Is The Rolex Submariner the Greatest Watch of All Time?



A Discussion and Retrospective around the Rolex Submariner. The reputation that the Submariner has garnered over the last 70 years cannot be understated. At this point in time it is the most recognisable watch in the world, belonging to the most recognisable watch brand in the world. But how has this watch influenced the sports watch genre? And how has the Submariner influenced how the watch world is perceived today? Whether we like it or not, it is one of the most influential pieces of design but also one of the most influential watches that has changed the entire landscape.

#rolex #submariner #rolexsubmariner

Intro 0:00
On The Wrist 1:31
Why is the Submariner Great? 1:58
Rolex Submariner Evolution 2:55
Repetition of References, Repetition of Design 4:59
The Reputation & Status was Earned 5:38
The Submariner Design Influence 7:23
An Inspired Watch 8:16
Conclusion 9:22

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This Post Has 30 Comments

  1. IDGuy

    There is going to be some discourse around the topic but we can’t deny how influential the Submariner has been in the landscape of Sports Watches and how the modern watch is seen today. Would there be another watch you’d substitute into this category?
    (I’m thinking Datejust and Speedmaster will be up there) 😉

  2. john seeger

    While I will never own a Submariner (it is way out of my price range), it certainly is an icon. One thing you didn’t mention was the Submariner’s military heritage which in part explains the link to the early James Bond films.

    The fact that the Submariner today is a luxury item is a reality that makes it no longer a watch that a could be worn by a combat swimmer, but it carries that history with it and offers some promise of adventure even to the deal divers.

    Great video!

  3. Reed Grabowski

    Good Morning! "The Greatest of All Time" is a contentious statement. Meaning the the Rolex Submariner is at the top of the pyramid, the penultimate. I am not going to challenge your perspective, as my knowledge of great watches is limited. I will say this, the Submariner has staying power. It has had a significant bearing on sea exploration as the Rolex Explorer has done for mountain climbing and land exploration. The Submariner has improved over the years much like the Porsche 911 has in the past 58 years, and one can recognize them both instantly. Is it the greatest watch of all time? I remain skeptical. Best to bring firepower to the expected knife fight that will ensue.

    And as always, a fabulous presentation regarding a watch that is much cherished in our community.

  4. Tempting Fate

    I didn't get a sub but I did get a James Cameron Deep Sea 12660 recently. The entire Rolex dive watch lineup is amazing

  5. CeCaJu

    My dad bought a 5513 on layaway in 1968. He paid $20 a month for a year. He gave that watch to me in 1988 for my birthday. I still wear it regularly and it still keeps great time. I plan to give it to my son one day. After all these years, I still find myself staring at it, admiring the matte black dial, creamy geometric tritium lume plots and patina matching Mercedes hands. It’s an amazing watch that gets better looking with age.

  6. Alexander Smith

    Two streams of commentary for you:

    Those legible dial markings of dot, dash, triangle (while unlikely meant as it) form as abstraction from the lume of the most traditional field watches: pips at the hours, double pips at 9, 3, & 6 if no small seconds, stacked pips flanked by additional pips at 12. Back to basics transcending to icon.

    I think reference 1680 provides a double revolutionary moment in an otherwise iterative design. Of the tool watch aspects, object as a utility, adding the date complication. A full hybridization of watertight case, automatic movement from an OP, chronometer accuracy and elapsed timing bezel of a Turnograph, and date with magnifier ala Datejust.

    & they also released a full yellow gold model. Chapter switch into full luxury goods.

  7. Ren V

    Yes it’s an icon, I have owned 3 Submariner’s (two used, one new) I sold them all! I loved them but in the end as great as they are, they have a dollar value and I want to enjoy other watches. The only watch I would never sell is my Bulova – Sea King, it was my dads and he got it at the Navy PX during the war. They also had a Rolex available but it was a few dollars more.

  8. Jimmy split 77

    Definitely greatest watch in its class and for daily wear I don’t choose anything other than a submariner as for greatest watch of all time?
    I honestly can’t choose one.
    Cheers ID

  9. E K

    Yes it is,simply as that 😎

  10. Mark Burk

    The Subby has earned it, it's put in its time, well done.

  11. Jonathan A

    I can't say. I've never seen one for sale , 😂.

  12. Daq t

    In answer to the title of this video. It would certainly be at least one of the greatest of all time. That is if it didn’t have that horrible cyclops thing on it.

  13. Jake Roberts

    I love the no date Submariner and the Explorer 1. With SS Rolex's almost unattainable (@List) I'm looking at the GO SeaQ39.5. Comparable specs and better finished. And I won't get hit over the head while walking down the street.

  14. TurboT2

    Leaving a 2nd comment: @IDGuy this was a great video, perhaps the best one I've ever seen on this question. Perfectly to the point, succinct & acknowledging facts and the reality of the way things actually are in the world. It's true, the Submariner is 'perceived' as the greatest but that is a result of having actually 'earned' the right to be called so.

