to swim or not to swim with a RedSub

[Atansev]

Hi to everyone,

I have a Redsub mark vi..in a very good condition.. A friend in istanbul who is retired many years ago from Rolex factory takes its care ..And he says , mine is a very good condition ..Dont worry you can swim with it.
Nevertheless i did not go to even sail with it for years..
What do you think? do i care so much? or do i do the right thing by not getting it wet?

Kind Regards from Istanbul.

[dysondiver]

no way ,,, go and red the thread , red sub sos ,, i think it is ,,, eight inches of water for a few seconds ,,, dial in pieces ,,,
or the tropical , plexi dial thread ,,, all about the aftermarket ones being prone to cracking ,,,
if you have a recent pressure test and an original crystal , you may be ok as to waterproof ,,, then throw in damage and loss risk
why on earth would you want to ,, vintage stuff were tool watches at the time as there was nothing better , and parts were off the shelf , but no way in these times ,,, when a red dial is 3k plus and thats if you can get one , i see no reason to try the water lottery when at the very best you only come out wheer you started ,, but a seiko monster , or a casio dive watch for 50 quid
thats my view ,,, others will tell you its grand ,,,, i wouldnt , but its your watch ,, you decide
never take into the sea anything your not willing to destroy or loose. if you actually need one in the water ,,, take two.

[MonBK]

What's the point of owning a diver that you can't even get wet?

[Robbyvm]

opinions are varied on this one....
i have my watches pressure tested on regular bases and take them swimming. they were designed to do so.
i have a vintage sportscar and take it to the track also because it was designed to do so

i understand all opinions don't get me wrong

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by MonBK

What's the point of owning a diver that you can't even get wet?

i cant see any reason to take a nice watch and gamble that it will be ok when you put it in one of the harshest environments on the planet , when there is no need to do so ,,,

ive got airbags on my car , but im not planning on trying them out ,, i think seeing a bead of water inside a red sub would be about as sudden.

all respect ,,, if some one could tell me what gain there is to the gamble ,,, fair enough ,, i just cant see the reason ,,, thirty years back , ok ,, not maany alternatives ,,, and all the parts , including the case and al the seals would be fresh ,, today ,, even with a very recent pressure test id not be doing it.
i often seem to write the same comment ,, and seem to be in the minority ,, but ive seen million dollar rovs die a death ,, cameras worth tens of thousands flood ,, they had to be in the water ,, red subs dont ,, not any more.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

i cant see any reason to take a nice watch and gamble that it will be ok when you put it in one of the harshest environments on the planet , when there is no need to do so ,,,

ive got airbags on my car , but im not planning on trying them out ,, i think seeing a bead of water inside a red sub would be about as sudden.

all respect ,,, if some one could tell me what gain there is to the gamble ,,, fair enough ,, i just cant see the reason ,,, thirty years back , ok ,, not maany alternatives ,,, and all the parts , including the case and al the seals would be fresh ,, today ,, even with a very recent pressure test id not be doing it.
i often seem to write the same comment ,, and seem to be in the minority ,, but ive seen million dollar rovs die a death ,, cameras worth tens of thousands flood ,, they had to be in the water ,, red subs dont ,, not any more.

Point well taken and to each his own which reminds me of this joke.


A sales representative stops at a small manufacturing plant in the Midwest. He presents a box of cigars to the manager as a gift.

"No, thanks," says the plant manager. "I tried smoking a cigar once, and I didn't like it."

The sales rep shows his display case and then, hoping to clinch a sale, offers to take the manager out for martinis. "No, thanks," the plant manager replies. "I tried alcohol once, but I didn't like it."

Then the salesman glances out the office window and sees a golf course. "I suppose you play golf," says the salesman. "I'd like to invite you to be a guest at my club."

"No, thanks," the manager says. "I played golf once, but I didn't like it."

Just then, a young man enters the office. "Let me introduce my son, Bill," says the plant manager.

"Let me guess," the salesman replies. "Your only child?"

[Andad]

Originally Posted by MonBK

What's the point of owning a diver that you can't even get wet?

[dysondiver]

lol ,,, Mon , i think we will just discuss this over a pint of the black stuff and some hand dived scallops if your ever in this part of the world .

