Hi 3T. I'd like to introduce my new arrival to you. This is my very first purchase ever of a pre-owned piece (except for my previous fixation with Seiko vintages), it being LNIB and in my analysis, deserving a 99.5% grade.

The SD was discontinued in 2008/2009 to make way for the more robust DSSD, which was issued a couple of years later. The SD went "ping, ping, ping" on my sonar as early as 2005/2006 but somehow other pieces distracted me back then. And when I was totally ready to hook one, I couldn't find the finest specimen I could get my hands on...until this week. To me, the 6 or 7 year wait was worth it.

Why I just adore the SD? Rated to 4,000 ft (4x more than the Sub), HEV, 2mm taller than the Sub because of the thicker crystal, a very discrete date window (no cyclops), PLUS its rich relationship and history with the divers of COMEX. Graham, in his post greeting this newbie, is totally correct to say that the SD is the best Sub ever.

The SD is also the only diver on the Rolly line that went through the least number of changes, being discontinued in 2008/2009 with just the addition of the HEV. The Sub line, on the other hand, has been through a host of changes: a maxi dial, ceramic bezels in black or green, bling bling on indeces, drilled lug holes, alu bezels in green, clasp upgrades, chromalight, parachrom etc etc. The SD just refused to change. WOW!

Here are a few pics.

The entire set consists of the box, all the papers, 2 extra links and link bars, watch care booklets, a Buelhmann table with decomp guide at the reverse side, and even an unused bracelet adjusting tool.



Here are some more pics:



The HEV, a great addition. This was developed with the help of COMEX back then when immersion divers experienced crystals popping out while they were decompressing inside their decomp chambers. This piece of history and heritage with COMEX, I think, is what made the SD a worthwhile hunting target for me.

The sapphire glass is 2mm thicker and slightly more convex than the usual Sub's crystal. Note the exceptional condition of the bracelet...never been scrubbed/restored.

The very simple caseback which I think inspired the text inscribed on the rehaut of the DSSD.


A wrist shot

Here's a lume shot without the aid of a torch or flashlight, just old-fashioned sunlight



If you're on the lookout for a no nonsense diver to collect, the SD is a very serious option. I'm just incredibly happy with it and I think this will make my diver line almost complete (2 liner Sub next???).

Thanks for looking.

Last edited on Fri Aug 31st, 2012 11:13 am by bigrustypig