Great story about Rolex and how these watches were replaced by Casio G-Shock!
Enjoy, and please buy a G-shock when you're finished reading this, they are the best!
-Is it true that Seals used to be issued Rolex's to be used as cash if they ever got stuck somewhere? If so, do they still issue them. If not when did they stop? "Sooner or later this subject was bound to come up why and who was responsible for the discontinuation of the issue of the Rolex watches.
First, it is TRUE that Navy Frogmen were issued Rolex watches. While I have never heard of a Frogman using his watch for barganing, that is probably an ole Navy handme down joke.
Each Frogman was responsible or accountable for his Rolex. Sometimes a watch would be lost during training, or a mission. But when you left the Teams, you turned in the watches.
The Navy rules stated that a "Divers Watch" must have a sweep second hand", which was eliminated by the new digital watches.
I placed a phone to NAVSEA, who made the rules for equipment used in the Navy. I asked the simple question, "why must an authorized Navy watch have a "Sweep Second Hand"? I obviously knew the answer, but needed the answer to come from NAVSEA.
The answer: "TO MEASURE LAPSED TIME". So, I asked another question: IF that is THE REQUIREMENT for a DIVING WATCH, why not just say that the watch mush have a means to measure lapsed time, instead of a sweep second hand? Problem solved.
I submitted a letter to NAVSEA, the rule was changed, and i started issuing the Casio G-Shock Watches instead of the Rolex. Sorry Rolex!
This change enable the diving budget to focus on much needed new diving equipment and there you have it. Blame me for being efficient and effective with the UDT/SEAL diving budgets.
When a Casio watch was lost or damaged, the costs to replace was minimum and compared to the costs to repair a Rolex and the time it took to get the Rolex back, made all the difference.
By the way, the Casio G-shock watch did more than just measured lapsed time. Stopwatch, countdown timer..etc
Let me make a comment about the watches sold on NSC.
You will find that these watches have been used and tested by SEALs. NSC does not compromise its integirty nor it's commitment to provide the very best! So have confidence if you do get a watch from NSC, you will also have a watch that has my SEAL OF APPROVAL too!
Hooyah!
AP
Lieutenant Commander, USN (Retired)
Navy SEAL"
