You're a difficult client, indeed!
There are several points:
1/ As for the " uniformity " of the 42 mm cases, yes, you're right, but the sources are to be find on the Piquerez Patent ( 1956 ), if I got it correctly.
2/ Does this " architecture " work for Diving watches?
That is an interesting point of discussion.
I saw several compressor case watches which had " seen " the water, but what does it mean?
That the watches have some flaws in their conception?
That this is due to the " construction " of the watch?
That the watches weren't properly serviced?
Honestly I don't know, but I also saw some water resistance problems on solid diving reputation watches like, Rolexes, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms or Omega SM 300.
I also read some curious things about screw in crowns or not:
If you read the TR 900 Story, it is written that the 5508 didn't pass with success the military tests, while it has a screw in crown, and while the TR 900 which doesn't have a screw in crown didn't fail...
3/ The size of the Compressor case watches:
Their 42 mm have to be compared with watches which came with the same size or almost ( Blancpain FF: 41,2 mm, Omega SM 300: 42 mm if I'm not wrong ) and which are not compressr case watches.
My guess is that the more the watch is big , the easier it is to read time...
And I don't even speak of the Vintage Pannies, whose size was between 47 to 60 mm!
So, yes, you also have smaller watches, but I don't see the problem here, honestly.
Or do we have ot say that these " big " watches are not great watches, just because they are ..." big " ?
On another side, I do agree with you on your previous example: The IWC Ref 812 is a real nice watch, as well as the JLC Master Mariner Deep Sea which is also a 37 mm diameter watch.
Beuaty is not neccesary in the size, but the size doesn't exclude the beaty of the big watches.
It's all about harmony, design, smooth curves, etc, don't you think?
4/ If you speak about the engraved words " Ordonnance Corps ...1960 ", yes, I totally agree with you, this is a faker BS, and a bad jocke, indeed.
But, once again, unless I'm totally wrong with the topic, some of these U.G Polerouter Sub were used by some armies...
Without this precise engraving, AFAIK.
I hope I answered to all of your question,s, because my fingers are now very tired ...
Best,
Nicolas
This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-07-08 05:40:20