interesting article on waterproof watches

MiCr0

http://www.ablogtowatch.com/brief-history-waterproof-watches/

Wibbs

Good overview alright M and sets out the various threads that gave us the "diving watch" of today, though for my money as usual Rolex is a little overcredited with the concept. Hans Wilsdorf the founder of Rolex was not unlike Steve Jobs of Apple. Very clever guys with a genious at spotting a market, even inventing one and very good at buying in ideas to make a whole "invention" and very good at garnering a serious fanbase. Though I'd argue that Apple changed personal computing far more than Rolex changed watches.

I'd also argue that the early wristwatches of WW1 weren't that delicate and weren't expected to be at the time. That enough of them survive in working order shows that to some degree. Just going on availability I'd reckon there are far more working watches from 1916 than there are from 1926. The early Borgel type cases were actually quite good at keeping out water and dust. One chap recently took one of these cases and submerged it and was surprised to find it kept water out. And this was a near century old case, when new the sealing would have been better. Not a dive watch of course, but pretty water, dust and mud resistant.

The Italian Navy Panerais were a major step forward, though it's a pity they didn't explore what the British came up with at the time for their skin divers. A very old concept it was. In the 19th century the Royal Geographic society had ordered expedition pocket watches for the Victorian nutters exploring the globe. These were a sealed pocketwatch with a screwdown type cap/crown. When WW2 broke out the Brits realised they had a need for a watch for their frogmen, but being somewhat cut off from the watchmaking centre of Switzerland* they revived this case idea, slapped big lugs on the case and fitted them with a Longines movement.

Actually considering the major success of Panerai, I'm surprised Longines haven't done a modern "homage" to this one. The original was a little smaller than a Panny so less a clunker on the wrist. Though they might yet as homages seem to be more their current thing than new designs.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is the big daddy though. The first true modern divers watch and still a looker to this day. An uncle of mine actually has an original. The lucky bastard. Seems smaller in the flesh for todays fashions.

EDIT I'd agree with some of the comments regarding leaving out Seiko in the history. They brought a lot to the table in diving watches. Though it's such a huge subject and the article covers 90% of the bases so fair play.



*of course the Swiss kept selling watches to both sides throughout.

Deep Thought

I was particularly interested in a follow up read, "The Radium Girls"

http://www.damninteresting.com/undark-and-the-radium-girls/

Mredsnapper

Ah yes. The Fifty Fathoms.....some day.

Wibbs

I'll say this for the FF, though (slightly)smaller than you might expect, it is incredibly well built. It feels solid. Not in the way say a Rolex Sub feels, it's less about the heft, but the finish and quality. Especially for that time. I once even held the BP mil spec version, the Tornek rayville in my hand. V nice. Sadly I only got about 200 yards up the road before I was rugby tackled to the ground...

Here's another article on the subject(though more on the military side of things) by that real watchnut and true expert(and sometime purveyor of fine stuff I'd kick in his door for if the euromillions came up ) Mr James Dowling.

Wibbs

Deep Thought wrote: »

I was particularly interested in a follow up read, "The Radium Girls"

http://www.damninteresting.com/undark-and-the-radium-girls/

For me what's amazing about that example and time period is how few were affected so badly. Especially when you consider the doses flying around and the level of exposure involved.. Never mind the workers, the end users who were buying "glowing radium paint" in their droves.