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View Poll Results: When did Rolex stop being tool watches?
1970-1979 25 8.47%
1980-1989 23 7.80%
1990-1999 22 7.46%
2000-2009 54 18.31%
2010-present 81 27.46%
Bah! Rolex is still making tool watches! 90 30.51%
Voters: 295. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 20 April 2019, 11:43 PM   #31
watchmaker
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Originally Posted by dr35mm View Post
Just because they’re luxury items doesn’t mean they’re not tools. It all depends on how you use them. Example: a solid gold submariner is still a diver’s watch, just like the ss sub.


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Very true
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Old 20 April 2019, 11:43 PM   #32
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I can remember window shopping at Bucherers in Zürich and seeing an Omega wrist "marine chronometer" containing multiple quartz crystals for temperature stability and accuracy of (if I remember correctly) about one second per year.
You're speaking my language! Still keeps time to that same spec, which is 1 sec/month.
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Old 20 April 2019, 11:56 PM   #33
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I can't view a watch as a "tool" if I know I can get another watch that performs the very same functions even better for a lot less money.

For me, whether something is a "tool watch" is determined more by the market than by the manufacturer. Mechanical watches stopped being "tool watches" and started being unnecessary fashion/jewelry/accessory items once quartz watches became cheaper, more accurate, and just as waterproof.
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Old 21 April 2019, 12:00 AM   #34
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Huh? What were waterproof, steel watches pre-quartz if not tool watches?
They were just waterproof steel watches, same as the Timex Marlin.
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Old 21 April 2019, 12:07 AM   #35
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How the buyers use them, jewelry, investment, display, safe queen, whatever...is out of their control. The modern Rolex, even the pretty ones, are suitable as a tool. Expensive, unnecessarily decorated and even at times overpriced tools yes but so what. If they don't float your boat buy something else.
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Old 21 April 2019, 03:27 AM   #36
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They are still tool watches from a functional POV. Whether they get used as tools depends on the end user but as prices have become out of reach for many, by-in-large, those who can afford these watches aren’t the rugged individuals that originally bought/used them as tools. For most, they’re just status symbols and the last form of universally acceptable male jewelry.

But it doesn’t change the fact that these watches are just as capable as they have always been, if not more. When Rolex changes the depth rating of their divers to 100m and markets them as the best mechanical divers will be the day that they’re no longer tools.

The fact that there are better tools for a given job in the form of quartz, dive computers, cell phones, etc...is besides the point. There are innumerable examples of things we do day-to-day, like shaving with a razor, using a manual toothbrush, writing with a fountain pen, driving a manual car, etc...where there are “better” options. Doesn’t make any of those things any less of a tool.
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Old 21 April 2019, 03:36 AM   #37
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Transition from lug holes to non lug holes in references 16600, 16610, and 16710 was the beginning of the end of the “tool” watch in my opinion.
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Old 21 April 2019, 04:38 AM   #38
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I consider my SD4k a tool watch.


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Old 21 April 2019, 04:42 AM   #39
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Man, this tool stuff comes up almost as often as how much is this going to be worth threads.
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Old 21 April 2019, 04:57 AM   #40
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During late seventies early 1980s military and divers stopped needing them, computers and electronics far more capable and ubiquitous. Full phase out very much coincides with beginning of use of applied white gold surrounded lume.
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Old 21 April 2019, 04:59 AM   #41
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I really don’t understand a lot of the arguments here. Why wouldn’t any of the SS models still be considered tool watches? I mean they’re doing everything they did when they were considered tool watches -and arguably doing those things better. A lot of people say Tudor is now Rolex’s tool watch maker. I mean, why? Because one costs $3k instead of $8k? I don’t think a ceramic bezel suddenly invalidates a tool watch. I also don’t think necessity is a measure of a tool watch. My 216570? Definitely a tool watch.
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:02 AM   #42
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Still capable of rugged use.

The only thing that has changed is the user.
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:05 AM   #43
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Still capable of rugged use.

The only thing that has changed is the user.
I think you nailed it.
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:06 AM   #44
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When the GMT models got PCL.
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:12 AM   #45
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My argument is that it isn’t the best tool for the job anymore. Watches have rarely been a primary tool (other than stopwatches) as opposed to your weapon or camera or airplane or regulator or ice axe - so it stopped making sense when 10x less expensive and 10x more capable options became available. When rolex was 2 x more expensive for 1.1 x more capability I think it made sense. Today it’s highly capable and high value for money jewelry.
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:19 AM   #46
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A silly question and discussion
If you use it for the intended purpose, it is a tool.
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:24 AM   #47
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2000-2009 however a argument could be made that a few modern watches still could be considered “tool watches”
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:29 AM   #48
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Originally Posted by francoamerican View Post
My argument is that it isn’t the best tool for the job anymore. Watches have rarely been a primary tool (other than stopwatches) as opposed to your weapon or camera or airplane or regulator or ice axe - so it stopped making sense when 10x less expensive and 10x more capable options became available. When rolex was 2 x more expensive for 1.1 x more capability I think it made sense. Today it’s highly capable and high value for money jewelry.
But anything digital is... less durable and prone to replacements. A Rolex watch can be a great tool imo and offcourse a bit of a you know....
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Old 21 April 2019, 05:32 AM   #49
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Oh look, I just looked at my watch to see what time it is. Hmmm. Still a tool performing its job.

