First created in 1953, the Submariner was the first watch waterproof to a depth of 100 meters (330 feet). Since that time it has expanded its horizons well beyond the element of its birth. At home in the depths of the oceans, it long ago conquered terra firma as a symbol of the watch of action. On land as at sea, this emblematic watch has irresistible seductive power.
The unidirectional rotatable bezel of the Submariner is equipped with a Cerachrom insert – in black, blue or green, depending on the version. The 60-minute graduation allows divers to monitor their time underwater for their safety. The insert, made of an extremely hard and corrosion-resistant ceramic, is virtually scratch-proof and its color is unaffected by ultraviolet rays. The numerals and the graduations are engraved in the ceramic and coated with gold or platinum using a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) process patented by Rolex. The bezel’s knurled edge offers excellent grip when manipulating the bezel to set dive time. In addition to its functions and its intrinsic technical qualities, the Submariner bezel contributes to the model’s very strong visual identity.
The Submariner is an extremely legible watch which is equally at home in the dark depths of the oceans or in elegant settings. The Chromalight hour markers and hands are filled with a luminescent material emitting a long-lasting blue glow. On the bezel, the zero marker of the graduation, in the form of a triangle, is visible in the dark thanks to a capsule containing the same luminescent material.
Like all watches in the Oyster collection, each Submariner is certified as a Superlative Chronometer. This exclusive designation attests that it has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, which exceed watchmaking norms and standards. These tests are carried out on the fully assembled watch, in order to guarantee its superlative performance on the wrist.
The precision of every movement – officially certified as a chronometer by COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) – is, therefore, tested a second time by Rolex after being cased, to ensure that it meets criteria for precision that are far more exacting than those for an official chronometer. The tolerance for the average rate of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer after casing is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day.
The Submariner’s Oyster case, guaranteed waterproof today to a depth of 300 meters (1,000 feet), is a paragon of robustness. The characteristically shaped middle case is crafted from a solid block of metal: 18 ct gold or particularly corrosion-resistant 904L steel. The fluted case back is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The winding crown, fitted with the Triplock triple waterproofness system and protected by a crown guard that is an integral part of the middle case, screws down securely against the case, offering watertight security akin to a submarine’s hatch. The crystal, with a Cyclops lens fitted on some models for easy reading of the date, is made of virtually scratch-proof sapphire. The waterproof Oyster case provides the Submariner’s high-precision mechanical movement with optimal protection.
The Submariner is equipped with caliber 3130 or caliber 3135 (Submariner Date version), two self-winding mechanical movements entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Their architecture, manufacturing and innovative features make them singularly precise and reliable.
The oscillator, the true heart of the watch, has a blue Parachrom hairspring patented and manufactured by Rolex in an exclusive alloy. Insensitive to magnetic fields, the Parachrom hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations and remains up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. It is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring its regularity in any position. Firmly held in place by a height-adjustable traversing bridge, the oscillator has a large balance wheel with variable inertia regulated extremely precisely via gold Microstella nuts.
The Submariner’s Oyster bracelet is a perfect alchemy of form and function, aesthetics and technology. It is equipped with an Oysterlock safety clasp that prevents accidental opening and a Rolex Glidelock extension system, two complex Rolex innovations that are easy to use. The ingenious Rolex Glidelock located beneath the clasp cover allows fine adjustment of the bracelet length in 2 mm increments for a total of approximately 20 mm – without using any tools. Thus, the watch can be comfortably worn over a diving suit up to 3 mm thick.
