Here’s a sharp looking new piece from Vulcain. Unfortunately these watches are next to impossible to find the US. This watch is limited to 100 pieces and was produced in concert with Vulcain’s sponsorship of the 2012 Vulcain Trophy regatta. The watch features Vulcain’s famous “cricket” alarm movement, with a second time zone controlled via the screw-down crown located at 4 o’clock.
Update: An informed reader pointed out that Arizona Fine Time is a US retailer of Vulcain, if anyone is interested.
Vulcain Aviator Dual-Time Trophy
Limited edition 100 pieces
42mm steel case (14.45mm thick), manual-wind mechanical Vulcain Manufacture Caliber V-10 (cricket) alarm, 42 hrs power reserve), blue rubber strap
Breitling presents the 44mm Superocean Chronograph II with a new red rubber bezel. This new version is limited to 2,000 individually numbered pieces.
See all of Perpetuelle’s DIVE Watch Coverage HERE >>>
Breitling Superocean Chronograph II RED
Limited, numbered edition 2,000 pieces
44mm polished steel case, 500 meter water resistance, unidirectional bezel, automatic mechanical Breilting Caliber 13 (COSC),
by Kyle Stults on May 09, 2012
As we first saw in January 2012 (thanks, Hodinkee), Audemars Piguet is launching the Royal Oak Offshore Diver in a forged carbon case with ceramic bezel this year. This is the second model in the ROO Diver line, the first being the AP ROO Diver Ref 15703 which debuted to much acclaim in 2010. Unchanged from the Ref 15703 are the dimensions (42mm, 13.75mm thick), mega-tapisserie dial, inner-rotating timing ring, and the AP Caliber 3120 automatic movement. However, the yellow accents (in particular the 15-minute arc on the timing ring) and forged carbon case unquestionably breathe more life into this new piece as compared to its monotone sibling. As for me — despite the 9-word long name and the IWC Aquatimer 2000 (Ref 356810)-like colors — I like it.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Royal Oak Forged Carbon
42mm forged carbon case, AP automatic mechanical Caliber 3120, inner rotating ring with diving scale, luminescent hour-markers and hands, rubber strap
Wrist Shot by Jason Heaton @HODINKEE
The Audemars Piguet ROO Diver Ref 15703
Three years ago Hublot announced itself as a sponsor of Team Alinghi in the 33rd America’s Cup — taking the torch from Audemars Piguet. Today, Hublot announced that it will again sponsor Team Alinghi for the 2012 season, and to mark the occasion, Alinghi leader Ernesto Bertarelli and Jean-Claude Biver have unveiled the new Hublot Team Alinghi watch, limited to just 100 numbered pieces. The watch is the King Power Alinghi 4000 dive watch. It is made completely from carbon and water resistant to 4000 meters. Yes, we’ve essentially seen this watch before — the Hublot Oceanographic 4000 carbon fiber, but there are subtle changes such as the Team Alinghi colors and logo. I’ve said before that I like how the Oceanographic turned out — it is a great dive watch and something that Hublot can build off of, as we see here! As an aside, I’m still wondering when we are going to get the *official* announcement of the Hublot 1000m dive watch.
More America’s Cup >>> Louis Vuitton Tambour Regatta America’s Cup Watch
Hublot King Power Alinghi 4000
Limited, numbered edition 100 pieces
48mm carbon fiber case and bezel, 4000 meter water resistance, automatic mechanical movement; fitted on black rubber+Nomex strap with black ceramic buckle
My favorite Rolex blog, Rolex Passion, brings me to the fascinating story of a Rolex Seadweller Ref 1665 “Patent Pending” watch. Turns out this story is not Rolex Passion’s, but rather a Mr. Daniel Bourn, a vintage Rolex Watch Dealer who runs Vintage DB blog. In December 2011 Vintage DB presented a pair of Rolex 1665 Double Red PATENT PENDING Sea-Dwellers with consecutive serials, which were originally delivered to 2 divers for testing purposes while they were working for dive exploration companies other Comex in the late 1960s. The general consensus among collectors is that Rolex developed the Helium Gas Escape Valve (HEV) in conjunction with Comex during the late 1960s via testing of the HEV & non HEV model ref.1665 Patent Pending Sea-Dwellers. Shortly after acquiring the aforementioned pair of 1665 Patent Pending Sea-Dwellers, Vintage DB serendipitously discovered another original owner example of the Rolex ref. 1665 ‘PATENT PENDING Sea-Dweller’, but of a slightly different provenance….issued by Rolex for testing purposes to a US Navyman in the late 1960s….and so the story goes…loaded with pics, original letters from Rolex, and on and on…RECOMMEND!
