In Follow up to our earlier photo and video overview of the new Rolex Deepsea Challenge Watch (see it all here): here is some technical information about this fantastic marvel of engineering! Well done Rolex!
Too bad the Challenge is “Experimental” only. This baby would sell like water in the desert. (hint, hint, Rolex)
Rolex water resistance: 12,000 meters / 39,370 feet…
52 years after a Rolex watch accompanied the Trieste on its historic descent to 10,916 metres (35,800 feet) in the Mariana trench, National Geographic explorer-in-residence James Cameron, on board the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, prepares to go even deeper. This time again, a Rolex watch, the Rolex Deepsea Challenge, is part of the expedition. As always, Perpetuelle is here bringing you the first look. Enjoy these shots of the new Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch — rated to 12,000 meters, or 39,370 feet — Images and VIDEO, below (note: official specs and details are yet to be released now posted below).
You can also read all about the Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge, here, at http://deepseachallenge.com/. AND >>>> if you missed it, a MUST SEE: Perpetuelle.com Rolex Deep Sea Special – An Exclusive Report in which I spent some time with Lt. Don Walash and the Rolex Deep Sea Special from his 1960 mission.
Rolex DEEPSEA Challenge Watch (w/ Video)
experimental watch
51.4mm stainless steel case (28.5mm thick), 5.3mm screw down, grade 5 titanium caseback, 14.3mm sapphire crystal, Triplock crown, Rolex Caliber 3135 (automatic mechanical), Chromalight lume, Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert with numerals coated in Platinum (Pt) via PVD
water resistant: 12,000 meters / 39,370 feet
look at the AMAZING profile on this watch: 28.5mm thick CASE, 14.3mm sapphire CRYSTAL!!
note the thickness of the case in the watchmaker’s hand:
VIDEO: Making of the Rolex Deepsea Challenge Watch
*** PERPETUELLE FLASHBACK***
“This is Trieste. We are on the bottom of Challenger Deep. . . . Over.”
– U.S. Navy LT Don Walsh, on January 23, 1960
The Rolex that proved water-resistant to 35,840 feet…in the metal…
click through to visit Perpetuelle’s Exclusive Report on the Rolex Deep Sea Special
An nice and not oft-seen combination of metals — titanium and tungsten — the new Oris Aquis Titan Chronograph is well equipped and ready for diving. With a scratch resistant tungsten bezel inlay, Oris’ new diving model is depth rated to 500 meters. It has has luminous triangle at zero position, indexes and hands. Automatic helium valve at 9 o’clock, screw down stainless steel crown and stainless steel pushers, solid screw down case back with an engraved conversion scale (feet/meter) to round it out. A solid diver’s watch, desk diving or otherwise — if you like the look of the Oris “Aquis” line, be sure to also check out the Oris Aquis Maldives Dive Watch (Limited Edition).
ORIS Aquis Titan Chrono
43mm titanium case, automatic mechanical movement (ETA-base)
Baselworld 2012: I showed yesterday the Breitling Superocean Heritage models (Heritage 42 and Heritage Chrono 44) which are available with red gold bezels. Here also are the Breitling Superocean 44 and Superocean Chronograph II with the 18k red gold bezels.
Speaking of Breitling, I have a several new models for 2012 that I have been sitting on — will be posting them here shortly.
Breitling Superocean Red Gold Bezels
My partner James Bond recently shared the press release and some looks at the new 2012 Alpina Extreme diver, but because it is such a solid looking watch, I wanted to come back with a few more details. Actually, there are a three variations of the Extreme Diver — in fact the entire collection is brand new for 2012. To support the launch of the collection, Alpina secured a high profile Ambassador in actor/producer/writer William Baldwin. Baldwin will be the “face” of Alpina’s 2012 advertising campaign for its Extreme Diver watches– you can read all about it here. As Baldwin said, there is a definitely a “bold, athletic, cool-factor” to these watches…the watch looks great in all three variations — rubber, bracelet and mesh bracelet. Perhaps the best part about these watches—the price: $1,250 on rubber strap, $1,450 on full steel or steel mesh bracelet.
Alpina Extreme Diver Collection
Refs: AL-525LB4V26 / AL-525LB4V26B / AL-525LB4V26B
delivered in special diving bottle gift box
44mm steel case, automatic mechanical movement, unidirectional luminous bezel, 300 meter water resistance
Ed’s Note: At time of this posting, Alpina was a paid advertiser on the Perpetuelle blog.
I love how Perrelet incorporates a submarine’s propeller into the dial. It really boosts the dive watch feel. The Turbine Diver comes in black or blue, with yellow or white trim. It is powered by the Perrelet P-331 automatic double-rotor movement, a Soprod movement (exclusive to Perrelet). Prices for the watch will be $6,550, or $7,200 for the DLC-finished case (significantly more scratch resistant).
