Question about Rolex - no, I'm serious

[docrwm]

There's a post at TZ-UK (http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=151422) in which a member says that he recalls an ad campaign "When I was a kid I remember the ad campaign in the national geographic where the Rolex sub was welded to the propeller of a nuclear sub and driven round the world for two years. When they chipped off the barnacles it was there... Perfect time."

Does anyone know anything about this?

The propellers of submarines, particularly nuke boats, are incredibly high precision devices that are made so as to make as little noise in the water as possible. The addition of even something as small as a welded on Rolex watch case would cause incredible increases in the noises (Discrete lines in the 0.1-10 Hz band are caused by rotation of the propellers.) produced and I just can't imagine ANY nation with nuke boats (even the French) to allow such a thing.

[porschefan]

And the heat to weld to the material of the propeller, would probably destroy the watch or the internals.
Tutima dragged a diver behind a racing yacht around the world, IIRC... and Timex did something under a boat...

[cali kid]

Even my 21ft Wakeboard boat would run like shit if the prop wasnt balanced just perfect! Maybe they could do it to the shaft! Timex used to put one on an outboard boat motor, same deal not sure how it would be done!

[randyswagon]

Seems like they used all kinds of gimmicks for the 'Timex Torture Test" ads, I only recall the Roleex ads that were the 'If you - - - - tomorrow, you'd wear a Rolex".

This series - - -



Agreed, the noise signature for a sub would be upped it would seem.

[porschefan]

After an extensive google search:

"I remember a Rolex commercial from the 80s(+/-) where a Rolex submariner was welded to the side of a freighter, underwater. When the freighter arrived at ...
forums.watchuseek.com/.../grand-seiko-rolex-part-2-a-170841-3.html - Cached"

The hull (side) of a freighter is a bit different than the prop, plus, if barnacles built up on the prop as he stated...

[docrwm]

After an extensive google search:

"I remember a Rolex commercial from the 80s(+/-) where a Rolex submariner was welded to the side of a freighter, underwater. When the freighter arrived at ...
forums.watchuseek.com/.../grand-seiko-rolex-part-2-a-170841-3.html - Cached"

The hull (side) of a freighter is a bit different than the prop, plus, if barnacles built up on the prop as he stated...

Excellent find. Yes, the hull would be VERY different than any prop (particularly those on Nuke Boats) and would be doable. Thanks.

[bodypeersur]

I'm still wondering why welding the watch to the hull didn't destroy the movement

[docrwm]

I'm still wondering why welding the watch to the hull didn't destroy the movement

Because its a Rolex

[porschefan]

Well, like I said, too, Duff... I think it would have destroyed the case as well. Also, they'd have to paint that area of the hull as well, since bare steel will rust quickly in that environment.
And since there seems to be no other mention of it, that I can find, anywhere...

[Sponsored content]