[JonathanD]

Someone should still make a mechanical version. If not, an older mechanical might be worth looking into if you want something other than a battery version. Someone might even make a solar powered version now. It is something Junghans or Citizen would do.

 

[_mark_]

There you go...

looks like a Cylon!

 

[Wilderbeast]

Deleted......Red Mist had descended!

 

[jonajuna]

tongue in cheek..... wouldnt most submariners be less worried about their watch and more worried about plugging the hole if they were to suddenly get wet? thought the point of submarines were to keep their occupants dry?



as said before, completely understand the need ofr the likes of the SAS/SBS and prodivers to have these things...... quite why a "bushcrafter" would need or even want one, is beyond me, to discuss such watches in the context of bushy gear is also a mystery

as for bikes, completely undertstand, but then for most bikers, it is either a toy or a lifestyle, very few of us actually use/d them for our sole means of transport (used to do 14k a year commuting on a bike, all weathers (even when so subzero i couldnt go above 40mph as my visor froze )

therein lies my "issue" with this, as bushcrafting doesnt invove being in the specialforces or interlligence business, there is no need for them, to make out these discussions isnt about showing off, falls down as what other point is there in having it?

honesty in expression is a great thing

 

[johnnythefox]

to discuss such watches in the context of bushy gear is also a mystery



how so?time and distance to navigate.you can also use a watch with hands as a compass
why do you think a omega speedmaster was still the watch of choice with NASA for so many years?

 

[jonajuna]

"such watches"

other than the ability to be read at 25m 300 metres under the sea, what does this watch do £4000 worth better than any other analogue watch

you dont need a tachy on a watch to work out speed (though my timex does have a tachy), just a second hand and you only need the hour hand to navigate with

scrap that, you only need 2 sticks and some sunlight

or a tree

as has been said, each to their own and anyone can spend their pennies on whatever they want

i just find the idea of a £4k plus watch to be crass. my opinion which i am as much entitled to hold as those are that wish to buy such things

but then, i think the same of a £15k harley when a £5k bandit does the same job sooo much better

 

[Trunks]

Ok so I know it's not a sub or anything, but this is my old Rolex.

I don't know the model no etc, but if anyone does I'd be interested to find out more