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SS Oyster · 15 February 2019, 02:46 AM

Went to get my Jeep Rubicon Recon oil change service done this morning and met this great American named John.

He was wearing a Navy ball cap, so being a retired officer myself I struck up a conversation with him. Turns out he was a helmet diver who started his career as an E1 in 1960.

I told him about my father, who was a scuba diver who started his career in 1958.

I asked him if he happened to still have his service issued dive watch. He smiled wide and said, “Yes, it’s a Rolex”.

He proudly pulled up hid left sleeve and removed his Velcro black nylon strap and handed me his Tudor Submariner. I asked if I could take a picture. He approved.

Here is his Sub - never been serviced or polished. No, I did not offer to buy it. He said he never takes it off, but allowed me to hold and photo it because of our Navy brotherhood.

This beautiful watch has been to depth all over the world in every ocean during his 30 years as he rose through the ranks from E1 to CWO4 (chief warrant officer).

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Maxy · 15 February 2019, 02:48 AM

Quote:

"He smiled wide and said, “Yes, it’s a Rolex”."

Great story but that's not a Rolex!

FrontHeadlock · 15 February 2019, 02:49 AM

Amazing. Great piece of history. Was there anything interesting on the back to commemorate it's purpose?

tie219 · 15 February 2019, 02:50 AM

Wow, cool story, thanks for sharing. Must have great memories to go with it.

Rick_Nashville · 15 February 2019, 02:51 AM

Nice encounter, beautiful watch, fantastic patina, and a great back story. Thank you both for your service!

-Rick.

SS Oyster · 15 February 2019, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxy

Great story but that's not a Rolex!

It is in every way other than dial and movement. Not sure if this would be ETA but pretty strong automatic running since 1960 with no service.

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SS Oyster · 15 February 2019, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrontHeadlock

Amazing. Great piece of history. Was there anything interesting on the back to commemorate it's purpose?

I wanted to see the caseback so bad, but it was on a cheap NATOish strap that looked to be involved to get to the caseback.

I left him my contact info. If I meet up with him again, I’ll get pics of the caseback.

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pickettt · 15 February 2019, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxy

Great story but that's not a Rolex!

In this case, it’s better than a Rolex.

DonBateman · 15 February 2019, 02:55 AM

What a story. Amazing.

pandrew · 15 February 2019, 02:57 AM

Great story and thank you very much for your service.

SS Oyster · 15 February 2019, 02:57 AM

The provenance is so incredible. Each story was so interesting from diving dredges in Vietnam to diving for king crab in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

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jaySL350 · 15 February 2019, 02:59 AM

Great story,,
Thanks for sharing,,

Ian Macdermott · 15 February 2019, 03:01 AM

Great story and a great looking watch.

shaunylw · 15 February 2019, 03:12 AM

That is awesome. I tell my dad all the time how disappointed I am that he never picked up a Rolex during his 20-year service career.

Rocketman39 · 15 February 2019, 03:15 AM

Great Story. Thanks for Sharing ! The hands are in Amazing shape. The hands on my 5513 from 65 have been replace Twice. This proves Tudor is also a Fine Time Piece !

r8t3d_M · 15 February 2019, 03:16 AM

Wow! Pretty awesome story..

Jason71 · 15 February 2019, 03:16 AM

The chamfers on that watch are sublime. THIS watch is a good example of the reason to forego getting your watch polished.

Thanks for sharing. Utterly fantastic

subprimero · 15 February 2019, 03:28 AM

Great story!

burnthesehills · 15 February 2019, 03:30 AM

What a cool encounter! I love it. Thanks for sharing.

037 · 15 February 2019, 03:31 AM

Outstanding. Great encounter.

blufinz52 · 15 February 2019, 03:35 AM

Great story! Love the watch.

HogwldFLTR · 15 February 2019, 03:38 AM

Cool watch and great story. I'm certain the divers didn't care that it was a Chevy vs a GMC. Made by the same company even though it is a wholly owned subsidiary.

RichM · 15 February 2019, 03:41 AM

Great looking watch and story. Thank you both for your service and sharing his story.

DP63 · 15 February 2019, 03:51 AM

Cool story and cool watch.

Jster · 15 February 2019, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandrew

Great story and thank you very much for your service.

Agreed!

BLNR Nairobi · 15 February 2019, 04:09 AM

Thank you for the story. Beautiful.

carlhaluss · 15 February 2019, 04:21 AM

Great chance encounter, and beautiful story. That watch looks amazing as it is. Would be a shame to mess it up with a polish.

Thanks for sharing this!

Cheers,
Carl

toomann · 15 February 2019, 04:31 AM

Well done!

Albatross · 15 February 2019, 04:57 AM

Wow...talk about a "tool watch". That piece defines the word. It looks as if it was used as intended and has served its owner well as he served all of us well.

Many thanks to you both for your service!

Hendrikus · 15 February 2019, 05:01 AM

A timely reminder what a watch is for. No flippers in those days I suspect!

