Whether you’re a watch aficionado or just a casual observer, chances are you’ve noticed rising interest in high-end timepieces, both new and vintage in the last few years. Whether splashed across a glossy magazine spread or talked about outside the boardroom, a luxury watch is both an investment and an expression of personal style.

A mechanical watch is a testament to years worth of craftsmanship, design, and fine-tuning. Watchmaking is an incredibly intricate and precise job. No more so is that evident than in the Rolex Submariner. And while many imitations have tried to stack up to its level of beauty and functionality, few get close to the original. This specially designed diving watch is known not only for its durability and resistance to the elements but also for the way it defined what a classic luxury watch can be.

The History Of The Submariner

The Submariner made its debut at the 1954 Basel Watch Fair. Interestingly, the first iteration didn’t include the models now unmistakable cathedral or Mercedes hands and Submariner designation, but instead featured pencil style hands and no logo.

Over the next few decades, Rolex produced a number of Submariner models, tweaking them along the way to adjust the size of crowns, add in chronometers, or improve the movements. The brand also eventually added “shoulders” to the crown side of the case to allow for protection of the winding and setting mechanism. The signature oversized crown that made the Submariner famous was added in the 5512 and 5513 models.

A few final adjustments came in the 1960s when Rolex began producing the watches with white printing on the dials and added a date function. The change elevated the utility of the Submariner, from a famous diving watch to a fashionable accessory. More contemporary models include increased water resistance, updated movement, and other aesthetic tweaks.

Submariner Characteristics

While it is undeniably sturdy, the Submariner is also surprisingly intricate. Newer models are produced in a thicker width and are waterproof up to 300 meters. The watch’s triplock waterproof crown has a triple gasket system designated by three dots on the crown. It screws on the case tube and against the Oyster case to provide even more protection while underwater diving.

The Submariner’s case is made from either high-grade stainless steel, corrosion-resistant alloy, or gold which has been produced in Rolex’s own foundry. More current models of the watch have a “Rolex Rolex Rolex” and a unique serial number engraved on its inner bezel along with a laser-etched Rolex crown at the bottom of the crystal.

The watch’s unidirectional bezel allows divers to memorize and follow immersion times. It features a safety mechanism as it only rotates counterclockwise, to prevent further movement that would cause a diver to spend too much time underwater. A perpetual rotor in its self-winding wristwatch mechanism allows the watch to run continuously off of simple wrist movement. The energy generated from this action is stored in the mainspring, so the timepiece can still operate for several days without any movement. Its Swiss chronometer is also certified by the COSC.

The Submariner in History

Photo Credit: Rolex Kurt Arrigo

It’s functionality and outward looks have made the Rolex Submariner a popular wristwatch among the rich and famous. While perhaps its most famous well-known wearer is fictional: James Bond. The watch graced the wrists of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton in the early films about the British super agent. Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl also notoriously wore a submariner on his Ra II sea expedition.

The timepiece has easily cemented itself in history. A Submariner has withstood more than 1,000 dives in the Moana expedition. It’s also survived temperatures of 45 °C degrees below zero in the Antarctic. The watch is standard issue for every French COMEX diver as well as British Royal Navy troops.

The Rolex Submariner Source

The Submariner’s long and illustrious history has made it one of the most loved (and even copied) watches in the world. The almost dizzying array of options can be intimidating for the first time buyer, thus DavidSW aims to be the watch authority. We offer one of the most comprehensive services, along with a carefully curated selection of some of the finest Rolex watches on the market. If you’re looking for a particular model or just want to browse your options, contact us today to learn more.