Suggestions - Rubber strap, <44mm, sporty & under $15k ??

[R332]

Need a good daily watch for a casual work environment and have some parameters I'd like to stay within.

-Rubber strap
-Case 40mm to 44mm (not thicker than ~15mm)
-Stainless or titanium case
-Somewhat rugged
-New or used under $15k

The first one that comes to mind is an AP ROO or Diver with a rubber strap but I owned these and found them a bit too large and imposing to be a truly versatile watch. On the other end of the size spectrum the Patek Aquanaut 5167 looks a bit too small and dainty on my wrist.

The love child of a ROO and Aquanaut would be perfect!

Please give me some suggestions to check out

[josephvman]

How about the new Calibre de Cartier diver? 42mm, rubber strap, relatively thin, stainless case with nicely curved lugs. I owned the standard Calibre on bracelet, and it was great, but the diver is a stunner IMO. It dresses up or down as good as anything, and it's pretty reasonably priced at around $8k.

[lindstd]

Vacheron overseas 42mm, Bremont sub 43mm, iwc aquatimer 44mm, panerai 233 44mm, or jlc navy seals 44mm.

[Matt C]

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Bracelet or sail cloth, however I think there is NOT a rubber option.

[Le Chef]

In house 8 day handwound movement. GMT complication. Easy to change straps on a whim. What's not to like?

[Lgear080]

Easy ... Daytona on a rubber b. Keep the extra $5k in your pocket.

IMO the only other option is an AP - prefer stainless diver personally.

[Baco Noir]

Another vote for the VC Overseas Ti model with the rubber strap and black croc strap.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=374516

[Silvio Mosiello]

Vacheron!!! My new favorite of the big cheese brands :).


Sent from my Motorola Razor

[yjfang]

Rolex Seadweller (not Deep Sea) on a rubber strap. Tough as they come.

[Quake1028]

Under $5k.

[malarky_hk]

I think this fits the bill perfectly.

[Soleless Shoes]

I have JLC Master Compressor GMT with a rubber strap that I wear practically everyday to the dog shelter. I don't find the dial and hands to be the most attractive but this watch is very comfortable, extremely sturdy, and reliable. I use to just wear vintage Doxa's when training dogs but bought the JLC because of the rubber strap and couldn't be happier with it.

[stockae92]

One thing about VC, I heard that their price for a service is on the high side of being expensive ... :)

[yjfang]

IWC Big Ingy. 7 Day Movement. Also designed by Gerald Genta.

[chland7]

Originally Posted by yjfang

Rolex Seadweller (not Deep Sea) on a rubber strap. Tough as they come.

16600 Seadweller is hard to beat and still a bargain.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1414724635.867176.jpg

[R332]

What a great list of suggestions - please keep them coming.

So far the VC Overseas is at the top of my list. Perfect size and overall look but I don't love the dial color or bezel.

The Fifty Fathoms is a great watch but too large and the bezel is too shiny. Nit picking ;)

IWCs are always at the top of my list but I have a couple and would like to try a new brand. The Big Ingy would be in my top drawer already if it was't so BIG!

I am always drawn to the JLC dive watches and some of them are +/- the size I want but the crowns bother me. The massive protrusion might be good for real scuba divers but I live above water.

Rolex SD or Daytona are both amazing and need to further praise around here but for this purchase I want something that doesn't look like a Rolex.

Are there any other cool pieces out there that we are overlooking?

Oh, I sure don't need to spend $15k don't let that ceiling throw you off :)

[Mastergreenhand]

I'd do one of the Panerai submersibles. Check out the 24 or the discontinued titanium 25. Eta movement, but sturdy and robust.

[Wesley Crusher]

Not SS or TT, nor does it come on a rubber strap, but I would give the DSOTM a serious look. It's one hell of a watch.

[sunshine9393]

JLC Master Compressor range - I personally like the understated look of the Navy Seals limited edition range. Diver 42mm, Alarm 44mm, Chrono GMT 46.3mm in size.

If you're looking for something rubber, the articulated rubber bracelet option, which I think fits most in the Master Compressor range, is something you need to see and experience to believe. It's amazing!

[watchucallit]

I would also suggest the VC Overseas--- Chrono. I recently purchased. It is a very thin and sporty Chronograph. Highly water resistant. Big Date.

[osamu]

Originally Posted by R332

The Fifty Fathoms is a great watch but too large and the bezel is too shiny. Nit picking ;)

I prefer the look of the Bathyscaphe, which I believe is a few mm smaller and doesn't have the shiny bezel. Might fix all your concerns about the FF.

[srvrf]

Excellent suggestions so far. A slightly off the radar suggestion would be a Hublot Big Bang 41mm. While I might get flamed for the suggestion it does meet your criteria. Ceramic bezel and 100m WR help make it durable. And like anything, if the price is right, it may sing to you.

[R332]

Bumping this back to life because I still haven't found the right watch - still looking for suggestions please! I think a diver is probably the style I want.

I am not really looking for a chrono or a black case but the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is a very cool piece. If it was a bit less expensive and/or available as a non-chrono I would probably jump on it.

Perhaps a Rolex diver with an aftermarket rubber strap?

So rubber strap lovers, which watches am I overlooking?

[daytonaTBR]

Vacheron Overseas Deep Stream

[capote]

Originally Posted by R332

Bumping this back to life because I still haven't found the right watch - still looking for suggestions please! I think a diver is probably the style I want.

I am not really looking for a chrono or a black case but the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is a very cool piece. If it was a bit less expensive and/or available as a non-chrono I would probably jump on it.

Perhaps a Rolex diver with an aftermarket rubber strap?

So rubber strap lovers, which watches am I overlooking?

The first version of the new Bathyscaphe was a non-chrono, and still in production, although only the SS version I believe.

[osamu]

If you liked the ROOs and diver, but thought they were slightly too big, I've seen the 15400 and 15202 on rubber, but certainly may require a bit more work to find the right strap. Kinda like this: http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....6&postcount=21

I know they make the rubber straps for some of the ROCs like the 2015 QEII and the city of sails, so you can probably find an OEM rubber strap rather than going aftermarket for the AP ROs.

[J!m]

What's wrong with an early (2500) planet ocean?

You could probably get three with your budget. Just get the 42 and not the 45.5 if that's too big.

[jd57]

JLC deep sea chrono. Rubber-coated leather strap perfect for desk-diving. 42mm and 14mm thick but low contour. Great watch I am sorry to have traded.

[Dubarzy]

Tudor Pelagos Blue? It's at the low end of your budget, but it seems to check all the boxes.

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by capote

The first version of the new Bathyscaphe was a non-chrono, and still in production, although only the SS version I believe.

The Bathyscaphe is available as a three-hander in both steel and titanium.

Also, the Carl F. Bucherer ScubaTec is available on rubber...
44.6 mm (13.45 mm height) and well under your budget at US$6,400