Wish I didn't have a Rolex Submariner.

[mcdj]

I've been a watch collector for most of my 46 years. I've owned dozens upon dozens of mechanical, digital, and quartz watches from all levels of make. Seiko. Casio. Timex. Omega. LeCoultre. Rolex. Sinn. Bell & Ross. IWC. The list goes on...

I worked with the development team on the (utterly failed) Microsoft SPOT "smart" watch...an early precursor to today's connected watches, released in 2003.

I wrote for a watch collector's website for several years.

For most of my life, I have been utterly obsessed with watches.

This life long obsession has ultimately led me to one watch...the latest steel Rolex Submariner, with a ceramic bezel, and one of the finest engineered bracelets currently available. It's bulletproof. It's balanced. It's reliable, rock solid, goes with everything, and is a timeless (no pun intended) classic.

After getting it in 2010, my penchant for all other watches has all but vanished. I have a few oldies but goodies that just sit in drawers. Aside from occasionally slapping on an MKII Watch Company IWC homage (called the Quad 10, for anyone who cares), I don't wear anything but the Rolex.

10 years ago I would have flipped my lid over the Apple watch. Today, as big an Apple fan as I am (having owned every single iPod except the Mini, a dozen Macs and MacBooks, every iPhone, every iPad, every Apple TV, multiple routers, etc), I know in my heart that as much as I would love to buy an Apple watch, it will never replace my Submariner, and would end up in a drawer next to so many other also-rans.

Buying an Apple watch for me would be like having an affair with an 18 year old girl, despite being happily married. I could do it, and it might be fun for a week or two, but ultimately, it would fail.

This is not to say the Apple watch doesn't seem cool. But this old watch fiend is done with watches. I've found my last watch.

/blogpost

 

[ninethirty]

These guys won't get it, or care. To them, Apple has sunk the swiss watch industry already, and this is the greatest thing to have ever existed.

I wear a Daytona mostly, but I've got my Panerai 512 on now. Not a hope in hell of dropping either of these beauties for a half assed mini iPhone that doesn't even know why it exists. I'm kind of glad though, because I love these watches so much, had Apple announced something mind blowing, I'd be sad to put these down.

Thankfully that isn't the case

 

[JSRockit]

Wear it on the other wrist...

 

[theturtle]

I've been a watch collector for most of my 46 years. I've owned dozens upon dozens of mechanical, digital, and quartz watches from all levels of make. Seiko. Casio. Timex. Omega. LeCoultre. Rolex. Sinn. Bell & Ross. IWC. The list goes on...

I worked with the development team on the (utterly failed) Microsoft SPOT "smart" watch...an early precursor to today's connected watches, released in 2003.

I wrote for a watch collector's website for several years.

For most of my life, I have been utterly obsessed with watches.

This life long obsession has ultimately led me to one watch...the latest steel Rolex Submariner, with a ceramic bezel, and one of finest engineered bracelets currently available. It's bulletproof. It's balanced. It's reliable, rock solid, goes with everything, and is a timeless (no pun intended) classic.

After getting it in 2010, my penchant for all other watches has all but vanished. I have a few oldies but goodies that just sit in drawers. Aside from occasionally slapping on an MKII Watch Company IWC homage (called the Quad 10, for anyone who cares), I don't wear anything but the Rolex.

10 years ago I would have flipped my lid over the Apple watch. Today, as big an Apple fan as I am (having owned every single iPod except the Mini, a dozen Macs and MacBooks, every iPhone, every iPad, every Apple TV, multiple routers, etc), I know in my heart that as much as I would love to buy an Apple watch, it will never replace my Submariner, and would end up in a drawer next to so many other also-rans.

Buying an Apple watch for me would be like having an affair with an 18 year old girl, despite being happily married. I could do it, and it might be fun for a week or two, but ultimately, it would fail.

This is not to say the Apple watch doesn't seem cool. But this old watch fiend is done with watches. I've found my last watch.

/blogpost

I echo many of your sentiments. Only difference is, I dislike my SubC as its a bit ostentatious with its widened lugs and shiny ceramic bezel. I regret it because I should have purchased something a bit more subtle like a Portuguese or a Blancpain. Yes, I could sell it but who wants to take a couple thousand dollar hit, you know?

Anyways, thumbs up for your post. When I get that one watch that feels right, I guarantee that I'll feel the same way as you do. But currently, my watch search continues.

