Rolex

There's no denying that James Cameron knows how to go big.  Titanic.  Avatar.  A solo dive to the deepest point on Earth.  So it makes perfect sense that the Rolex bearing his unofficial nickname would be... substantial.

The Deepsea D-Blue at 44mm and nearly 18mm thick is not a subtle watch.  It's a commitment.  You know it's there.  And the newer Deepsea Challenge at 50mm?  That's practically a diving instrument strapped to your wrist.

These watches are an affront to my sensibilities 🤪. Regardless, I'm confident there's a solid market for them....

😆

At the limit..45mm? My PO Chrono barely works I have a wide wrist but it’s a bit sloppy on a bracelet.

Not sure about the dial.

So…my Beloved PO Chrono was my first Omega and I purchased it as a tool watch NOT a desk diver. I’m sure you would appreciate having a waterproof instrument that can time two separate events ie waypoint and total run time and even function as dual time etc. it like the DEEPSEA is 18mm thick BUT only 45mm diameter. I have and still do wear it casually albeit not with a suit. Speaking from experience this is the absolute limit. The PO wears like a smaller watch in truth. Once you are past 45mm all gentility is lost. It becomes a novelty piece. No one can see weight. Even thickness up to a point can be minimized but very few people (I have a very wide wrist) can pull off 50 mm.

At a time when Offshores and Panerais were in their prime. I assume that Rolex launched the Deepsea to get a slice of the larger watch business, but I love that they didn't just build a bigger submariner (with 300m of water resistance) and call it a day. No, they engineered a watch with (admittedly ridiculous!) 3,900m of water resistance (with a real water resistance of at least 25% more for the ISO test). 

You are right, the inflation was not only about prices, but also about size.
Nonetheless, I am a huge fan of the James Cameron Deep Sea. I want one!
Best,
Nicolas

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The Deepsea 116660 Black Dial was introduced in 2008, and the original reference had as its main strength the perfect proportions between the case and the bracelet, making it a unique and unrepeatable design. The subsequent models, in my opinion, are nothing more than… as always happens with copies, poor imitations.

In 2012, James Cameron, during the historic descent to the deepest part of the Mariana Trench, at approximately 10,908 meters, was wearing the original version with a black dial, reference 116660, while three prototypes called Deepsea Challenge, made of 54 mm steel, were attached to the exterior of his Deepsea Challenger submersible.

The model later introduced, in 50 mm titanium, is nothing more than a poor imitation as well.

Ultimately, the original Deepsea remains a masterpiece of design and engineering, unique in its perfection, while the poor imitations are merely a distant echo of the original projects.

and it's always nice to have something chunky in the rotation, whether it's a 47mm pam or a big diver.

Skynet goes online in 2029. I can pull off 45mm but have never tried a 50mm watch. I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t work for me. Kind of reminds me of the opposite end of ultra thin watches. Just doing something (extreme water resistance) to prove you can do it doesn’t necessarily give you an attractive, wearable result.

I own both and weight wise there very similar.
I must add that none were designed for the boardroom so need to be judged accordingly…
Funny fact is that I can easily wear the Cameron with a suit, the Challenge I never attempted because it’s just pointless.
Both testaments of engineering and design!

The ergonomics are better than you think, it sits perfectly for me, the challenge is the 23mm hight.

That’s a beautifully made BIG watch indeed!!
Abrazos amigo mío!!
Abel

You like it and you’ll enjoy it!
Cross my fingers for you my dear Nicolas!