THE REFERENCE

Often copied, seldom equalled, it sails across the waves of fashion. We take a closer look at the mythical Submariner watch, a must-have for all fans of the brand with the crown logo.

The Submariner, the first watch to be watertight down to 100m, has been a big hit with fans of underwater adventure since its launch in 1953. It came to wider public notice when Sean Connery wore the watch in Dr No, the first James Bond film, in 1962. Since then, Rolex has added features to the timepiece in line with technological developments, and enthusiasm for the unmatched reference in its category rightly shows no sign of waning. While its design features have changed little, the use of new materials is what really attracts attention to each new model. Today, the round hour markers and distinctive hands are coated in Chromalight, a long-lasting, high-density luminous material. The unidirectional revolving bezel features a disc made of Cerachrom, a tough, scratch-resistant ceramic. Each new model launched by the brand improves the robustness and readability of the diver’s watch.

As for the mechanism, the automatic movement is continually enhanced too, ensuring faultless accuracy. The calibre 3135 comes with a bi-directional rotor for optimal energy conservation in the anti-magnetic Parachrom hairspring. As an extra guarantee of accuracy, the Submariner has the Superlative Chronometer certification, combining COSC and Rolex standards.

Price from 6,850 EUR

By Dan Diaconu