Old GMT II Master/Explorer II clasps

[Mirx]

I understand that the some older models of GMT II Master's and Explorer II's would come on an Oyster Fliplock bracelet with a divers extension link. Even some 1655 'Steve McQueen's" have it.

What was the purpose for fitting these watches with a divers extension link?

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by Mirx

I understand that the some older models of GMT II Master's and Explorer II's would come on an Oyster Fliplock bracelet with a divers extension link. Even some 1655 'Steve McQueen's" have it.

What was the purpose for fitting these watches with a divers extension link?

It was an option(extra-cost) from Rolex directly. The purpose would be that the end users wanted to use it as a divers watch, even though it wasn't a Sub or SD.

[Mirx]

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

The purpose would be that the end users wanted to use it as a divers watch, even though it wasn't a Sub or SD.

Seems like they would make pretty lousy divers. Both have non-diver bezel markings as well as one is with fixed and the other with both-directional moving bezel.

Looks like it would be an effort to both, read it and trust it while diving.

[Tools]

The extension link is so you can wear your watch over a flight suit, wet suit, or cold weather sleeves in the case of the Explorer (it gets cold in those caves)...

Having an extension link doesn't make a watch a "dive" watch, the depth rating does..

[Mirx]

Originally Posted by Tools

The extension link is so you can wear your watch over a flight suit, wet suit, or cold weather sleeves in the case of the Explorer (it gets cold in those caves)...

Having an extension link doesn't make a watch a "dive" watch, the depth rating does..

Now those are some practical applications Larry!

Rolex have replaced my standard Expy II Oyster with a diver extension model free of charge when I bought the watch so I can use it while surfing over my wetsuit, or in the winter, over the wetsuit and the gloves. It works a treat!

Thank you both for your replies.

[GeoGio Greece]

Originally Posted by Tools

The extension link is so you can wear your watch over a flight suit, wet suit, or cold weather sleeves in the case of the Explorer (it gets cold in those caves)...

Having an extension link doesn't make a watch a "dive" watch, the depth rating does..

+ 1. On top of that, a both-directional or not at all moving bezel does not make you a lousy diver. Your non existing skills do. Nor it would be an effort to read it and trust it while diving, up to 30 or so meters where I take my GMT every summer for the last 15 years.

Do not forget we are not talking about exploring Titanic and surrounding sea bed, but amateur free diving - no bottles / no air / no gases.

For this reason I installed from the first day an SD bracelet on my watch.

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by GeoGio Greece

+ 1. On top of that, a both-directional or not at all moving bezel does not make you a lousy diver. Your non existing skills do. Nor it would be an effort to read it and trust it while diving, up to 30 or so meters where I take my GMT every summer for the last 15 years.

Do not forget we are not talking about exploring Titanic and surrounding sea bed, but amateur free diving - no bottles / no air / no gases.

For this reason I installed from the first day an SD bracelet on my watch.

Agree, just because I said most end buyers would end up using it as a divers watch doesn't mean it automatically makes them(GMT-Exp II) a professional divers watch. Most Rolex owners, including the owners of Subs and SD never see more "diving" then the bath-tub or the beach at most. and even my Datejust can go much deeper underwater then my head or body would allow.

[Spark]

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

Agree, just because I said most end buyers would end up using it as a divers watch doesn't mean it automatically makes them(GMT-Exp II) a professional divers watch. Most Rolex owners, including the owners of Subs and SD never see more "diving" then the bath-tub or the beach at most. and even my Datejust can go much deeper underwater then my head or body would allow.

BEACH, You wouldn't catch my 1655 near that horrible scratchy silicon stuff

[redshirt1957]

How about it helped the 16700 sell in light of going head to head with the 16710 which did not come from Rolex with the flip lock bracelet. Just a thought. I always look at marketing first when it comes to questions of why retailers do certain things. Next I think about excess inventory. Then I might think about function.