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Mike1066 · 8 July 2012, 01:28 PM

Gents:

I'm not saying I dislike the look of crown guards, but those BC Sub are just so niiiiiiice. Any idea as to why Rolex started putting crown guards on their cases? I don't really see the purpose? I don't think that my crown would rub against stuff so much that it would become unwound if I didn't have crown guards?

Anyway, would like to hear everyone's thoughts. And if someone has some pics of their NCG subs/gmts next to their subs/gmts with crown guards, as always we wouldn't mind seeing them!

V/R

Mike

ecsub44 · 8 July 2012, 01:35 PM

I don't think they're there to keep the crown from unwinding. They're there to protect it from smashing against something and breaking the crown/stem/tube.

I MUCH prefer sans guards!

jjkapsberger · 8 July 2012, 04:08 PM

Not a happy thing to have something damage the crown or tube. A diver's watch with a damaged crown or tube is no longer a diver's watch. Crown guards, I reckon, lessen the chances of that happening.

Happily, certain crown guards--square and original pointed--make early 5512s, the first model to feature them, very collectable, very valuable.

Dr. Robert · 8 July 2012, 05:24 PM

Why?......because they look cool.

Mark020 · 8 July 2012, 07:15 PM

Well: to guard the crowns?

How · 8 July 2012, 08:42 PM

Maybe this question should be directed to Panerai. They seem to take their crown guards pretty seriously...

Kingair · 8 July 2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Why?......because they look cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark020

Well: to guard the crowns?

Bingo

HAGWe

Mike1066 · 8 July 2012, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by How

Maybe this question should be directed to Panerai. They seem to take their crown guards pretty seriously...

Shhhh... you know how those guys are with their PAMs! They'll have a hit squad out on you if they see this comment

Kingair · 8 July 2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike1066

Shhhh... you know how those guys are with their PAMs! They'll have a hit squad out on you if they see this comment

I got a PAM 86 . . . .

As Rolex and Omega (and several others brands) . . . I like the PAM's

I won't send my hit squad in but some others . . . ;-)

HAGS

Naya72 · 8 July 2012, 10:38 PM

My Sub ND crown is perfect in size, function, and look.... that is why it needs the guard..

azguy · 9 July 2012, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark020

Well: to guard the crowns?

x2, they, crowns, dent easy.....

hatidua · 9 July 2012, 03:35 AM

I wish my Explorer-1 had crown guards, they've helped tremendously on several occasions with my Sub's & SD's.

chris333 · 9 July 2012, 04:10 AM

I too love subs and gmts without guards. I read in a tudor booklet once that the purpose of the guards was in fact to stop the crown from unwinding should it scrape againt coral, etc.

Beelzy · 10 July 2012, 12:29 AM

The CG are there to keep some of us who wear their watches through hell and back from
snapping the crown off on a weekly basis. IMO

Silvio Mosiello · 10 July 2012, 12:37 AM

Im going to take a shot in the dark here but Im going to suggest a theory that these steel mountains surrounding the crown are actually designed to not just protect,but guard the crown from all elements and danger that may come its way! Its a small caution to take to protect one of the most vulnerable parts of the watch!

mikkolopez · 10 July 2012, 07:05 PM

While my Sun and Expy 2 have crown guards, I also like the look of the DJs (them without crown guards) a whole lot too. I guess my DJ won't see active sporty use to warrant a crown guard but my Sun and Expy 2 will need them.

So the answer is function and activity.

ttechdoc · 26 October 2018, 02:16 PM

I'll bring this thread back. I have a Benrus mechanical Mil watch in my collection. It doesn't screw down and when I remove gloves or clothing I have popped the crown up a few times to the setting position.

R!$ · 27 October 2018, 01:51 AM

Each has its own flair

linesiders · 27 October 2018, 10:09 AM

Would suck diving and have a line hang on your crown

Ishaan · 27 October 2018, 04:58 PM

great one

R.W.T. · 28 October 2018, 02:12 AM

I think it is fairly obvious that when diving or other physical activities, there are situations where one might smack the watch into a rock formation or part of the equipment on a boat. The issue being, ESPECIALLY with the bigger crown models....that's a large protruding object ...mostly on the open end for right-hand wearers...that if smacked could break off and flood the watch. They probably had this happen...and engineers came up with crown guards. Just my 2 cents.

This would obviously carry over into any rigorous activity out of water that sports watches might be involved in.

You can always grind them off :-)

People do it.

Take a new newer vintage sub and cut the guards and refinish the case and make the dial look retro for a "new vintage" custom.

SubKing · 28 October 2018, 05:00 AM

my big knob of a crown keeps getting stuck on things as well. Should I just have someone laser weld some guards on for me?

Dr.Smellody · 28 October 2018, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubKing

my big knob of a crown keeps getting stuck on things as well. Should I just have someone laser weld some guards on for me?

Weld some triangular stainless steel pieces around it.

