Before you know about watches, you know of Rolex; and before you know about Rolex you know of the Submariner Rolex. By a large margin, the Submariner is Rolex’s most iconic and widely recognizable timepiece. Although this title used to be held by the Datejust line of watches, the Submariner is now the go-to model for first-time buyers and seasoned collectors alike.
As the company that produced the Submariner, the world’s first waterproof watch, the brand continues to be ahead of the curve when it comes to producing timepieces that can withstand aquatic conditions. In 1953, Rolex introduced the Submariner, which was the first watch to offer users a depth rating of 100 meters. Over the years, Rolex has continuously increased the water-resistance of the Submariner to the 300 meters that it is today.
While thousands of companies now produce dive watches – many of which closely resemble the Submariner – it was actually Rolex that first pioneered this highly functional and now iconic design. As a result, relatively little has changed on the Submariner over the decades, and the most current model still closely resembles the very first Submariner that debuted well over half a century ago.
Part of why so little has changed on the Submariner (from a visual standpoint) is that its design is absolutely timeless. Its iconic dial is highly legible, and the watch looks as good when paired with a three-piece suit as it does when worn with a wetsuit.
At 40mm in diameter, the Submariner is perfectly sized for most wrists; however, the latest reference has a redesigned case that makes the watch feel noticeably larger than past Submariner generations, despite no actual increase in width. The new Cerachrom bezel insert is made from a ceramic compound that is virtually scratchproof, and its color will not fade due to salt water and ultraviolet light exposure.
Although it is just a three-hand, mechanical watch, the functions of the Rolex Submariner extend beyond just telling users the time of day. While simple in design and execution, the rotating bezel on the Submariner can be used as a rudimentary timer for measuring events up to one hour in length. Additionally, buyers have the option of purchasing a Submariner with or without the additional feature of a date complication.
Currently available in three different colors (black, blue, and green) and three different metal options (904L stainless steel, Rolesor, and 18-Karat gold), plenty of options exist within the Submariner line. Rolex even gives buyers the choice of yellow or white 18-Karat gold; however, the white gold version is only available with a blue dial and bezel insert, while the green Submariner and no-date Submariner are only available in stainless steel.
The Submariner has become Rolex’s most popular line of watches, and for good reason too. Whether you find yourself scuba diving or desk diving, the Rolex Submariner is the perfect timekeeping companion whose timeless style ensures that will look as good fifty years from now as it does the day you bought it.