#thesecontinuingthreadsareridiculous
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Old 21 April 2019, 06:47 AM   #50
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Still capable of rugged use.

The only thing that has changed is the user.
Agreed.
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Old 21 April 2019, 07:29 AM   #51
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Originally Posted by CFR View Post
You're speaking my language! Still keeps time to that same spec, which is 1 sec/month.
Thanks for that photo! Beautiful! It was absolutely SOTA when it was introduced. I see the crystal frequency was 2.4 MHz which is much, much higher than the 32.8 KHz normally used today.

Can you tell me what type of battery(ies) it uses and how long they last? Did you buy the watch new, what year?
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Old 21 April 2019, 07:57 AM   #52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RJK View Post
The fact that there are better tools for a given job in the form of quartz, dive computers, cell phones, etc...is besides the point. There are innumerable examples of things we do day-to-day, like shaving with a razor, using a manual toothbrush, writing with a fountain pen, driving a manual car, etc...where there are “better” options. Doesn’t make any of those things any less of a tool.
A manual toothbrush is significantly inferior to an electric for the health of your teeth and gums. A fountain pen is almost a perfect parallel to a Rolex mechanical watch. They are expensive status symbols to show wealth. Unusable if you are a lefty. And when everyone is driving electric cars (including Ferrari's), people on the street will know exactly why you are driving either your 30 yr old rust bucket or a 1970's 911.
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Old 21 April 2019, 08:47 AM   #53
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Some people are spending a larger chunk of their disposable income - or even going into debt - to buy a watch than in the past. Those people tend to be very nervous, protective, and concerned about value retention. Give them a $200 Seiko that may look just as nice, and suddenly that’s a “tool watch” or a “beater.”

The watches Rolex makes are every bit as functional, reliable and robust as they’ve ever been. More so, in fact. The tool watch or not debate has much more to do with the owners than the watches.
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Old 21 April 2019, 11:39 AM   #54
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Some people are spending a larger chunk of their disposable income - or even going into debt - to buy a watch than in the past. Those people tend to be very nervous, protective, and concerned about value retention. Give them a $200 Seiko that may look just as nice, and suddenly that’s a “tool watch” or a “beater.”

The watches Rolex makes are every bit as functional, reliable and robust as they’ve ever been. More so, in fact. The tool watch or not debate has much more to do with the owners than the watches.


Well said!


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Old 21 April 2019, 12:00 PM   #55
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Originally Posted by subtona View Post
Still capable of rugged use.



The only thing that has changed is the user.


This.

Sure modern Rolex looks “flashier”, but it is also just as functionally capable (if not more so) as older models. IMO it’s the customer base that purchase a modern Rolex for the aesthetic and style first and the function a distant second.

Just this morning I took my Ceramic Sub on my PADI certification dive. It handled like a champ. Earlier this evening I put on formal attire and took my wife to a nice dinner. It looked as good with a wet suite as it did with a dress shirt. That’s versatility. That’s modern Rolex.

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Old 21 April 2019, 12:04 PM   #56
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Just this morning I took my Ceramic Sub on my PADI certification dive. It handled like a champ. Earlier this evening I put on formal attire and took my wife to a nice dinner. It looked as good with a wet suite as it did with a dress shirt. That’s versatility. That’s modern Rolex.

Congrats on your OW cert. Great to see the Sub underwater. I've been on many dives with my 16600, 116619, and 16613. Great backup bottom timers.
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Old 21 April 2019, 02:30 PM   #57
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You could go back as far as when plexiglass was replaced with sapphire crystal. I think lugholes going was the tipping point though. Then the 'redesign the icons' madness started.
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Old 21 April 2019, 03:24 PM   #58
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Thanks for that photo! Beautiful! It was absolutely SOTA when it was introduced. I see the crystal frequency was 2.4 MHz which is much, much higher than the 32.8 KHz normally used today.

Can you tell me what type of battery(ies) it uses and how long they last? Did you buy the watch new, what year?
Batteries I use are silver oxide 386/SR43W (130mAh) or 301/SR43SW 120mAh. I think they last 11 months.

I really got into these watches about 10-12 years ago and bought several of them (cal 1511 and 1516) preowned, all with papers. Got lucky. Also picked up some of their siblings -- the cal 1510 with the blue aventurine glass dial in SS and YG.
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Old 21 April 2019, 03:35 PM   #59
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Batteries I use are silver oxide 386/SR43W (130mAh) or 301/SR43SW 120mAh. I think they last 11 months.



I really got into these watches about 10-12 years ago and bought several of them (cal 1511 and 1516) preowned, all with papers. Got lucky. Also picked up some of their siblings -- the cal 1510 with the blue aventurine glass dial in SS and YG.


They are awesome looking.


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Old 21 April 2019, 04:05 PM   #60
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A silly question and discussion
If you use it for the intended purpose, it is a tool.
And a watches' intended purpose is to tell the time.
That would make any watch that tells the time a "tool watch".
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