    And for all the haters and lovers… the latest generation 124060 & 126610 are the greatest watches of all time because…

    – First of it's kind heritage = iconic dial and case design that is purpose built to be a tool watch, that has been improved on for 69 years!

    – A very high quality product = Rolex doesn't make bad watches. Full stop. Sub's are finished very well, keep great time, are attractive, tough, durable and hide their wear beautifully.

    – Chromalight = best functional lumed dial made today. Incredibly bright & legible in low and no light.

    – Glidelock = excellent bracelet adjustability and useful design. The adjustability range is awesome.

    – Ceramic bezel = best bezel in the industry. The black ceramic is superb. It changes color from dark black to dark grey and titanium shades in certain lightings. The knurling for grip and bezel clicks for precise turning in and out of the water, with or without gloves, are perfect.

    – Bezel pt. 2 = actual useful countdown 0-15 hashmarks and numerals to use as a timing device. Arguably more useful than a chronometer in most practical day to day use cases for timing everyday stuff.

    – Oyster bracelet = Bank vault construction and durability, especially now that is has screws. What you actually want on a dive watch. Great width and taper. With the Oysterlock safety clasp as well, it's arguably one of the best bracelets made. The only thing missing that would make it perfect would be screwed-in, not traditional spring bars.

    – Near perfect case shape & size = comfortable & wonderfully thin on the wrist. Now at 41mm it's def at the upper limit but the current lug design on the latest models wear much smaller than the 40 mm SuperCases of yesteryear. It wears and fits A LOT of wrists great.

    – 300M water resistance = more than enough protection. People, it was good enough for Jacques Cousteau and his band of merry men. If your James Cameron go get a DeepSea.

    – 70hrs of power reserve = this is a great amount of reserve to take off and set down on Friday, then put back on Monday without needing to adjust the time.

    – A very nice dial = often completely overlooked and not celebrated but the white-gold markers, indices, hands and deep black dial are incredible. So legible at all angles and light levels.

    – Wonderfully versatile = wear it with a business or a track suit. On bracelet or on strap. Take it to the office, the ocean or picnic on a Saturday. It's a one watch, do-it-all wonder.

    – Reasonably priced at retail = it is an heirloom product, for a fair price. Period. I'm sorry that you don't already own one and that you can't buy one if you actually have the money to spend. Hey, I'm not happy that I can't buy other Rolex's that I want but life's not fair so quit your whinging! Just keep saving your money and keep begging an A.D. for the moment that you get the chance and then happily enjoy owning the World's greatest watch ever made 😉

    – Cyclops = wart. I don't like it. You can't make me like it. But it's a part of the classic design. Legend says it is because Hans Wilsdorf wanted it there for his wife to be able to read the date on pre-Submariner models, first used in 1945 on a Datejust, and then used as a legally defensible, product differentiating feature with the Sub Date. I'm sure all the grey-hairs love the magnification on their Sub Dates. All kidding aside the Cyclops really does work well, even though I wish it wasn't there.

    – BONUS: It is now a global currency = No matter where you find yourself on earth, having a Submariner on your wrist could save your life. It is a world currency and can be exchanged for cash or equivalent value at any time necessary. In fact I bet there would be more than a few takers right now if I offered mine for a fair and reasonable price at the exact same retail price I paid for it. And Heaven forbid… but if I had to get home from somewhere or handle a situation where I needed instant cash, I know my Submariner would be as good as gold, better in fact nowadays. Other watches are only as valuable as people "believe them to be" but a Rolex is measured by a different value structure the world over. No one in BFE knows what the heck a Journe, Moser, Gronefeld or MB&F is, but by God they know the Crown!

  15. Martin Harrison

    The rolex submariner is the most iconic dive watch. Just like the omega speedmaster is the most iconic space watch. The reputation of both has been built on for over 70 years. The design hasn't changed much on either in all that time, which makes both watches built for purpose, and brilliantly made. It's hard to see past these two as being the most iconic, hence the values now. Are they over valued, quite simply yes, but are they bettered ?

  16. m Hr

    Got my 124060 a year ago from AD after waiting 18 months, it can be done! It’s perfect and for me there’s no going back from the adjustable-on -the-go bracelet

  17. GM_Talisman

    I was hoping for bloopers at the end.😉

    Thank you for the entertaining content; thoughtful, interesting, and sometimes humorous.

  18. Darell Hunter

    The Sub is so iconic for all the reasons you so eloquently mentioned, such a great video, thank you! I have a Seamster 300 diver that I love and although the Sub would be redundant, I definitely want a 126610LV to add to the collection. The green bezel will provide the pop of color I need to justify a spot for it. Lol. Even after getting a GMT which I absolutely love, I still want a sub someday.

  19. Frank M

    Come on buy the sub it’s the watch to own

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