In July of 1958 the United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit conducted waterproof tests on the 

Rolex Oyster Submariner (model 6538). 

 

THE ROLEX OYSTER SUBMARINER FAILED the UNITED STATES NAVY'S WATERPROOF TESTS! 

 

On November 24, 1927 Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, proclaimed to the world that his Rolex Oyster was "THE GREATEST TRIMUMPH in WATCHMAKING" on the front page on London's Daily Mail newspaper when Mercedes Gleitze FAILED to 

swim across the English Channel with a Rolex Oyster around her neck. Yeah, she had to be pulled into a boat after only being 

in the water for 10 hours, she never completed the swim that day. Rolex conveniently leaves that part of the story out when regaling us with tales of their escapades.

 

To this day, Rolex still claims that Hans Wilsdorf "created the world's first waterproof wristwatch" in 1926.

I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth!

 

In 1918 Mr. Charles Depollier, owner of the Dubois Watch Case Company in Brooklyn New York, submitted his 1918 Waltham Depollier "Field & Marine" Waterproof Watch to the United States National Bureau of Standards, America's first physical science laboratory in Washington D.C. and to the United States Army Engineering & Research Division commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Mauborgne for government waterproof testing. 

 

The 1918 Waltham Depollier "Field & Marine" Waterproof Watch PASSED the U.S. government waterproof tests!

Rolex would love for you to conveniently forget this fact so they can ATTEMPT to claim superiority over the watch world. Sorry Hans, but Charles Depollier had a fully tested and waterproof certified wrist watch 8 YEARS before you! There is a mountain of U.S. government reports confirming this FACT that I'm sure Rolex doesn't want anybody reading. Depollier's waterproof wristwatch was submerged into water for 500 HOURS in 1918. Only after this successful 500 hour waterproof test did the U.S. government certify it as waterproof. They immediately purchased 10,000 of these waterproof watches from Charles Depollier for the United States Armed Forces.

 

In 1958 a Rolex Oyster Submariner 6538 FAILED the U.S. government WATERPROOF tests.

 

In 1918 the Waltham Depollier "Field & Marine" Waterproof Watch PASSED the U.S. government WATERPROOF tests!

 

Let that sink in for a moment!! 

 

This had to be absolutely humiliating for Hans Wilsdorf and Rolex! 

They had been in the waterproof wristwatch business for 32 YEARS when their top of the line 

waterproof wristwatch, the Rolex Oyster Submariner, FAILED the U.S. Navy waterproof tests.

 

Here are some of the juicy passages from this official U.S. Navy report.

 

The Rolex watch is found to be not sufficiently waterproof.

 

Excessive fogging on underside of crystal.

 

In sand & mud, the bezel ring became jammed far more quickly than the Bulova or Blancpain.

 

It is concluded that the Rolex watch IS NOT, by comparison with other watches, a good buy.

 

(Rolex is) Recommended for DELETION from the Navy's approved list.

 

 

Below you can read the entire report, click on image to enlarge.

 

 ENJOY!