Rolex Submariner Information

Submariner, Rolex Submariner: 16610, 16613, 14060M, 16610LV In Stock Next Delivery

The Rolex Submariner
rolex>The Rolex Submariner>Submariner>Rolex Submariner>16610 Having been a flagship model since its launch in 1954 the Rolex Submariner has enjoyed continued and virtually unrivalled success. In 1953 a prototype went to a depth of 10,335 feet attached to Professor Auguste Piccard's bathyscape. The watch proved itself by surviving pressures of in excess of 600 atmospheres and returning to the surface in exactly the same condition. One of the main reasons for the success of this watch was simply it was the right time. Television and movies had started to feature underwater series such as "Sea Hunt" which consequently made the watch more appealing. The constant development of Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) had created a new sport towards end of the fifties. A diver needs a reliable watch as much as he needs air. The rotating bezel on the Submariner allowed the diver to keep an accurate track of how much time he had spent underwater. Rolex were fortunate in that one of the company directors (Rene P. Jeanneret) was an enthusiastic diver and could give them a very interesting viewpoint that their competitors did not have.

The first Submariner is quite different from the model that we all know now. The very first model had simple parallel hands, no protective shoulders, and only five minute markers on the rotating bezel. Apart from the bezel calibrations the watch looked remarkably like the "Turn-O-Graph" 6202. This original model went to depths of 600 feet. It's production lasted for less than two years before it was replaced by the 6538. This was the first watch to go to depths of 660 feet as standard and was quite similar to the original. Like today there were two submariners simultaneously on the market. You had the first the 6538 which was guaranteed to 660 feet, and the cheaper 6536 which only went to 330 feet. Theses two models along with the original 6204 are known to collectors as the "James Bond Submariners"

The next change to the Submariner was a dramatic one. This new model was much like the current one. The case had been enlarged, the bezel markings applied for the first fifteen minutes, a red triangle at "12" and they had now integrated the new "Triplock" winding crown. Mechanically behind the scenes this masterpiece had undergone some changes too. The watch now proudly stated "Chronometer Officially Certified" on the dial as this watch was now powered by the 1030 movement. Simultaneously with the launch of the new 6238, Rolex also launched the 6200, which was cosmetically identical to the 6238 except it used the old A296/775 movement and the old un-graduated bezel. In the years that followed almost all Rolex's competitors released watches that bore striking similarities to their Submariner. Blancplain introduced the "Fifty Fathoms", Eterna the "Kon-Tiki", none of these could rival the rolex. 1959 yet another model. This time it was the turn of the 5512. Again Rolex made some important changes, that made the watch look even more similar to that of today. The case was given protective shoulders as an integral part of the case and body. They rose from the side of the case to almost completely cover the winding crown. The writing on the dial also changed from gold to white and the bezel was now in silver. The watch was available in a non chronometer or Precision model (5513), but was still waterproof to 660 feet.

Rolex's next Submariner was launched in conjunction with Jacques Piccard's latest venture in 1960. He had again attached the watch to the outside of another of his bathyscape's and it had returned unscathed from depths of 10,916 meters. In 1965 Rolex launched the 1680 which using the 1565 movement gave the watch chronometer rating and a date function. Apart from that it was identical to the previous model the 5512. This was the first Submariner to be available in a choice of metals. With the new model rapidly becoming the premium Submariner the old 5508 was discontinued and the 5513 became the entry level Submariner. In 1965 the Royal Navy began using modified Rolex. They wanted a new dial featuring a large 'T' in a circle under the centre post. The bezel was to have no minute markers all the way round. The hands were much larger and a different shape to make increase visibility. The hour hand was diamond shaped while the minute hand was much wider than normal and the second hand had a luminous diamond at its tip. Towards the end of the 1960's the Royal Marines had commissioned the Submariner. Like the Navy there were to be many changes. The bezel now had minute markers around the circumference. The watches were still plastic glass 5513 models, but had the hacking seconds feature. In 1986, the Submariner was to receive its most significant update yet. It featured a sapphire glass and was capable of reaching depths of up to 1,000 feet. The dial also featured white gold settings in which the luminous markers were placed. In 1989, the 16800 was replaced by the 16610 which looked identical but was powered by the 3135 movement. The bezel was modified and could only be turned anti-clockwise. This meant that if the bezel was moved by accident it could only mean the diver has less time in the water and not more. In 1993 Rolex launched their Submariner clone in the form of the "Yatchmaster" This watch differed only in cosmetics offering a solid gold bezel as opposed to the screen printed one and was available in an assortment of dial colours.

The Submariner remains the standard against which all divers watches are judged.