Press Release:
The rounded contours of the 11-blade upper rotor subtly evoke a submarine propeller. Spinning freely above the SuperLuminova-coated surface, it creates the illusion of an entirely luminescent dial that naturally gains intensity at night or in the darkness prevailing at great depths. Dive times are measured by a rotating inner bezel ring on which the average 20-minute duration stands out clearly thanks to a play on colors and volumes. it is controlled by user friendly crown at 10 o’clock equipped with a locking system.
Perrelet Turbine Dive Watch
47.5mm steel case (DLC-coating optional), automatic mechanical Perrelet movement (double-rotor), internal rotating bezel
The Arabic numerals, the main hour-markers as well as the subtly black-rimmed hour and minutes hands are also coated in Superluminova, thus enabling them to stand out against the background when it is lit up by the effect of the turbine in motion. The strong personality of the Turbine Diver is accentuated by a 47.5 mm-diameter case water-resistant to 300 meters and designed especially for this model. The fluted caseband is distinguished by four “paws” straddling the bezel, and the integrated winding crown is offset at 4 o’clock symmetrically opposite its counterpart controlling the rotating bezel. The sapphire crystal set into the screw-in caseback provides an admirable view of the automatic P-331 movement developed on the basis of the new Manufacture-made Alternance 10 caliber with its Côtes de Genève motif. The Turbine Diver line is being launched in monochrome (steel) or two-tone (steel/black DLC-coated steel) cases framing a variety of colorful dials.
Ref. A1066/1 – Ref. A1067/1 – Ref. A1067/2 – Ref. A1066/3
Movement
Mechanical self-winding, P-331 Double Rotor, a Perrelet exclusive
Functions
Central hour, minute and seconds hands
Water resistance
30 ATM
Case
Stainless steel, 47.50 mm in diameter, 14.82 mm thick, anti-glare sapphire crystal on both sides
Strap
Rubber, stainless steel pin buckle.
Black will always remain the classic color for dive watches. Alpina’s new Extreme Diver emulates the beauty of it and the pictures below are the proof.
Press Release:
Keeping time while diving requires very robust professional watches. There is a kind of beauty to the professional diver’s watch that comes from the pure pleasure of engineering excellence. There is nothing superfluous about divers’ watches, except of course the fact that they are engineered beyond the point of mere utility. After all, no human being is ever going to dive to depths beyond 300 meters. There is, however, a marvelous draw to the idea that you can go that deep, if you wanted, with the proper equipment.
Close up
To fully appreciate the Alpina Extreme Diver, the first thing to do is understand the requirements that define the professional diver’s watch. In this regard, it is possible to define clear parameters and, without resorting to hyperbole, make the case for the true professional diver’s watch. As a general rule, for any regular activities from snorkeling to scuba diving, a diver should always choose a watch with a water resistance rating of at least 200 meters.
For the occasional swim, a watch resistant to 100 meters will do. The rationale behind the exceptional water resistance we recommend is that, in general, watches tend to perform differently in real-world situations than they do in the laboratories where they receive their certifications.
A new style in gold…
For 2012 some of the Breitling Superocean models will now be available with a 18k red gold bezel. Specifically, here are the Breitling Superocean Heritage 42 and the Superocean Heritage Chronograph 44, sitting nicely with an 18K red gold ring (unidirectional rotating). Available on leather or rubber strap or a steel mesh bracelet.
Breitling Superocean Heritage Red Gold
Baselworld 2012: Patek Philippe Nautilus White Dial (Ref 5711/1A-011) — a very interesting change-up for the Nautilus! Amazing what a difference a dial color change can make. There is an annual calendar white dial model I will also show (Ref 5726/A). How about this new white dial Nautilus…like it?
Retail $26,700
Patek Philippe Nautilus White Dial (Ref 5711)
Silvery-white dial, gold applied hour markers with luminescent coating, Steel bracelet with Nautilus fold-over clasp, Screw-down crown, Sapphire-crystal case back, mechanical self-winding movement with date Caliber 324 S C (Patek Seal)
Baselworld 2012: More Glashütte Original “Pano” collection….the new PanoReserve presents a stylish and sophisticated interpretation of the signature asymmetric Pano dial visuals. A red gold edition with a silver dial takes optimal advantage of the larger case and slimmer bezel to unveil the strictly minimalist approach. The off-centre hour/minute display features faceted red gold hands and applied red gold hour indexes framing a finely drawn subsidiary seconds dial. Glashütte Original’s characteristic Panorama Date display takes its place on the warm silver dial just below 4 o’clock as the connoisseur’s eye is drawn to the elegant, stripped-down power reserve display. The Panorama Date and power reserve are labeled in German, a subtle indication of the Saxon manufactory’s role as rightful heir to more than 165 years of fine mechanical watchmaking in Glashütte. Two PanoReserves present the new visuals framed in polished and satin brushed stainless steel. One features a warm silver dial with blued hands and applied hour indexes on the hour/minutes dial, a black-on-white Panorama Date display and the simply compelling power reserve (Auf/Ab) with blued steel indicator. The second variation in stainless steel presents a grey ruthenium dial with white gold hands, applied nickel hour indexes and an impressive white-on-grey Panorama Date below the power reserve.
Glashütte Original PanoReserve
