Can You Swim in Lake Michigan With Your Submariner?
Short answer: yes. That's literally what it's for. A modern Submariner is rated to 300 meters, and the deepest part of Lake Michigan is under 300 meters. Your swim at North Avenue Beach is not going to trouble it.
Still, a few habits keep a dive watch healthy for decades.
Before you get in
- Screw the crown down. The water resistance depends on it. Press it in and turn it until it's snug. It's the single most important step.
- Don't fiddle with the crown in the water. Set the time and date on dry land.
- Know when it was last serviced. Seals age. If the watch is pre-owned or hasn't been looked at in years, have its water resistance tested before you swim with it. Any official retailer with Rolex service can do this.
In the water
- Use the bezel. The rotating bezel only turns one way, so if it gets bumped it can only make your timed swim look longer, never shorter. Line the triangle up with the minute hand when you get in and you'll know exactly how long you've been out there.
- Jumping off the rocks at Montrose or Ohio Street Beach? Fine. The watch was built for far worse.
After you get out
- Rinse it in fresh tap water. Lake Michigan is freshwater, so there's no salt to worry about, but beach sand gets into the bezel and bracelet links. A quick rinse while turning the bezel flushes it out.
- Dry it with a soft cloth.
- Check the crown is still screwed down before the next swim.
Winter, too
Chicago's other extreme is the cold. A Submariner handles a January wait for the Red Line just fine. Mechanical watches can run slightly differently in deep cold, which is normal.
Servicing
Rolex suggests a full service roughly every ten years, depending on how the watch is worn. Seven of Chicagoland's official retailers sell Submariners, and several, including Razny, C.D. Peacock, James & Sons and Persin & Robbin, offer Rolex-trained service on site. Look for the Rolex Service tag on their listings.
Then towel off and go get a sandwich.