The Rolex Submariner has been around since the 1950s (1953 to be exact) and is renowned as the world’s first diving watch that was waterproof to an impressive depth of 100m. Recognisable in design and build, tapping into Rolex’s affinity for sports-specific watches that are designed to optimise the wearer’s enjoyment of different activities and sports, the Submariner has since transitioned through seemingly endless upgrades and new releases. However, the overall selling points remain the same, with both old and new Submariner models considered some of the most coveted luxury Rolex watches on the new and second-hand marketplace.
In this article, we’re considering some of the main selling points of the Rolex Submariner from a buyer’s perspective, covering both the functional aspects of the watch as a diving tool and the aesthetic benefits of the Submariner for style-conscious buyers.
The History of the Rolex Submariner and Its Design
The Rolex Submariner marked a shift in the timepiece industry, by combining the luxury accessory with real-world applications and user benefits. Buyers back when the watch was first released, as well as buyers today, revel in the design of the Submariner which not only makes it a useful and practical diving watch but also a great overall timepiece – one which is comfortable to wear, easy to use, and incredibly stylish.
Modern sports watches boast the kind of sleek design and digital display that marks a sign of the technical innovation spanning the accessories market – however, the Submariner is both innovative and classic, with its timeless watch face and construction.
Now in 2023, the Rolex Submariner works to depths of 300m and is incredibly durable – yet retains many of the original design features which make it a timeless classic. Here are some of the selling points that buyers love about the Submariner, both across classic models and newer designs.
Design vs. Functionality
Before we consider some of the finer details and points that are evident across the Rolex Submariner watch, it’s important to note that there are many different models and collections which infuse innovative design features and materials into the overall design.
Despite this, the functional properties remain much the same, offering:
- Robust durability
- Water resistance to the specified depth (depending on model and age) and pressure
- Enhanced underwater visibility thanks to luminescent markers that denote both the time and depth
For longtime fans of the Rolex brand, the Submariner remains an excellent example of a watch that has improved in terms of functionality over the years, without detracting from the timeless design which renders it a classic. The materials have changed over the years, for example replacing the ceramic bezel with aluminium, yet the aesthetic is just as quintessential now as it was on first release.
Innovation and Technical Advances
If you’re looking for a diving watch in 2023, there are more sophisticated and practical models out there that do more and provide more benefits in terms of genuine sporting prowess. However, what the Rolex Submariner does is combine the basics of the world’s first diving watch with the status that has shrouded the model for the past 70+ years, the aesthetic presentation of a watch that remains a classic, and the incredible history that makes it a coveted vintage timepiece.
There is no doubt that the Submariner and its release in 1953 changed the diving watch industry, and introduced a new standard upon which other models were born. But, at the same time, it also became a style icon and a symbol of status, appearing in Bond movies and bolstering the collections of celebrity Rolex collectors across the world.
Investment Potential
Starting life as a functional and practical sports watch, the Submariner became a status symbol thanks to its iconic design, the fact that it revolutionised the diving watch industry, and the rise in wearers who chose the watch as much for its design as for its functional purpose.
Over time, and as part of its diverse history, the Rolex Submariner has been subject to a number of releases in exclusive colours and with added features – always serving to enhance the coveted status of the watch and to make it increasingly recognisable with high-end materials and popular additional features. A bestseller that is coveted and sought after by sports enthusiasts, collectors, style lovers, and investment buyers, the fact is that every single Rolex Submariner on the market fetches high prices on the original retail market – with prices rising exponentially on the resale and second-hand market, regardless of the finish and material use.
Construction and Quality
Finally, to the quality of the Rolex Submariner – something which has remained high, and which has become synonymous with the brand as a whole. The fact remains that, while Rolex is constantly improving its designs, features, and details, the quality craftsmanship has been a topic of conversation ever since the brand was first launched.
The watch wouldn’t hold the position it does today without impeccable design and durability, which lends it to diving watch potential. Meanwhile, the enduring popularity of the watch, even with its more controversial design alterations and adjustments, only serves to elevate the conversation around what remains one of Rolex’s most popular timepieces.
To buy a Rolex Submariner, vintage or from one of the more modern collections, is to invest in a slice of the watchmaker’s history – combining quality and design flair with the status of owning an innovative sports watch classic.
If you’re interested in buying a Rolex Submariner, Love Luxury boasts an ever-changing collection of pieces both in our boutique store and online. Offering valuation and authentication services as part of the experience, we guarantee the finest quality pieces and an excellent service.
