is as much a lifestyle as it is a watch brand, but we feel that a hands-on Rolex Submariner review is still necessary as it is meant to be worn and used. The company is a legend, and their products are the cornerstone of an industry that sells dreams, status, quality and ideally, value. Whether or not individual entities in the luxury industry can deliver on these promises is a different story, but what makes Rolex so famous is its consistent ability to actually deliver these goals to a large degree. So today I look at probably the most popular Rolexproduct, the Rolex Submariner.
For review, I am looking at two Rolex Submariner models in steel. These represent the newest generation Rolex Submariner timepieces and are often referred to as the Rolex Submariner Date and Rolex Submariner No Date. The difference between them should be clear. One has a date window with magnifier over that window on the sapphire crystal, while the No Date has none of that for a cleaner looking dial. While the difference is minor, it is these little differences which are important to Rolex fans, and the price difference between the two is not inconsequential. UPDATE: Check our long-term Rolex Submariner 114060 watch review on aBlogtoWatch for even more.
While I am very well-versed in all things "watches," I don't consider myself to be a Rolex expert compared to many people that I know. I have a basic understanding of the brand's history, the evolution of its products, and what is appealing about watches like the Rolex Submariner. Other people have extremely detailed knowledge of each and every product, hard-to-find timepieces, differences in products as they evolves, etc... The purpose of this review is to discuss the modern Rolex Submariner to the mainstream watch lovers and those interested in why this is a worthy timepiece. In short, the Rolex Submariner started the dive watch craze that made those types of sport watches the most desirable type of timepiece on the planet - and with its crown logo, the Rolex Submariner thematically rules over the lot.
The Movement
Let me state now that the Rolex Submariner is not the most expensive, most durable, most complicated, or best looking high-end dive watch around. There are dozens of more expensive steel sport watches, and tons that can take much more of a beating. Rolex is also known for making very good, but simple movements (for the most part). Rolex mechanical movements have a reputation for being rather accurate, long-lived, and easy to work on. Many of the watch makers that I've spoken to voice positive sentiments in working on Rolex movements. Still, servicing a mechanical watch is not all that cheap.
Inside of these two Rolex Submariner models are two different movements (because one contains the date and the other doesn't) but practically speaking they are more or less the same. The Rolex Submariner Date (Ref. 116610 AKA 116610LN) contains the in-house made Rolex caliber 3135 automatic movements, while the Rolex Submariner No Date contains the Rolex caliber 3130. Both of the movements feature Rolex's newer Parachrom hairsprings and have a power reserve of about two days when fully wound. Rolex also has the majority of their watches (including all Rolex Submariner models) COSC Chronometer certified. The 3135 and 3130 are about as good as can be hoped for from relatively basic three-hand automatic movements. No one per se buys a Rolex for the movement, but at the same time, the movements don't really leave much to be desired given the price and intended use. They are durable and mechanically sound - enough said.
The Design
Rolex claims to have invented the water-tight watch case with the Oyster. True enough, they did produce the first commercially noteworthy water resistant watch with the Oyster. For that reason you see the "Oyster" label on a lot of Rolex products, even though there isn't a Rolex watch called the Oyster these days. It is a signifier that the watch is water resistant. Of course, the Rolex Submariner is more than just that. Originally designed as a commercial diver's watch in the 1950s, the Rolex Submariner today has a water resistance of 300 meters and a design that is incredibly similar to the original. This design that mixes sport and professional looks is one of the key factors to the design's success. The dial of the Rolex Submariner is clever, yet easy on the eyes. The black and white design is meant to offer a high contrast for easy reading of the time. The lumed indicators and hands are meant to make it easy to read in the dark. A different style of hour and minute hand are there for legibility, and a special character for the 12 o'clock indicator is meant to make it easy to mentally orient the dial when looking at it from the side.
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