Rolex Deepsea and Tudor Pelagos head to head

[Sublovin]

First off, I am far from a professional photographer, so no rude remarks there
I have long said that the Rolex Deepsea Sea Dweller represents the flagship of dive watches in the Rolex line, and the Pelagos does the same for Tudor. I am a sucker for a black dive watch, and in my opinion these are two of the best by an brand! Both watches have plenty which are unique to them and separate them from being the run of the mill 100m -300m dive 40mm dive watch that every brand, including Rolex, seems to have no shortage of.
I have wanted to take a couple side by side pictures for a while, and decided to do that recently with the old iPhone, while I had both off the bracelets. I realize my photos are not very well done, but you can still see that both are substantial watches. Couple things to point out from each

DSSD
-Beautiful domed crystal
-Huge crown makes for easy function
-44mm case is substantial and thick as well which sets it apart among the sea of 40mm watches out there.
--Beautiful dial can almost appear tropical/brown in certain sunlight conditions.
-The greatest depth rating of any Rolex ever produced



Pelagos
-Great new in house movement with 3 day power reserve
-Excellent bezel action with a stop at 12:00
-Gorgeous matte dial and bezel, with the bezel markers fully lumed
-42mm Titanium case makes it very lightweight
-Greatest depth rating of any Tudor ever produced


For all of the NATO haters out there, I showed them both on an Admiralty grey NATO. I am a huge NATO fan for my watches which I wear when active. It is a comfortable, and classic look in my opinion. It's tough to choose a favorite, though I prefer both to a Submariner. I will say that the in water visibility of the Pelagos is pretty amazing, but nothing in the Rolex lineup beats the thick domed crystal on the DSSD.

Just wanted to share

[iheartrolexx]

no comparison

[darrenho]

Thanks for sharing and doing the side-by-side.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by iheartrolexx

no comparison

Agreed, that Pelagos kicks a$$!
dP

[The Libertine]

Would pick the Pelagos any day over the DSSD.

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Agreed, that Pelagos kicks a$$!
dP

It really does! I didn’t even mention the chamfer on the lugs...
If we are all honest with ourselves, if the Pelagos said “Rolex” on the dial, it would have a wait list and be selling grey market for $15,000!

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Sublovin

It really does! I didn’t even mention the chamfer on the lugs...
If we are all honest with ourselves, if the Pelagos said “Rolex” on the dial, it would have a wait list and be selling grey market for $15,000!

Excellent comparison thread, btw.
dP

[KeithP]

It’s too bad the photos are such crap.

Seriously, it is a great comparison, and I think I lean towards the Pelagos as well. Amazing piece and arguably the best dive watch Rolex makes

[rolexinfl]

Pelagos over the Deepsea all day long

[Sublovin]

^^Thanks guys!

[Pw92676]

Very cool. Haven’t seen them side by side before. Don’t own either but like both.

[desmomini]

I have both, and they both are so different on a daily basis.

The Pelagos is so light, so slim, and so simple to wear, it's easy to forget you have it on.

The Deepsea is so commanding, has such presence, and such heft, it's impossible to ignore it.

For travel or occasions where I want to go "under the radar", the Pelagos is the choice.

For times when I want to stand out from the crowd, it's the Deepsea.

I also have a Submariner Date Ceramic and a 007 Seamaster, which fit somewhere in between.

Now I just have to learn to dive!!

[samson66]

If I'm picking between those two I'm going with the Pelagos.

The DSSD is just way too thick, and it's heavy, and to me the SD43 is just so much the more wearable watch. The DSSD is just a way you brag to your friends about.

Plus the Pelagos lume is just insane..........

[brandrea]

Great comparison, th asks for sharing

[skyseadweller]

my 3 divers ... now i just need a sd43 a sd4k and a no date sub

[IMG][/IMG]

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by samson66

If I'm picking between those two I'm going with the Pelagos.

The DSSD is just way too thick, and it's heavy, and to me the SD43 is just so much the more wearable watch. The DSSD is just a way you brag to your friends about.

Plus the Pelagos lume is just insane..........

Interesting perspective. I had the SD43 and much prefer the DSSD. I certainly don’t see it as a brag piece at all, other than bragging of the technical aspect. Bragging is for the Pepsi’s Hulks and Daytona’s.

