Would Rolex ever dare..

[Bayarea7]

..to make a Deep Sea Dweller with some or all gold/PM? Not something I personally want to see nor think would make sense...BUT just pondering since the explorer recently got the touch of gold that seems to be out of place

[csaltphoto]

Hmmm. Gold is certainly softer than SS so not sure about case deformation at depth. TT wouldn't be a problem.

[CarlOver]

I would venture a guess and say no since this is their most serious tool watch but the Sea Dweller has TT option.

[Turbo Racer]

I hope not. Personally, I think Rolex has gotten a bit carried away with the precious metal watches.

[sleepydoc]

Well the Explorer does have TT roots.

[TswaneNguni]

No

[Ensign]

Well, there’s a two tone Sea Dweller and Explorer I. A Deep Sea in solid gold would be quite a statement piece.

[fskywalker]

Well a PT JC would be really heavy!


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[joli160]

SS corrodes in seawater, gold doesn’t, inert and as such is by far the superior metal for any diving watch.
The PCL’s may even help to attract some Barracuda’s, very tasty

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

Well the Explorer does have TT roots.

Does it?

Which model?

[ROLEX*]

So what…life still goes on.

[ROLEX*]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

Does it?

Which model?

https://www.rolex.com/watches/explor...4273-0001.html

[Bayarea7]

Wow I’m a little embarrassed the TT deep sea went over my head. No idea it existed. Well that partially answers my questions lol

And I didn’t know the explorer had TT roots?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

Well the Explorer does have TT roots.

Interestingly, so do the original watches that went to the bottom of the Mariana trench in 1960.
So I suppose anything is possible with the DSSD if Rolex deems there is enough of a connection.
All the centre links, the Glidelock on the clasp and the rotating Dive bezel and Winding crown could all be Gold in a heartbeat if Rolex wanted to do it as there's no technical impediment what so ever

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Well a PT JC would be really heavy!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Quite right.
When one considers that, any addition of PM to the DSSD would add weight to a watch that people are complaining about being too heavy, top heavy, etc.
Besides, the original design brief for the DSSD was that it had to be wearable, so making it heavier in any way would theoretically be against it's DNA

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Turbo Racer

I hope not. Personally, I think Rolex has gotten a bit carried away with the precious metal watches.

I might be inclined to disown Rolex if they did make the DSSD with a TT variant
But I'll still keep my 116660's as testaments to the pinnacle of the glory days of the Rolex tool watch before they went outright luxury

[brandrea]

It would wear like a brick

[7enderbender]

I guess they will make whatever sells and fits into their perception of brand recognition. So, unfortunately, this can’t be ruled out.
For me this makes absolutely no sense. Not just because I find things made from gold ugly and tacky but it goes against the purpose of these watches.

[JayHantz]

I really do not see why they would execute it in a TT or PM option, but I never thought the Explorer would be in TT and definitely never suspected a TT SD43 option either. Rolex will do what Rolex wants to do, but it would not be something I would want on my wrist.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by 7enderbender

I guess they will make whatever sells and fits into their perception of brand recognition. So, unfortunately, this can’t be ruled out.
For me this makes absolutely no sense. Not just because I find things made from gold ugly and tacky but it goes against the purpose of these watches.

It is quite the opposite if you look at it objectively

[Gab27]

I'm not sure if it would be technically possible to make a full PM model and maintain its current capabilities.

[Megalobyte]

What they should do is make a DeepSea in grade 5 titanium.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

Well the Explorer does have TT roots.

Well, sort of... The 1016 had YG hands/gilt dial, but not sure I'd call that "TT" per se.

Originally Posted by 7enderbender

I guess they will make whatever sells and fits into their perception of brand recognition. So, unfortunately, this can’t be ruled out.
For me this makes absolutely no sense. Not just because I find things made from gold ugly and tacky but it goes against the purpose of these watches.

I think the "what sells" is going to be the issue here. That much gold is going to be very, very expensive and perhaps the market just isn't really there for it? Guessing it would have to be on an OF, and the bracelet in gold would make it prohibitively expensive (or at least lead to a misalignment of those willing to spend that on a gold watch and those interested in wearing a watch that looked like that).

Originally Posted by Gab27

I'm not sure if it would be technically possible to make a full PM model and maintain its current capabilities.

FWIW, Omega makes its 600m PO in gold. I know that DSSD goes deeper, but this suggests that deep-diving PM watches can be made. Also, none of its solid gold divers come on solid gold bracelets, only straps, which supports my assertion above.

[Bayarea7]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Well, sort of... The 1016 had YG hands/gilt dial, but not sure I'd call that "TT" per se.



I think the "what sells" is going to be the issue here. That much gold is going to be very, very expensive and perhaps the market just isn't really there for it? Guessing it would have to be on an OF, and the bracelet in gold would make it prohibitively expensive (or at least lead to a misalignment of those willing to spend that on a gold watch and those interested in wearing a watch that looked like that).



FWIW, Omega makes its 600m PO in gold. I know that DSSD goes deeper, but this suggests that deep-diving PM watches can be made. Also, none of its solid gold divers come on solid gold bracelets, only straps, which supports my assertion above.

The older PO did come on a bracelet. But I get what you’re saying.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Bayarea7

The older PO did come on a bracelet. But I get what you’re saying.

Wonder how the price of gold compares then vs now? I think that it’s perhaps a bit odd to have a scenario where the gold version of the PO costs substantially more than the gold heritage SM 300, while the reverse is true for the steel versions.

[sleepydoc]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

Does it?

Which model?

My 5701. Believe it shares the Air King case from same era.
OldExpatBeast has much knowledge and posted pics before.

[douglasf13]

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

Well the Explorer does have TT roots.

This is a YG Explorer from 1955, so the Explorer definitely has roots in PM.

https://www.vintagegoldwatches.com/p...explorer-dial/

[sleepydoc]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...1#post11993091

See vintage TT Explorer in this thread.

[Gab27]

Originally Posted by dannyp

FWIW, Omega makes its 600m PO in gold. I know that DSSD goes deeper, but this suggests that deep-diving PM watches can be made. Also, none of its solid gold divers come on solid gold bracelets, only straps, which supports my assertion above.

I didn't realize this existed!