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there've been many posts of "omg, there's a scratch on my watch! how do i get rid of it??!" and i've been thinking about the concept of a rolex "tool watch".
i don't think it's logical (anymore) nor probable that people use such watches as real "tool watches".
in the past, when rolex watches were comparatively cheaper, and with the lack of good waterproof watches, they were purchased by many people in the marine industry as a watch that can and will withstand the abuse of the sea.
slow beat movement + oyster case = energizer-style watch which goes on and on and on...
(compare the condition of a well-used oyster watch to that of a well-used compressor watch and you'll know what i mean)
back then, there were few alternatives - technology/design/manufacturing processes had not advanced to such a stage whereby dive computers and >300m dive watches were the norm (as they are today), and when such advanced watches were first introduced to the general consumers, they were probably more expensive than a 200m rolex sub (which wasn't cheap, but was certainly more affordable than a present-day sub).
fast forward to present day... i cannot understand why people ask for a $1000 (or more) "tool watch" when $150-$400 gets you a multi-functional quartz (alti/depth-meter, barometer, compass) that lasts almost forever. some are even solar-powered and don't require battery changes.
some people (like me) even claim they wear their XXXXX watch without nary a care...
as much as i'd like to say that my daily wear rolex is my "beater", i know that deep down, UNCONSCIOUSLY, i try to avoid hitting it on walls and doors or other people's watches (you know what i mean!).
i would not mind golfing with my rolex. i won't mind going to the shooting range with my rolex. i also don't mind playing baseball with it. some will mind, and more than most don't recommend such activities, but i do them because i am not worried my watch will break.
but i know if another person is about to wack my watch with something, i will duck so as to avoid my watch being damaged...
additionally, a "tool" in the purest sense of the word means something that is used as part of your job... how many of us are commercial divers or world explorers?
IMO, thus, a "tool watch" is a watch that is required for your work and you don't mind smashing with a hammer.
so i guess i don't have a tool watch. i have one or two rolex daily-wear watches, and a few vintage watches that i collect (read: horde). even my suunto (d9) and oceanic (oc1) dive watches are not tool watches because i can't bear to smash them up.
so to most people, their rolex watch is simply what it is... an piece of much appreciated time-telling jewelry.
i don't think it's logical (anymore) nor probable that people use such watches as real "tool watches".
in the past, when rolex watches were comparatively cheaper, and with the lack of good waterproof watches, they were purchased by many people in the marine industry as a watch that can and will withstand the abuse of the sea.
slow beat movement + oyster case = energizer-style watch which goes on and on and on...
(compare the condition of a well-used oyster watch to that of a well-used compressor watch and you'll know what i mean)
back then, there were few alternatives - technology/design/manufacturing processes had not advanced to such a stage whereby dive computers and >300m dive watches were the norm (as they are today), and when such advanced watches were first introduced to the general consumers, they were probably more expensive than a 200m rolex sub (which wasn't cheap, but was certainly more affordable than a present-day sub).
fast forward to present day... i cannot understand why people ask for a $1000 (or more) "tool watch" when $150-$400 gets you a multi-functional quartz (alti/depth-meter, barometer, compass) that lasts almost forever. some are even solar-powered and don't require battery changes.
some people (like me) even claim they wear their XXXXX watch without nary a care...
as much as i'd like to say that my daily wear rolex is my "beater", i know that deep down, UNCONSCIOUSLY, i try to avoid hitting it on walls and doors or other people's watches (you know what i mean!).
i would not mind golfing with my rolex. i won't mind going to the shooting range with my rolex. i also don't mind playing baseball with it. some will mind, and more than most don't recommend such activities, but i do them because i am not worried my watch will break.
but i know if another person is about to wack my watch with something, i will duck so as to avoid my watch being damaged...
additionally, a "tool" in the purest sense of the word means something that is used as part of your job... how many of us are commercial divers or world explorers?
IMO, thus, a "tool watch" is a watch that is required for your work and you don't mind smashing with a hammer.
so i guess i don't have a tool watch. i have one or two rolex daily-wear watches, and a few vintage watches that i collect (read: horde). even my suunto (d9) and oceanic (oc1) dive watches are not tool watches because i can't bear to smash them up.
so to most people, their rolex watch is simply what it is... an piece of much appreciated time-telling jewelry.
, hehehe...
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