 

[Newtons Apple]

No Apple watch will replace my Yachtmaster. Never have to wind it, do not need to take it off for a shower.

 

[theturtle]

No Apple watch will replace my Yachtmaster. Never have to wind it, do not need to take it off for a shower. It just tells the time with class.

Whether it tells time with class is purely subjective.

If its a YM2, not sure class would be the word I would use

 

[al256]

I'll be ordering the Apple Watch tonight but still, I would like a Submariner as well. I think I could find a 80/20 or 90/10 balance with the Apple Watch taking the lead.

Since you're so experienced in this area, I have to ask you the follow:

If I get a Submariner (non date) how easily could someone flip the dial for right hand wear? If the watch were to be serviced, is there any way to get Rolex to keep the dial reversed or would that require an additional service?

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[chibamac]

Variety is the spice of life. Nothing wrong with taking out that 18 year old out for dinner / shacking up for 14 days. Worse comes to worse you take her back for a full refund and keep the wife.

Guess I'm a watch polygamist.. The Sub C and various Omega share my wrist.
You know what sharing is. Caring. Caring is loving. Profound right?

Test drive the 18 yr old apple watch in SS. You know you want to



Chiba

 

[bjdraw]

In an interview, Jony Ive actually talks about this specific problem while designing the Watch.

It was different with the phone – all of us working on the first iPhone were driven by an absolute disdain for the cellphones we were using at the time. That’s not the case here. We’re a group of people who love our watches. So we’re working on something, yet have a high regard for what currently exists.

 

[ipodlover77]

If I get a Submariner (non date) how easily could someone flip the dial for right hand wear? If the watch were to be serviced, is there any way to get Rolex to keep the dial reversed or would that require an additional service?

Thanks for your thoughts

I'm sure you could find a third party watchmaker who would make that change for you. I know for sure Rolex won't do it. They're known to not service watches with aftermarket parts. Tbh, I don't even know where you would find a genuine reversed rolex dial.

----------

Variety is the spice of life. Nothing wrong with taking out that 18 year old out for dinner / shacking up for 14 days. Worse comes to worse you take her back for a full refund and keep the wife.

Guess I'm a watch polygamist.. The Sub C and various Omega share my wrist.
You know what sharing is. Caring. Caring is loving. Profound right?

Test drive the 18 yr old apple watch in SS. You know you want to



Chiba

18 yr old? Im assuming 18-k right?

 

[Scott-n-Houston]

My Watch will give me an excuse to get my watches all serviced. I hate sending them away, but now I'll have a new, shiny, gadget to distract me and I won't miss 'em for at least long enough to get the services done… all of which I've put off because I hate being without them for long.

 

[Schmeff]

Even if you have a more expensive watch, I don't know why you wouldn't buy an Apple Watch for occasional use and/or exercise.

 

[al256]

I'm sure you could find a third party watchmaker who would make that change for you. I know for sure Rolex won't do it. They're known to not service watches with aftermarket parts. Tbh, I don't even know where you would find a genuine reversed rolex dial.

It wouldn't require any additional parts. Since there's no date, what would normally be 12PM would be 12AM by rotating the dial 180 degrees.

 

[ipodlover77]

It wouldn't require any additional parts. Since there's no date, what would normally be 12PM would be 12AM by rotating the dial 180 degrees.

Maybe I'm having a brain fart moment but I'm not sure why you would need to flip a dial if wearing it on the right wrist.

Again, its a long day so I might just be getting something mixed up.

 

[hallidc]

The Apple Watch I feel will end up in the drawer for many consumers.

I've been in the loop with every product launch from Apple. The Apple Watch will be the first product I will NOT be getting. I would love to test drive an Apple Watch, however I would rather have a time piece on the wrist and pull out the phone for notifications.

Its exciting because the Apple Watch is something new. Before time many will divert back to their old ways.

//my 2 cents.

 

[5105973]

I feel the same way about the car I've been driving for the past 23 years and the man I've been driving up the wall the past 28 years. When you are lucky enough to find what works for you, count yourself blessed and stick with it.

Just find something else to obsess about and shop for. There's always something. I also have an ultimate watch in my collection, but to me this is another beast entirely so my mind differentiates the two.

 

[mcdj]

It wouldn't require any additional parts. Since there's no date, what would normally be 12PM would be 12AM by rotating the dial 180 degrees.

Highly doubt this would work. Dials have small pins or "feet" soldered underneath that secure the dial onto the movement, otherwise it would spin around. These are typically arranged asymmetrically, based on where the movement can accommodate the intrusion of a pin without hampering its motion.

