PRS-2 Dreadnought

[andrema]

I ran across this a site that is purely dedicated to truely great dive watch -- The PRS-2 Dreadnought. There have been many like it that followed in its footsteps, but this baby is the original.

The site covers everything from the origins of the watch development to the owners to a review against a Marathon & Rolex. Here is a taste of what is there...


In August of 2003 Timefactors released the PRS-2 Dreadnought. The price was 450 UK pounds (around 720 US Dollars using the exchange rate at that time) and it was considered exceptional value for money given the specifications and build quality of the watch. Just how good the value was at the time has been demonstrated on several occasions with several of the watches being sold on for prices in excess of 1,500 US Dollars. Number 23 actually made $2,061 at auction in June 2004. Remarkably, all 200 sold out before they were even finished being manufactured. Quite an achievement for a watch from a relatively unknown watch company which did no marketing other than word of mouth and postings on several watch forums. The Dreadnought had arrived and unfortunately, except for the 200 lucky owners, very few people will ever know what it is like to own one.




Because Timefactor's operation is purely internet based, the Dreadnought arrived by post. Getting to the watch meant unwrapping several layers and was a similar experience to disassembling a Russian Doll. The first part of the PRS-2 presentation package was a plain white box with a Dreadnought logo on the top. Next came a polished wooden box. This was quite large (21cms long by 13cms wide by 8cms high) and hinged.





Opening the box revealed the watch sitting on a black velvet cushion. It was indeed quite an eye opener. The watch is big and in the case of #143/200, it is polished. It must be noted that the Dreadnought was originally released totally bead blasted except for the bezel, the outer bezel with the minute chapter and the caseback, which was brushed. This one was totally polished by the previous owner and is believed to be one of only two totally polished Dreadnoughts in existence. It has not been altered mechanically and functionally, just cosmetically. Interestingly enough Eddie Platts did have a sample of a polished case during pre-production but decided to go for the bead blasted finish.





The Dreadnought has a rounded lug design which doesn't extend beyond the depth of the caseback. The Dreadnought sits flat on the wrist like most other dive watches, but it does sit high. It is unquestionably a big watch. It is 53mm from lug to lug, 49mm wide including the crown and 16mm high. The sapphire crystal is 3mm thick and sits proud of the bezel and has an antireflective coating on the inside of the crystal. My own preference is for a flat crystal as I think it is slightly less prone to scratches, but it must be remembered that sapphire crystal is extremely hard and less susceptible to scratches anyway.



To read more and see the orginal content/other data, here is a link ---->>> http://www.prs2dreadnought.com/index.htm

[docrwm]

It is truly a classic. Eddie Platts is a class act too IMHO. His website is:
http://www.tz-uk.com

[cali kid]

The one that started this whole micro watch brand crap! At least he designed that bad boy instead of copying it like so many others!

[docrwm]

The one that started this whole micro watch brand crap! At least he designed that bad boy instead of copying it like so many others!

Excellent point. I'll add that he did not go back to the well and do a 2nd run either, despite its huge popularity and extreme prices.

[cali kid]

dont you know the guys that paid 500 bones for it new would kiss his feet as they can now get around 3 grand! He has got to be an amazing man not to have gone back and made some more!!

[docrwm]

dont you know the guys that paid 500 bones for it new would kiss his feet as they can now get around 3 grand! He has got to be an amazing man not to have gone back and made some more!!

He certainly has my respect. Its a fricker case and they put it together for him. There was some controversy because fricker allegedly made a couple extra and Eddie had to have words with them about it.

[cali kid]

Fricker case but eddie never bought the tooling did he and that how there are some real close watches made by fricker like Kremke and others?

[docrwm]

Fricker case but eddie never bought the tooling did he and that how there are some real close watches made by fricker like Kremke and others?

I believe that is correct. Although his original contact seemed to say he had complete control over the use. I believe its all chronicled at his site for everyone to see.

[cali kid]

i believe that Micheal Kobold bought all tooling or rights to his cases made by Fricker but when Fricker wasnt coming through in a timely fashion and some say having credit problems Kobold pulled the design and went to Switzerland and now the USA too, but........ the vortex popped up and someone got fired at Fricker and maybe went to work for Anders! Gosh its nice to have a watch conversation even if its all a myth, there is alot of doo-doo out there today boys! The old boss couldnt stay away from WL's and i felt sorry for him but he did it all to himself!!!

[docrwm]

i believe that Micheal Kobold bought all tooling or rights to his cases made by Fricker but when Fricker wasnt coming through in a timely fashion and some say having credit problems Kobold pulled the design and went to Switzerland and now the USA too, but........ the vortex popped up and someone got fired at Fricker and maybe went to work for Anders! Gosh its nice to have a watch conversation even if its all a myth, there is alot of doo-doo out there today boys! The old boss couldnt stay away from WL's and i felt sorry for him but he did it all to himself!!!

Fricker has a rep for playing every side of the contract. Not a great way to win loyal customers IMHO. Never been a Kobold fan, lots of reasons, so I really don't know what happened there.

[cali kid]

Well i know what i'm wearin' tomorrow and you will love the strap Doc!

[docrwm]

Well i know what i'm wearin' tomorrow and you will love the strap Doc!

Looking forward to it. I'm going to try an oldie that I haven't worn in a while myself.

[wcbartlett]

Pics of mine:

[docrwm]

Pics of mine:

Thanks for the photos! How does it wear?

[wcbartlett]

Extremely comfortable and well balanced.

[docrwm]

Extremely comfortable and well balanced.

I can't recall but it seemed to me that it was both heavy and lower to the wrist than some of the newer large divers, is that true?

[kaerf-z]

I wonders what it wood look like on mesh? I LOVE mesh!!

[wcbartlett]

Well me being left handed may have something to do with how it fits on my right hand where it actually does fit lower on the wrist since the crown is on inside.

[andrema]

Very cool Bill!! Love that watch! BTW - were you one of the original buyers or did you pick it up after the initial preorder?

[wcbartlett]

I got it several years later in mint condition. One of the The chief reasons Eddie made the Dreadnought was to prove that a good dive watch could be manufactured for under $800. and that he did. They now sell for the market price of $2,400.

[andrema]

I got it several years later in mint condition. One of the The chief reasons Eddie made the Dreadnought was to prove that a good dive watch could be manufactured for under $800. and that he did. They now sell for the market price of $2,400.

I have been stalking one for a while, others just seem to get in the way!

[wcbartlett]

Just saw two for sale. One is sold, lost track of the other one.

[docrwm]

They come up from time to time. There was one at TZ-UK that was selling for less than anyone could believe that sat there for several months back in the middle of last year.

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