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

lol ,,, Mon , i think we will just discuss this over a pint of the black stuff and some hand dived scallops if your ever in this part of the world .

Sounds like a plan, but we're not going swimming are we?

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Sounds like a plan, but we're not going swimming are we?

not wearing vintage rolexes ,,,

[Atansev]

Thank you all for great messages ..i really love to be here..

[Puffy]

i wouldn't do it. imagine IF water came in. it'd be ruined.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by MonBK

What's the point of owning a diver that you can't even get wet?

Have to agree and as long as any Rolex passes its rated pressure check its safe to dive get wet as any modern day Rolex.And as long as its insured for its rated value, and said insurance company accepts the value, and what it is a dive watch that's used for diving no problem.

[Vincent65]

...erm, it's called 'SUBMARINER'

If it's serviced and has recently passed a pressure test, then it is OK - maybe not cliff-diving in Acapulco, but a bit of a swim about should be fine. They come out of RSC service with a 2-year guarantee to perform as described. Mine (1970) is regularly submerged, and so is the '66 GMT.

[mailman]

It's a divers watch and as long as it recently passed a pressure test, why not right? This is why I wouldn't with it, but that's just me

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=303187

[joe100]

No case corrosion and an annual pressure test, I'd say you're okay. Personally I wouldn't chance it.

[joseluu]

I don´t see any problem in diving with a Red Sub, as long as it is not MY Red Sub...

[Jason71]

See my thread regarding diving with my Red Sub

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=287895

[Atansev]

Originally Posted by Jason71

See my thread regarding diving with my Red Sub

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=287895

JAson ,
Thank you so much..That was what i was really looking

[CrownMe]

I make sure my Red is pressure tested so that it's waterproof when I clean it. Other then that I would never swim in it. Too much risk for zero reward. Cracks can appear in a plexi crystal without you being able to see until water is leaking into the case. Some might have the money to risk....I dont. I know what the watch was built for and what it can handle, I'd just rather not risk it. It only took me one 1680 sos type of thread for me to use common sense and leave it out the ocean.

[Cc1966]

Red Sub...err no way. Plenty of others in the arsenal to take in the H2O. Why risk such a valuable piece?

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by Atansev

JAson ,
Thank yo so much..That was what i was really looking

You are welcome

My perspective has definitely changed regarding vintage plexiglass Rolex watches and use in the water. I don't get any of my old stuff wet anymore. I would be just gutted if I damaged one of these dials

[Robbyvm]

Originally Posted by joseluu

I don´t see any problem in diving with a Red Sub, as long as it is not MY Red Sub...

[Rick-O]

Originally Posted by MonBK

What's the point of owning a diver that you can't even get wet?

For me the answer is simple really.....protecting your investment. It's like hanging fine art work in the play room of 3 year olds and hoping nothing happens....YMMV

[robbret]

No way I would swim with any of my vintage pieces. Even if pressure tested.
Rolex or other.
If I really need to keep track of time in or on the water, I wear a recent diver from a popular Japanese brand.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by mailman

It's a divers watch and as long as it recently passed a pressure test, why not right? This is why I wouldn't with it, but that's just me

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=303187

This happens . .. unfortunately . . . but it ends like a fairy tail . . .

HAGOne

[Tools]

You have to be comfortable with the risk, and there is always risk.

With a Red Sub, if there is mis-adventure, you cannot easily replace that red dial, and so, you must be comfortable with the potential loss and it's cost.

If it is a more modern Sub that is easily and cheaply fixed, the risk is the same but the cost of mis-adventure is considerably less.

Therefore, I would leave the Red Sub home for diving and take the White Sub or Tudor Black Bay.

[RollieVerde]

I agree w/Jason. I have retired my '79 Tudor Submariner from diving as I'm told they can't be sure it will stay sealed even though it seems fine (I'm the only owner its ever had and it's been through a lot). So I have a new Subc that's my dive watch.

[soundserious]

Agree with all, no way I would dive with a vintage Rolex...water resistance is just too dodgy. Buy a nice 14060 and go for it!

[MitchSteel]

I make a point to keep my equipment pristine and 100% functional......thus I get my vintage watches pressure tested and checked, so I could go swimming with them on.Besides, what's the point?I wear my watches, not just play with them and stroke them, telling them how pretty they are.

Get it serviced/checked and jump in