Rolex 1665 Double Red Seadweller “Patent Pending”
© Copyright Daniel Bourn www.vintage-db.com
Here’s a look at a new and rather interesting dive watch from Oris, the Tubbataha Regulator. I say interesting because this is the first that I recall seeing a dive watch in the “regulator” style; more often a regulator is used in a Pilot’s watch (i.e. Bell & Ross WWII Bomber Regulator Watch) or other more classical styles (Patek Ref 5235 Regualtor, Glashütte Original Strasser & Rohde Regulator., Milus Zetios Regulator, etc.). Being a regulator, the emphasis is placed on the minutes — thus on this watch the large, central-set hand which indicates the minutes; the hours and minutes are clearly indicated on the sub dials. The model name refers to the Tubbataha Reefs National Park in the Philippines, home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, and a percentage of every Oris Tubbataha Limited Edition model sold is donated towards the conservation of the reef and its astonishing diversity of marine life. I like it.
Oris Tubbatha Regulator Dive Watch
limited edition 2,000 pieces
46mm titanium case, water resistant 500 meters, automatic mechanical movement (Sellita SW220 with regulator), helium escape valve, blue ceramic bezel inlay, blue dial and dark orange Superluminova indexes and hands, available with a black rubber strap with an extending titanium security folding clasp or with a multi-piece titanium metal bracelet with an extending folding clasp
Ref. No. 749 7663 7185
First look…
Here is an *unofficial* first look at a new dive watch from Hublot, the Hublot Oceanographic 1000m diver. This model was previewed by Hublot in Basel, Switzerland last month — but on the whole it was kept off radar. But I am fairly confident it will be officially announced sometime soon. Anyway…it is a more “mainstream” version of the impressive Oceanographic 4000m dive watch (additional 4000m looks HERE, and the “carbon fiber Oceanographic HERE) that Hublot launched at Baselworld 2011 (March 2011). Full specs are not yet released, but here’s what I know: case is 48mm titanium, water resistance rating is (obviously) 1000 meters, and lastly you can see it is a chronograph — operable under water (not so obvious). The fact that it is a chronograph explains why the crown for the inner rotating bezel is on the top-left of the watch — unlike the Oceanographic 4000 meter watches, which were not chronographs. I like where Hublot is headed with the Oceanographic line — distinct look, impressive specs — I just hope that they don’t water it down with myriad one-off limited editions like they do with the Big Bang and King Power.
Hublot Oceanographic 1000m Dive Watch
48mm titanium case, 1000 meter/3300 feet water resistance, inner rotating bezel, chronograph
photo: thewatchobserver.fr
The only thing better than the history of a watch is the history behind one of its examples. We all must agree that military watches, Rolex or otherwise, share a unique place in history. They have been present at places in time that many of us can only read about or watch in documentaries or hear our grandparents tell stories about. But when the opportunity arrives to own one of these military watches, the desire to know where it has been present in history becomes overwhelming.
Vintage Rolex dealer Robert Maron has been known to offer a few well known but “rarely seen in the wild” Rolex’s — such as the 1665 Double Red Sea-Dweller Submariner, Red 1680 Submariner, “Paul Newman” Daytona, and 16610 COMEX, to name a few. But the one piece that recently attracted my attention the most is the military Submariner, ref. 5513, shown below. This MilSub stood out because it is being sold with a letter written by a Major in the British Special Forces that relates about some of the action the watch was present for, and photographs of the watch in action. Click through to RobertMaron.com for more info and pics on this incredible timepiece with and its fascinating provenance.