[MikeyV]

Wow, that DSSD is thiccccc.

I have a Blue Pelagos, and I though that was thick. Thick enough for me. I wear a DJ41 daily.

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by desmomini

I have both, and they both are so different on a daily basis.

The Pelagos is so light, so slim, and so simple to wear, it's easy to forget you have it on.

The Deepsea is so commanding, has such presence, and such heft, it's impossible to ignore it.

For travel or occasions where I want to go "under the radar", the Pelagos is the choice.

For times when I want to stand out from the crowd, it's the Deepsea.

I also have a Submariner Date Ceramic and a 007 Seamaster, which fit somewhere in between.

Now I just have to learn to dive!!

I wouldn’t call Pelagos slim, but certainly easy to wear. Pretty much every aspect of it is better than the Sub in my eyes. Don’t get me wrong, the Sub is THE classic, but Tudor got it right with the Pelagos!

[BSG75]

Thanks for the comparison! I really like the tool watch vibe and simplicity of the Pelagos! That's a lot of watch for the money!

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by BSG75

Thanks for the comparison! I really like the tool watch vibe and simplicity of the Pelagos! That's a lot of watch for the money!

For sure
The DSSD is incredible, but I have said before that the Pelagos is one of the best values in the crazy world of fine mechanical watches.
I wear it on vacations frequently and sometimes just find myself staring at it.
Both incredible watches.

[Lemieux66]

Current owner of the blue Pelagos and I think it’s more or less the best dive watch around. I’ve had 114060, 116610 and DSSD too. I do love the Deepsea though. The uniqueness and over-engineering really appeals to me. And the fact it’s a relative bargain pre-owned helps too.

[Lemieux66]

Originally Posted by Sublovin

For sure
The DSSD is incredible, but I have said before that the Pelagos is one of the best values in the crazy world of fine mechanical watches.
I wear it on vacations frequently and sometimes just find myself staring at it.
Both incredible watches.

Agree. I’ve had my blue Pelagos since April this year and every time I put it on I’m so impressed. Just love it.

[JasChCh]

Thanks for this comparison, it's very interesting.

I have a DSSD and a Tudor Black Bay for my dive watches....I know it's not quite a Pelagos but there are some things about the Black Bay that I wish the DSSD had!

As you mentioned, the Bezel that has a stop at 12 is just so helpful, and would be especially more so with a 120 click bezel like the DSSD has...can't tell you how many times I have lined it up at 12 only to find it's a half click out.

That said - I just adore the DSSD and can't get enough of staring at the domed crystal and how it interacts with the dial. It's my favorite by far.

Loved the DSSD on the NATO too....might have to get one!

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Sublovin

Interesting perspective. I had the SD43 and much prefer the DSSD. I certainly don’t see it as a brag piece at all, other than bragging of the technical aspect. Bragging is for the Pepsi’s Hulks and Daytona’s.

I should have been more specific, the technical aspect (depth rating) is exactly what I was referring to when I say it's a piece you brag to your friends about. To me if you want a larger more capable Rolex diver the SD43 is pretty close to perfect. The DSSD seems to me to just be there for Rolex to show off as a technical accomplishment rather than a daily wearer. I think the SD is much easier to use as daily. I love the DSSD but it is just soooooo thick that it just doesn't look right to my eyes and wears a lot more tip heavy.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S10 using Tapatalk

[Etschell]

Sd4k vs pelagos is a better comparison

[Spartacus]

Current Pelagos owner, it’s great. I have been thinking of getting DSSD for many years.

I think I’m reading that it’s best to have both.

[djgallo]

Originally Posted by Etschell

Sd4k vs pelagos is a better comparison

I agree. DSSD and Pelagos are like apples and oranges. I like them both!

[kieselguhr]

I like the ETA Pelagos myself. Wish I bought one years ago. Then again there’s the LHD Pelagos


AOW

[Nanasaka90]

Google the "Rolex Deepsea Challenge", it goes far deeper than the Deepsea...

[quichedem]

Seeing them side-by-side, I wonder, had the DSSD originally come with more beveling on the lugs, if that would have made it not seem so monsterous and if that thinking could have translated to the maxi case. Seems that could have made it less polarizing.