 

[Vundu]

I have a Seiko Prospex Tuna. It is a watch I wanted for years before finally getting one. I love it.

It will feel kinda sad not wearing it every day anymore but that's the way it goes.

 

[ninethirty]

Yeah, this isn't making any sense to me. Why would you flip the dial? It's going to read the same regardless of the wrist that it's on.

Also, when you say flip, do you mean to turn upside down? Are you talking a bezel that moves int he other direction? Because Rolex doesn't make a bezel that does that.

It wouldn't require any additional parts. Since there's no date, what would normally be 12PM would be 12AM by rotating the dial 180 degrees.

 

[al256]

Maybe I'm having a brain fart moment but I'm not sure why you would need to flip a dial if wearing it on the right wrist.

Again, its a long day so I might just be getting something mixed up.

So the crown points to my hand, just like a left handed wearer would.

Here's a picture of a left handed Rolex:

 

[ipodlover77]

So the crown points to my hand, just like a left handed wearer would.

Here's a picture of a left handed Rolex:
Image

OHHHHHH. You never specified that you wanted to switch the crown to the other side.

I had no idea why you wanted to flip the dial LOL.

 

[KauaiBruce]

I've been a watch collector for most of my 46 years. I've owned dozens upon dozens of mechanical, digital, and quartz watches from all levels of make. Seiko. Casio. Timex. Omega. LeCoultre. Rolex. Sinn. Bell & Ross. IWC. The list goes on...

I worked with the development team on the (utterly failed) Microsoft SPOT "smart" watch...an early precursor to today's connected watches, released in 2003.

I wrote for a watch collector's website for several years.

For most of my life, I have been utterly obsessed with watches.

This life long obsession has ultimately led me to one watch...the latest steel Rolex Submariner, with a ceramic bezel, and one of finest engineered bracelets currently available. It's bulletproof. It's balanced. It's reliable, rock solid, goes with everything, and is a timeless (no pun intended) classic.

After getting it in 2010, my penchant for all other watches has all but vanished. I have a few oldies but goodies that just sit in drawers. Aside from occasionally slapping on an MKII Watch Company IWC homage (called the Quad 10, for anyone who cares), I don't wear anything but the Rolex.

10 years ago I would have flipped my lid over the Apple watch. Today, as big an Apple fan as I am (having owned every single iPod except the Mini, a dozen Macs and MacBooks, every iPhone, every iPad, every Apple TV, multiple routers, etc), I know in my heart that as much as I would love to buy an Apple watch, it will never replace my Submariner, and would end up in a drawer next to so many other also-rans.

Buying an Apple watch for me would be like having an affair with an 18 year old girl, despite being happily married. I could do it, and it might be fun for a week or two, but ultimately, it would fail.

This is not to say the Apple watch doesn't seem cool. But this old watch fiend is done with watches. I've found my last watch.

/blogpost

I totally understand. If I had spent $7,000 on my pretty emerald green faced submariner a few years back when I was drooling over it there is no way I would be getting the Apple Watch. However, I love the Apple Link bracelet and think I even like it better than my old Rolex (I had a 1974 Submariner I bought about 16 years ago that I wore for 7 years and sold back to the original dealer for a profit).

 

[shawngt2]

Hallidc, I think you are certainly on to something. I'll keep my Omega Planet Ocean for now. I have seriously contemplated getting the Apple Watch, but it would be a shame to have a 1yo $6k watch sitting in the drawer or having to chose between the two every day! I think it's all or nothing for a device like this unless you get the Sport model specifically for that reason.

 

[lentus]

I sold my Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 to get the Apple Watch, so my expectations of the watch are fairly high. If I don't end up liking it as much as I expect I will, it won't be the end of the world either. I was getting kind of bored of the Tag.

 

[al256]

Yeah, this isn't making any sense to me. Why would you flip the dial? It's going to read the same regardless of the wrist that it's on.

Also, when you say flip, do you mean to turn upside down? Are you talking a bezel that moves int he other direction? Because Rolex doesn't make a bezel that does that.

Yep by flip, I mean rotate it to the opposite point or reverse the polarity.

OHHHHHH. You never specified that you wanted to switch the crown to the other side.

I had no idea why you wanted to flip the dial LOL.

The Apple Watch will be my first watch that I get to wear with the crown facing my hand. Just like the rest of the population... I'd like to keep this trend going with any other watches I might buy.