Rolex MilSub Ref 5513
offered by Robert Maron, Inc.
Photo used with permission from RobertMaron.com
DEEP SEA HISTORY MADE!
UPDATE: National Geographic images confirm of Jim Cameron emerging from the Deepsea Challenger with the Rolex was “on board” — see images below
WOW — this is so exciting on so many levels — far beyond Rolex — but given what this blog exists for, I will maintain my focus: National Geographic now reports: Stuffed into a “vertical torpedo”, Filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron has become the first person to make a solo dive to the deepest place on Earth, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. AND — if all went according to plan — the Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch went with him! UPDATE: I believe that the first photo shown below confirms that the Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch did indeed make the journey on the outside of the vessel!
As of 5:52 p.m. ET (7:52 a.m. on Monday, local time), James Cameron has arrived at the Mariana Trench’s “Challenger Deep” — the deepest place on Earth. His depth on arrival: 35,756 feet (10,898 meters)—a figure unattainable anywhere else in the ocean. In follow up to my prior extensive look at the Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch produced for this mission, here are some follow up photos of the watch on Cameron’s vessel, the 24-foot-tall (7-meter-tall) DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. http://deepseachallenge.com for more det’s.
PERPETUELLE EXCLUSIVE REPORTS: The Rolex DEEP Sea Special (1960). The Rolex DEEPSEA CHALLENGE (2012).
Photos of the Rolex Deepsea Challenge Affixed to the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER
As seen upon Jim Cameron’s successful exit from his vessel — confirming that the Rolex Deepsea Challenge was along for the ride!
Cameron wearing a Rolex Deepsea
Photos of the Rolex Deepsea Challenge Affixed to the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER
Video / Photos by National Geographic
(please note that these photos are from training dives, not the actual mission)
VIDEO
The DEEPSEA CHALLENGER
Photograph by Mark Thiessen, National Geographic
Comparison of the TRIESTE (1960) and the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER (2012):
Tudor’s new Pelagos dive watch bares resemblances to the old Tudor Submariner’s from the 1960′s and 1970′s; specifically, the Snowflake hands. But the case and bezel insert are also reminiscent of the vintage Tudor Sub’s. The bracelet is quite interesting, with a self-adjusting bracelet which adjusts based upon your depth/water pressure (see video below).
Press Release:
The new TUDOR Pelagos, waterproof to a depth of 500 metres (1640 feet), is a fusion of technology and innovation. Its sporting character and impeccable reliability will meet the requirements of lovers of the deep and those passionate about the vital marine environment.
TECHNICAL MASTERY A diving tool par excellence, the new TUDOR Pelagos is a fusion of technical mastery and mechanical reliability. It is also a proud reference to several style codes that have punctuated TUDOR’s history and left their mark on some of the company’s most iconic models. The Pelagos is an invitation to explore the silent world in a new dimension.
A TRIBUTE TO THE SEA The new TUDOR Pelagos is a tribute to the sea, to those who are active in it and those who conserve it. Reliable, technically outstanding and a superlative sports model, the Pelagos marks another step forward in the illustrious history that binds TUDOR to the ocean depths.
INSTRUMENT FOR THE DEEP Waterproof to a depth of 500 metres (1640 feet), this superlative watch has a case with a diameter of 42 mm. Made entirely of titanium and completely satin-finished – resulting in a special sheen and a rugged look – it is an aesthetic expression of the power of this deep-sea instrument.
LUMINESCENCE IN THE DEEP Enhanced with a unidirectional rotatable bezel, with a matt black ceramic disc and luminescent numerals, The TUDOR Pelagos is thick enough to ensure excellent grip and ease of handling. Even in extreme conditions, perfect readability is assured by generous hour markers and luminescent “Snowflake” hands. An original two-sided internal flange incorporates the applied hour markers in a triangular, rectangular or square shape – a reminder of the brand’s historical models.
