A Deep, Enduring Bond

Rolex has unveiled its new Submariner range, the iconic watch worn by everyone from professional divers to the world’s most famous secret agent.

When it first went into production in 1953, few could have predicted the global cult following that would be clocked up by the Rolex Submariner over seven decades.

The iconic Rolex Submariner Reference 6538 was worn by actor Sean Connery as James Bond in Dr No in 1962, followed by From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball.

Aside from its long association as the watch of choice for a movie legend, the Submariner truly set the standard for diver’s watches and became a titan of timepieces.

The new generation

Now, Rolex has introduced the new generation Oyster Perpetual Submariner and Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date.

Both watches feature a redesigned, slightly larger 41mm case and a remodelled bracelet.

They are equipped with movements at the forefront of watchmaking technology – the Submariner with calibre 3230 and

the Submariner Date with calibre 3235, offering both time and date functions, and used in the range for the first time.

True to its aesthetic heritage, the new Submariner in Oystersteel (£6,450) has a black dial and rotatable bezel with a matching, high-tech ceramic Cerachrom insert.

A yellow Rolesor version (£11,450) of the Submariner Date, combining Oystersteel and 18ct yellow gold, presents a royal blue dial with a rotatable bezel and a blue Cerachrom insert.

Two versions of the Submariner Date, one in Oystersteel (£7,650) and the other in 18ct white gold (£31,850) bring original colour combinations, with the dial and Cerachrom insert in different hues. The first watch blends a black dial with a green bezel, while the second offers a black dial and a blue bezel.

Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Submariner and Submariner Date carry the Superlative Chronometer certification ensuring excellent performance on the wrist.

An extraordinary history

The creation of the Submariner is closely linked to the development of deep-sea diving. In the early 1940s, the exploration of the deep marked a significant turning point with the advent of scuba diving.

At the time, Rolex played an important role in the development and manufacturing of waterproof chronometer wristwatches, thanks in particular to the Oyster case, patented in 1926.

As the brand wanted to create a watch that met divers’ practical needs as closely as possible, in the 1950s it began an experimental process that involved many successful collaborations with diving pioneers.

The experiments carried out and subsequent technical advances led to the introduction in 1953 of the Submariner, the first diver’s wristwatch waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet).

Just a year after its launch, the waterproofness of the Submariner was increased to a depth of 200 metres (660 feet). The watch was soon fitted with other technical innovations, such as a luminescent disc on the hour hand to clearly distinguish it from the minute hand, and a crown guard.

In 1969, Rolex unveiled the Submariner Date, adding the date function. Its waterproofness, then guaranteed to 200 metres, was extended in 1979 to a depth of 300 metres (1,000 feet). The waterproofness of the Submariner achieved the same depth in 1989.

Over time, the appeal of the Submariner and Submariner Date has extended well beyond the marine world. With their proven performance, these tool watches have become archetypes of the action watch on land as underwater.

Clear and precise

When diving, being able to read the time with absolute certainty is a matter of survival.

The dial of the Submariner and Submariner Date is designed to be clean and unambiguous.

The hour and minute hands, clearly differentiated in size and shape, and the hour markers in simple geometric forms – triangles, circles and rectangles – enable instant and reliable reading, preventing any risk of confusion underwater.

The Submariner and Submariner Date also feature a Chromalight display, incorporating a luminescent material.

Time confidence

Rolex played a pioneering role in the development of special ceramics for creating monobloc bezels and bezel inserts.

On these versions of the Submariner and Submariner Date, the uni-directional rotatable bezel is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in black, green or blue ceramic that allows divers to confidently monitor their dive times.

The moulded, recessed graduations and numerals are coated with platinum or yellow gold via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition). The bezel’s knurled edge offers excellent grip, to comfortably set dive time even when wearing gloves.

Almost seven decades since its inception, the timeless Rolex Submariner’s sublime aesthetics and superlative technology have created a bond with fans the world over that’s deeper than ever.

www.rolex.com