One last mystery about the DIVEX was its appearance – why was it so encrusted after only a month underwater? Having nearly failed chemistry in school, I consulted some more knowledgable people, from a marine archaeologist to a jeweler with experience in metallurgy, as well as a few other watch nerds. Opinions varied, but majority favored the theory of galvanic corrosion.

According to an article about marine corrosion on the Boat Owners Association of the United States website, “Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical reaction between two or more different metals. The metals must be different because one must be more chemically active (or less stable) than the others for a reaction to take place.”