8 July 2012, 01:28 PM	#1
Mike1066 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Watch: 16600 Posts: 728	Why Crown Guards? Gents: I'm not saying I dislike the look of crown guards, but those BC Sub are just so niiiiiiice. Any idea as to why Rolex started putting crown guards on their cases? I don't really see the purpose? I don't think that my crown would rub against stuff so much that it would become unwound if I didn't have crown guards? Anyway, would like to hear everyone's thoughts. And if someone has some pics of their NCG subs/gmts next to their subs/gmts with crown guards, as always we wouldn't mind seeing them! V/R Mike __________________ V/R Mike

8 July 2012, 01:35 PM	#2
ecsub44 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: US Watch: Sub Posts: 3,175	I don't think they're there to keep the crown from unwinding. They're there to protect it from smashing against something and breaking the crown/stem/tube. I MUCH prefer sans guards! __________________ *侘寂 -- wabi-sabi --* acceptance of transience and imperfection by finding beauty in that which is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete Commissioner of WEIRD POLICE , Badge # ecsub44

8 July 2012, 05:24 PM	#4
Dr. Robert 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Bob Location: U.S.A. Watch: 1655 Posts: 61,289	Why?......because they look cool. __________________ Founder & Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

27 October 2018, 10:09 AM	#19
linesiders 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: RedSox Nation Watch: U Talkn Bout Wilis Posts: 5,425	Would suck diving and have a line hang on your crown __________________ I'm a sailor peg. And I've lost my leg. Climbing up the top sails. I've lost my leg!

8 July 2012, 04:08 PM	#3
jjkapsberger Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 55	Not a happy thing to have something damage the crown or tube. A diver's watch with a damaged crown or tube is no longer a diver's watch. Crown guards, I reckon, lessen the chances of that happening. Happily, certain crown guards--square and original pointed--make early 5512s, the first model to feature them, very collectable, very valuable.

8 July 2012, 07:15 PM	#5
Mark020 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,091	Well: to guard the crowns?

8 July 2012, 08:42 PM	#6
How "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbourne Watch: 16610, Tudor 1960 Posts: 1,554	Maybe this question should be directed to Panerai. They seem to take their crown guards pretty seriously...

8 July 2012, 10:38 PM	#10
Naya72 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Naya Location: Kuwait Watch: Keep it simple Posts: 122	My Sub ND crown is perfect in size, function, and look.... that is why it needs the guard..

9 July 2012, 03:35 AM	#12
hatidua "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 158	I wish my Explorer-1 had crown guards, they've helped tremendously on several occasions with my Sub's & SD's.

9 July 2012, 04:10 AM	#13
chris333 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: N/A Posts: 167	I too love subs and gmts without guards. I read in a tudor booklet once that the purpose of the guards was in fact to stop the crown from unwinding should it scrape againt coral, etc.

10 July 2012, 12:29 AM	#14
Beelzy "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Chris Location: Cen-Cal Watch: 16610 Posts: 869	The CG are there to keep some of us who wear their watches through hell and back from snapping the crown off on a weekly basis. IMO

10 July 2012, 12:37 AM	#15
Silvio Mosiello "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: Matthew Location: Miami/NY Watch: the shoes. Posts: 3,482	Im going to take a shot in the dark here but Im going to suggest a theory that these steel mountains surrounding the crown are actually designed to not just protect,but guard the crown from all elements and danger that may come its way! Its a small caution to take to protect one of the most vulnerable parts of the watch!

10 July 2012, 07:05 PM	#16
mikkolopez "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philippines Posts: 2,301	While my Sun and Expy 2 have crown guards, I also like the look of the DJs (them without crown guards) a whole lot too. I guess my DJ won't see active sporty use to warrant a crown guard but my Sun and Expy 2 will need them. So the answer is function and activity.

26 October 2018, 02:16 PM	#17
ttechdoc "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 21	I'll bring this thread back. I have a Benrus mechanical Mil watch in my collection. It doesn't screw down and when I remove gloves or clothing I have popped the crown up a few times to the setting position.

27 October 2018, 01:51 AM	#18
R!$ Banned Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,405	Each has its own flair

27 October 2018, 04:58 PM	#20
Ishaan Banned Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: washington Posts: 12	great one

28 October 2018, 02:12 AM	#21
R.W.T. "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,973	I think it is fairly obvious that when diving or other physical activities, there are situations where one might smack the watch into a rock formation or part of the equipment on a boat. The issue being, ESPECIALLY with the bigger crown models....that's a large protruding object ...mostly on the open end for right-hand wearers...that if smacked could break off and flood the watch. They probably had this happen...and engineers came up with crown guards. Just my 2 cents. This would obviously carry over into any rigorous activity out of water that sports watches might be involved in. You can always grind them off :-) People do it. Take a new newer vintage sub and cut the guards and refinish the case and make the dial look retro for a "new vintage" custom.

28 October 2018, 05:00 AM	#22
SubKing "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA Watch: where do i start?? Posts: 3,254	my big knob of a crown keeps getting stuck on things as well. Should I just have someone laser weld some guards on for me?

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