The Rolex Submariner isn’t exactly controversial.
Asking a group of music, design, or fashion experts to name the most important album, building, or collection of the 20th century is a great way to start an argument.
Ask a group of watch experts, though, and the answer will almost certainly be the same: the Rolex Submariner. Since its first production run in 1953, the Submariner (now known simply as the “Sub” by collectors) has evolved from a humble piece of diving equipment to the gold standard for luxury tool replica Rolex watches UK, and a quintessential desk diver.
Equal parts capable diving tool (it was the first dive watch rated to 100 meters) and style statement (it’s been available in solid gold since 1969), the Submariner has more than earned its status as one of the world’s most-sought grails over the last 71 years.
Wait, Why Is the Rolex Submariner Such a Big Deal?
For one thing, the Submariner boasts a raft of top-shelf features, like a 904L stainless steel (a.k.a. Oystersteel) case, Chromalight lume, and a Cerachrom (like ceramic, only better) bezel. For another, it’s been embellished over the decades with a bunch of clever improvements, like the easily-adjustable Glidelock bracelet and a range of colorful dials and bezels, not to mention versions in gold and two-tone (a.k.a. Rolesor). But what really gets AAA+ clone Rolex watches collectors worked up, and makes vintage Submariners some of the most enthusiastically collected watches on the planet, comes down to one thing: consistency.
Makes Sense. How Has It Evolved in the Time Since?
“Everybody made a diving watch in the ‘60s, but the Submariner is the biggest icon because it hasn’t really changed since,” says Sacha Davidoff, the Geneva-based vintage cheap fake Rolex watches specialist. “It’s like the Porsche 911: it’s the same car, but what’s inside has changed.”
Like the iconic German coupe, Davidoff explains, incremental changes to the top replica Rolex Submariner watches over the years have made it more reliable and more robust than its forebears, but the essential form—the geometric hour markers, the “Mercedes” handset, the rotating bezel and Oyster bracelet—looks essentially the same as it did in 1960. “That’s why the Submariner is so important,” Davidoff says. Rolex has “kept the DNA intact while improving the technology.”
Got It. Should I Buy One Old or New?
For anyone who’s considering joining the ranks of Submariner collectors, the first decision is whether you want a new Sub or a vintage one. If it’s the former, you can choose between the classic Submariner copy Rolex watches for sale in Oystersteel with no date or the Submariner Date, which includes more metal choices and colors, not to mention the inimitable Cyclops date window. But for anyone looking to dive into the world of vintage subs, things quickly get more complicated.
With dozens of perfect fake Rolex watches (or references, in Rolex-speak) spanning decades, many of which are distinguished by details as subtle as the number of lines of text on the dial or the shape of the crown guards, the world of vintage Submariners can feel as deep as the Mariana trench and just as perilous (for your bank account, anyway). Whichever path you choose, there’s a whole world of Submariner jargon and lore to immerse yourself in along the way. Here are the references that collectors get the most excited about—along with a few places we trust where you can reliably find ’em.
