Sea-Dweller 4000

[JEA1K]

As I'm approaching the landmark that is the 40th birthday in the next 6/7 months, I've decided to treat myself. I had originally wanted a DSSD but having tried the watch on in Zurich airport and I had to agree with those people who found it too big for their wrists.

Its shame as I do like the watch but as its only going to one of two watches, I can see it not been comfortable to wear. Last night I went to a dealers as they had a promotion on and tried on the new SD4000 which I instantly felt is the perfect watch for me. The weight and profile on the wrist felt great ... I tried the DSSD again and a Sub ... just to make sure and neither felt the same. Anyhow, doesn't seem like much of a waiting list so as long as I give them 2 - 3 months notice I can get my hands on one. Its a keeper as I'm not or wish to be a collector ... I've enough expensive hobbies already.;)

Has anyone else bought one and what are your thoughts?

[aeropilot]

JEA1K said:

As I'm approaching the landmark that is the 40th birthday in the next 6/7 months, I've decided to treat myself. I had originally wanted a DSSD but having tried the watch on in Zurich airport and I had to agree with those people who found it too big for their wrists.

Its shame as I do like the watch but as its only going to one of two watches, I can see it not been comfortable to wear. Last night I went to a dealers as they had a promotion on and tried on the new SD4000 which I instantly felt is the perfect watch for me. The weight and profile on the wrist felt great ... I tried the DSSD again and a Sub ... just to make sure and neither felt the same. Anyhow, doesn't seem like much of a waiting list so as long as I give them 2 - 3 months notice I can get my hands on one. Its a keeper as I'm not or wish to be a collector ... I've enough expensive hobbies already.;)

Has anyone else bought one and what are your thoughts?

I finally got to try one on this evening. It is nice, and didn't seem all that much bigger on the wrist than my 16610 Sub.
It wasn't as reflection free as I was hoping for though, which means I may well plump for the white faced Exp2 instead, despite the cyclops and 42mm size.

[cho]

I just picked up my DSSD recently and really love it(more than I thought I would). Don't really know if it's too big for my wrist but having wore a breitling seavenger 3000m for a few years which is a similar size I didn't notice much difference. Maybe Dominic H will tell me how it looks truthfully now that he's sold it to me! The case doesn't go over the sides of my wrist so I assume it looks okay.

Had a look at the sub and assuming that the 4000 would not be much bigger, actually thought I wouldn't like a smaller watch. At the end of the day though, still a technically good watch which I'm sure we all use to the maximum of their abilities!

[jshell]

cho said:

Had a look at the sub and assuming that the 4000 would not be much bigger, actually thought I wouldn't like a smaller watch. At the end of the day though, still a technically good watch which I'm sure we all use to the maximum of their abilities!

SD400 was designed smaller than sub, just like its predecessor. It's a fabulous watch and will end up being my only expensive watch once the AP diver is sold.

[Moose.]

Tried one on in the Rolex boutique at Le Mans this year and was able to compare it to both a vintage model that one of the salesmen had on and a mate's previous model Sea Dweller. Got to say I loved it! Felt just the right size, not too big or too small.

I'd previously tried the DSSD, which I also loved, but I reckon it's the tapering bracelet that ruins it for me. I've got a couple of chunky Breitlings (Emergency and B-1) and both their bracelets remain the same thickness throughout which balances the watch. That Oyster bracelet on the DSSD is simply too thin for the size of watch in my opinion.

I'm still debating what to get next as I'm torn between the 4000, DSSD or a birth year vintage sub (5513). Whichever I go for, it'll be on a Nato strap as I just love the look of a Rolex on something so casual

[jshell]

Moose. said:

the DSSD, which I also loved, but I reckon it's the tapering bracelet that ruins it for me.

That Oyster bracelet on the DSSD is simply too thin for the size of watch in my opinion.

That's why I sold my DSSD. It kinda suited my size at 16 stone/6'5", but was too unbalanced in looks and weight. The SD4000 is, IMHO, perfectly sized and balanced.

[Riff Raff]

aeropilot said:

I finally got to try one on this evening. It is nice, and didn't seem all that much bigger on the wrist than my 16610 Sub.
It wasn't as reflection free as I was hoping for though, which means I may well plump for the white faced Exp2 instead, despite the cyclops and 42mm size.

The new SD, like the old 16600 wears differently to a Sub. The case back has a pronounced 'dish' which makes it sit higher off the wrist than the Sub. That means that you notice the weight a bit more,(and it's a heavier watch anyway - mine is about 165g sized for my wrist, compared with just over 150g for the SubC) and if you have small to average sized wrists, it can cause the watch to tend to twist off towards the 12 o'clock side, if the bracelet isn't a perfect fit. The new SD is better than the old one in that respect, as it has the same sort of micro adjustment on the clasp as the SubC. The old 16600 didn't have any on the wrist adjustment at all, so if like mine, your wrists expand and contract according to how hot you are, it was either too tight or too loose at some point during each day.

The Explorer II, for me anyway, wears a lot bigger than both a SubC and the new SD. I'm not sure it's any easier to read than the SD. Neither have AR treatment on outside of the crystal, but the SD does have a matt dial which helps legibility I think.





I must admit I'm a big fan of the new SD. I think it has the look and feel of a proper 'tool' watch, which perhaps the SubC didn't, IMHO, anyway. And the case is a nicer shape.

[cho]

Moose. said:

I'd previously tried the DSSD, which I also loved, but I reckon it's the tapering bracelet that ruins it for me. I've got a couple of chunky Breitlings (Emergency and B-1) and both their bracelets remain the same thickness throughout which balances the watch. That Oyster bracelet on the DSSD is simply too thin for the size of watch in my opinion.

I actually noticed the same thing about the bracelet when I first saw the DSSD having wore a breitling for a few years but having used the DSSD for a couple of weeks now find it much more comfortable and it even felt lighter initially

[Arun_D]

I've had mine for just under 2months now. Very pleased with it. Came from a SubC date, which is obviously a very similar relation, but I've always preferred the chunkiness, crystal height and lack of Cyclops on the classic Seadweller. Combining these with the modern features of my SubC (Glidelock clasp, ceramic bezel etc) pretty much created my perfect watch, hence the change.

If there's one thing I'm not 100% into, it's the extra minute markers on the bezel that carry over from the DSSD. I prefer the cleaner bezel on the Sub. However, if I was an actual diver, I'd probably appreciate them!!

Regarding your comment on waiting list, I noticed a couple of weekends ago there was one sat in a window at an AD in Essex (where I originally had my name on the list but ultimately got one from DomH a week before my AD call!). Let me know if you want more details.

Photo whilst bored on LeShuttle last month...

Edited by Arun_D on Thursday 31st July 13:12

[aeropilot]

Arun_D said:

If there's one thing I'm not 100% into, it's the extra minute markers on the bezel that carry over from the DSSD. I prefer the cleaner bezel on the Sub. However, if I was an actual diver, I'd probably appreciate them!!

The extra minute markers on the bezel also hark back to the famous Military Submariner, which was long before the DSSD.

Arun_D said:

Regarding your comment on waiting list, I noticed a couple of weekends ago there was one sat in a window at an AD in Essex

There's also a SD4000 in the window of The Watch Gallery in Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush, which is the one I tried on yesterday.

[Arun_D]

Ah so it does

Amazed I never picked up on that, I was only looking at a photo of a milsub the day before last!