CREPAS x C�F�V�M BANANA 500 'top banana!'

By TLex Here�re some cool prototype shots of the highly anticipated 1969 Tribute to the BANANA AKA the BANANA 500, a modern reinterpretation of classic diver. Made by Crepas, and in collaboration with CronoforVm; feedback suggests that this is could be the Spanish watchmakers greatest recreation!



The watch is based on special vintage Seamaster 200, known affectionately by collectors as, the Banana owing to its unique yellow dial design.



Whilst the watch retains much of the character and charm of the original, it has been given a bit of a technical update, so that it can hold its own against other modern divers. These include:



A larger 44mm diameter, a Sapphire crystal with a Tefzel I-ring, a divers bezel with a Sapphire crystal inlay, a new day function, BGW9 SuperLuminova, anti-magnetic protection and an increased water-resistance of 500 meters.



Further features of the Limited Edition of 300 include: a Swiss ETA 2834-2 automatic movement, a textured dual-layer dial and a specially engraved caseback cover secured by Allen screws.



The Banana 500 can be had for just north of 600 Euro. It ships with a Hirsch Ayrton rubber divers strap and a custom NATO. Shipping will start between December 2014 and January 2015. Further info. can be had HERE . . .

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BULOVA Accutron II SNORKEL collection

By TLex Let's get straight to the nitty gritty; the new Bulova Acturon II Snorkel is powered by a highly accurate quartz caliber with a sweep seconds indicator, has a water-resistance of 200m, can be had on mesh, looks damn fine and retails for just shy of 500USD!



The Snorkel is a reissue of sorts - as it has been seen over the years in a number of guises - some with internal bezels (like this one) and some with external types such as the Oceanographer Snorkel. One particular feature of the vintage Snorkel that has failed to make its way onto the latest version was its 666ft WR and dial text. Vintage Snorkles typically had 333 or 666ft of water-resistance printed on their dials; a charming little quirk. 



The Snorkel is equipped with a Precisionist movement that is fitted with Bulova's proprietary quartz torsional resonator (a third prong fitted to a standard two prong quartz crystal), which makes it up to six times more accurate than the standard quartz movement!



Its Stainless steel case measures 43mm in diameter with a thickness of 13.5mm. It is fitted with a domed K1 hardened mineral crystal. Divers features include: a screwdown crown (4 o'clock) and caseback, an internal divers bezel - operable via a non-screwdown crown at 2 o'clock, and a water-resistance of 200m / 660ft / 20 ATM.




Strange, that Bulova put this message on their site relating to the Snorkel: "These watches are not recommended for professional or scuba diving due to sport watch construction. For serious diving, watches constructed specifically for that purpose should be used." Well, it is called 'Snorkel'!



The Snorkel can be had in four color variants: steel with either black, orange and white, black and red, blue and white or black steel with black and grey. If the the blue internal bezel's 12hr marker looks wrong - it is. However on the production model the triangle is framed in blue, so it looks fine.

Also, check out the new Bulova Marine Star 200M . . .

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VintageVDB 2014 GMT Steel BLASTED

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DEEP BLUE Watches Sea Ram 500 AUTO

By TLex Deep Blue have released an automatic version of the Sea Ram 500, a watch that they first debuted at Basel this year.



Its case is in 316L Stainless steel, measuring 45mm in diameter x 15mm thick an a lug to lug measurement or 51mm. It is fitted with a 24mm solid steel divers bracelet.



Further divers features include: a Sapphire crystal, a screw down crown and caseback, a ceramic 120-click type unidirectional rotational divers bezel and a water-resistance of 500m /1650ft.



The Sea Ram Auto is powered by the ubiquitous Japanese made Miyota 9015 caliber. Its dial can be had in either black, blue, green, orange or yellow sunray or in white enamel.



There are three white versions; each with different bezel markers (black, blue and red). The dials features round and wedge shaped Superluminova filled hour markers.



The Sea Ram is also available as: a three hands QUARTZ model on a silicon divers strap, an MOP (mother of pearl) model on silicon, or a quartz Ronda 5040 chronograph on a steel bracelet.

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ROLEX Deepsea D-BLUE DIAL into the abyss

By TLex Plummet into the depths with the new Rolex Deepsea D-BLUE Dial, made in tribute to James Cameron�s epic solo dive to the bottom of the Marianas Trench.



As deep blue fades into pitch-black, the two color gradient dial recalls the ocean�s twilight zone, where the last trickle of light from the surface disappears into the inky black abyss.



The 'DEEPSEA' text on the new dial makes use of the same shade of green used for James Cameron�s submersible as it is seen underwater.

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TEMPEST Commodore

By TLex Introducing the new Commodore by Tempest Watches, a crossover military divers watch that features a Grade2 Titanium case and a Miyota 9015 automatic movement.



Special features of the Commodore include: a full reverse lume 'Lumi Brite' sandwich dial available in either black, blue or white and a black ceramic lumed bezel. The dial can also be had with either baton or stenciled mil.-style Arabic numerals.



The Commodore's case measures 44.5mm x 14.65mm with a lug to lug measurement of 49mm. It weighs just 143.6g on its bracelet. The bracelet is the same type with micro adjustments and divers extension clasps as the Viking.



Divers features include: an AR-coated flat Sapphire crystal, a 120-click type divers bezel, a screwdown crown and caseback and a water-resistance of 500m / 1,650ft. Follow the link HERE more on the new Tempest Commodore . . .