Stunning watch and a lovely story - thanks for sharing

15 February 2019, 02:46 AM	#1
SS Oyster "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: USA Posts: 8,800	Met Retired Navy Diver today .... and his service issued Tudor Sub Went to get my Jeep Rubicon Recon oil change service done this morning and met this great American named John. He was wearing a Navy ball cap, so being a retired officer myself I struck up a conversation with him. Turns out he was a helmet diver who started his career as an E1 in 1960. I told him about my father, who was a scuba diver who started his career in 1958. I asked him if he happened to still have his service issued dive watch. He smiled wide and said, “Yes, it’s a Rolex”. He proudly pulled up hid left sleeve and removed his Velcro black nylon strap and handed me his Tudor Submariner. I asked if I could take a picture. He approved. Here is his Sub - never been serviced or polished. No, I did not offer to buy it. He said he never takes it off, but allowed me to hold and photo it because of our Navy brotherhood. This beautiful watch has been to depth all over the world in every ocean during his 30 years as he rose through the ranks from E1 to CWO4 (chief warrant officer). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

15 February 2019, 03:01 AM	#13
Ian Macdermott "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2015 Real Name: Willy.B.Banned Location: Sheol Watch: ing the detectives Posts: 2,721	Great story and a great looking watch. __________________ Welax no one other than wobblers muggers and sad WIS types notices your Wolex. The rest of the populace are way too busy staring at their shiny new iPhone 24s or worrying about paying the gas bill..

15 February 2019, 03:16 AM	#17
Jason71 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Jason Location: USA Watch: Rolex/Tudor Divers Posts: 7,973	The chamfers on that watch are sublime. THIS watch is a good example of the reason to forego getting your watch polished. Thanks for sharing. Utterly fantastic __________________ Best Regards, Jason Just Say "NO" to Polishing Card-Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch Curmudgeons LIfe is too short to wear inexpensive watches PLEXI IS SEXY

15 February 2019, 03:38 AM	#22
HogwldFLTR 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Real Name: Lee Location: 42.48.45N70.48.48 Watch: What's on my wrist Posts: 33,256	Cool watch and great story. I'm certain the divers didn't care that it was a Chevy vs a GMC. Made by the same company even though it is a wholly owned subsidiary. __________________ Troglodyte in residence! https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=808599

15 February 2019, 03:41 AM	#23
RichM 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Real Name: Richie Location: "Nowhere Man" Watch: out now,take care! Posts: 28,166	Great looking watch and story. Thank you both for your service and sharing his story. __________________ "I love to work at nothing all day" TRF #139960

15 February 2019, 02:49 AM	#3
FrontHeadlock "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: USA Posts: 377	Amazing. Great piece of history. Was there anything interesting on the back to commemorate it's purpose?

15 February 2019, 02:50 AM	#4
tie219 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Real Name: Troy Location: Houston, TX Watch: 16710 GMT, BBR Posts: 926	Wow, cool story, thanks for sharing. Must have great memories to go with it.

15 February 2019, 02:51 AM	#5
Rick_Nashville 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,460	Nice encounter, beautiful watch, fantastic patina, and a great back story. Thank you both for your service! -Rick.

15 February 2019, 02:55 AM	#9
DonBateman Banned Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: IL Watch: I like watch Posts: 753	What a story. Amazing.

15 February 2019, 02:57 AM	#10
pandrew "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: USA Watch: Meteorite Daytona Posts: 367	Great story and thank you very much for your service.

15 February 2019, 02:59 AM	#12
jaySL350 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Real Name: jay Location: North London Watch: BBG,Hulk,16013,DJB Posts: 3,278	Great story,, Thanks for sharing,,

15 February 2019, 03:12 AM	#14
shaunylw "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Here Posts: 4,504	That is awesome. I tell my dad all the time how disappointed I am that he never picked up a Rolex during his 20-year service career.

15 February 2019, 03:15 AM	#15
Rocketman39 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Florida Watch: 5513,Hulk,GMTII Posts: 364	Great Story. Thanks for Sharing ! The hands are in Amazing shape. The hands on my 5513 from 65 have been replace Twice. This proves Tudor is also a Fine Time Piece !

15 February 2019, 03:16 AM	#16
r8t3d_M "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Real Name: Felipe Location: NYC Watch: Me ;) Posts: 2,894	Wow! Pretty awesome story..

15 February 2019, 03:28 AM	#18
subprimero "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Real Name: John Location: Texas Watch: 14060 Posts: 3,431	Great story!

15 February 2019, 03:30 AM	#19
burnthesehills "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Real Name: Joe Location: Western MA Posts: 1,209	What a cool encounter! I love it. Thanks for sharing.

15 February 2019, 03:31 AM	#20
037 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA Posts: 6,171	Outstanding. Great encounter.

15 February 2019, 03:35 AM	#21
blufinz52 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: Mike Location: NH Watch: 116400GV 124060 Posts: 1,169	Great story! Love the watch.

15 February 2019, 03:51 AM	#24
DP63 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Real Name: DP Location: Scotland Watch: 18078 Posts: 795	Cool story and cool watch. __________________ 114060 - 116200 - 114300 - 18078

15 February 2019, 04:09 AM	#26
BLNR Nairobi "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Real Name: Tony Location: Global Watch: All of them. Posts: 1,104	Thank you for the story. Beautiful.

15 February 2019, 04:21 AM	#27
carlhaluss "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Carl Location: Vancouver, Canada Watch: Rolex Explorer 1 Posts: 1,780	Great chance encounter, and beautiful story. That watch looks amazing as it is. Would be a shame to mess it up with a polish. Thanks for sharing this! Cheers, Carl __________________ Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied.

15 February 2019, 04:31 AM	#28
toomann "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: columbus, ohio Watch: Oyster Perpetual Posts: 253	Well done!

15 February 2019, 04:57 AM	#29
Albatross "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 182	Wow...talk about a "tool watch". That piece defines the word. It looks as if it was used as intended and has served its owner well as he served all of us well. Many thanks to you both for your service!

15 February 2019, 05:01 AM	#30
Hendrikus 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Norfolk, UK Watch: All of them... Posts: 796	A timely reminder what a watch is for. No flippers in those days I suspect! Stunning watch and a lovely story - thanks for sharing __________________ A collector of Rolex, Patek, Vacheron, JLC and Cartier

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