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VintageVDB AS - THE ONE

By TLex It's no secret that Arnold Schwarzenegger loves his big military watches. He's been seen wearing some pretty special timepieces over the years. The A.S. M47-331 Military Tank Watch, various models from Audemars Piguet, Panerai and U-Boat, a huge Laco Pilot's watch, a legendary Zlatoust Russian diver; and now a high-end bespoke beater from VintageVDB, named AS - The One!



Starting with its Barbarian sized Titanium case that has been bead-blasted, emphasizing its utilitarian intent. It measures a 56mm in diameter with a thickness of 19mm and a lug to lug measurement of 71mm. Only Arnie could pull off these dimensions!



The large crown has been placed on the left side of the case - destro style, so that Arnie can wear it in comfort. The chunky bezel is also in Titanium. It features large hexagonal bolts; the 12hr marker has been filled with vintage lume. The bolts are set in a 5 minute instrumentation with a bidirectional 5min click cycle.



Special features of the AS - The One include: a black sandwich dial with handmade hands and white AS logo, a 24 karat gold name plate (side of case) and a solid Tantalum caseback with a hand engraving of Arnie from his Mr Universe days flexing his muscles.



The watch is powered by a high-end automatic movement with a 5 day power reserve, which I believe is Technotime's double barrel caliber. The movement features a custom VDB rotor with Geneva stripes and the text 'Gepr�fter Chronometer' (official chronometer).



It is presented on a handmade strap with a massive VDB buckle. What an amazing watch; way more exclusive than anything you'll get from U-BOAT! ;)



Like this? Then check out the VintageVDB KAITEN XL prototype watch. It shares a number of common features with the AS - The One such as its high-end movement.

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ROLEX Deepsea D-BLUE Dial EDITION

By TLex While Rolex were putting the finishing touches to the presentation of their latest model launch scheduled for August 4th, WIS sleuths were busying themselves, trying to find out what indeed it was. One of them cunningly checked the source code attached to the teaser image that was posted on Rolex's official website and saw a line of code that read, 'deepsea d-blue dial', and so the cat was out of the bag or was it?!



Of course Rolex immediately responded by renaming the teaser image that related to the said code, but was it too late? Nevertheless the speculation continued with a renewed focus on what form this blue faced Deepsea would actually take on? Would Rolex go the route of the Submariner WG, or would they do something a little more unexpected? Perhaps something so radical that it was beyond our imagination!



The mere fact that Rolex have released a new model in the summer is already quite unexpected; however given that the world premier of James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge 3D movie also falls on August 4th, it did make it an appropriate time and occasion to unveil a new DEEPSEA variant.



And so for the greater majority of the world August 4th came and went. But where was this big reveal? I must have refreshed Rolex�s pages a hundred times. Well, I�m not sure what to make of it, but here it finally is; introducing the new Rolex DEEPSEA D-BLUE Dial Edition in celebration of James Cameron�s epic dive to the deepest place on earth - the bottom of the Mariana Trench.



With its two-color gradient dial recalling the ocean�s twilight zone, where deep blue fades into inky black as the last trickle of light from the surface disappears into the black abyss, and its green luminous �DEEPSEA� text (the same green used for James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge submersible), it certainly is unexpected. Apparently it was unveiled at selected Rolex boutiques across Asia and the rest of the world.



For all intents and purposes it is the same as any other DEEPSEA, at least physically and mechanically. It features an Rolex's innovative 'Chromalight' display on its dial with a distinctive blue glow that lasts up to twice as long as that of standard luminescent materials. The lume capsule in the center of the triangular, 12hr bezel marker also contains the same luminescent material.



Owing its name to the legendary DSS (deep sea special) experimental wristwatch that in 1960 successfully made its historical descent to the deepest point in the ocean (at a depth of 10916 meters), the Rolex DEEPSEA has its own claim to fame - namely, being one of the deepest rated production mechanical watches that are available, today with a water-resistance of 3900 meters (12800 feet).



The DEEPSEA was engineered to meet the demands of professional divers; a robust, precise and reliable divers watch capable of handling extreme depths; it was unveiled by Rolex some 6 years ago in 2008 (has it really been that long?!).



The history of Rolex and water-resistance, however is even longer, dating back several decades. It is steeped in the pioneering spirit that led them to the development of the earliest divers watches in the 1950s and the most extreme water-resistant watches spanning more than 50 years. They remain the only watch company to have had not one but two of their wristwatches descend into the ocean�s deepest and darkest trench.



Watches like the Submariner and the Sea-Dweller have seen decades of real-life experience stretching back to the pioneering days of underwater exploration and at the highest level of commercial diving.



Watches like the Deep Sea Special and Deepsea Challenge have made history, capturing the imaginations of those of us that dream of venturing into the dark abyss ourselves.



And so for me, it is the Rolex Deepsea that has found the happy medium between a daily divers watch such as the Sub or S-D and an extremophile such as the DSS or Deepsea CHALLENGE. It seems to offer the best of both worlds; with all the functionality and wear-ability of the former, but with just enough of the excitement and drama of the latter!



Nothing quite says� Rolex diver� like a black dial and matching black bezel. No, color is more befitting the abyss (where there is a complete absence of light), and so for me Rolex�s new DEEPSEA D-BLUE Dial Edition, while an intriguing new variant is no substitute for its black faced predecessor.


For some it will be little more than a novelty; perhaps not one for the seasoned dive watch connoisseurs to lust after, either; time will tell. Still, for what it is, it is kind of subtle, the execution is elegant and playful, and there is no denying that it is evocative of the James Cameron�s descent into the Marianas Trench!

Perhaps it will grow on me over time. But for the moment, I will continue to treasure my black faced DEEPSEA � it is perfect just the way it is!

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