Evolution of the Submariner...

[Alcan]

...through 2010, courtesy Dive Watches Blog

[minute_man]

Very informative
Thanks for sharing

[marcotagudelo]

i dont see the 116600 in that timeline jeje

[Sydny2]

Thanks for sharing!

[cht]

Is the 1981 Submariner model number correct?

That doesn't look like 16618, which should be full gold.

[JacksonStone]

Awesome timeline. However, I believe the Smurf WG ceramic came out in 2008. The YG and TT ceramic Subs came out in 2009. 2010 was the year of the SS ceramics (black and green).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex_...Current_models

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by cht

Is the 1981 Submariner model number correct?

That doesn't look like 16618, which should be full gold.

Right. This gives us a nice approximation of the history, but it's far from exact.

[Indy11]

Just wondering... the lugs on the first edition (6200) seem proportionally similar to the latest version subs... could Rolex have been going for this shape overall with modern proportions? Curious if anyone else see this.

[jmolsberg]

I don't see the 14060

[natosub]

Interesting and nice visual, but there are quite a few errors in there.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by Indy11

Just wondering... the lugs on the first edition (6200) seem proportionally similar to the latest version subs... could Rolex have been going for this shape overall with modern proportions? Curious if anyone else see this.

It sure does, so does the family resemblance up to the 5510 reference IMO. I'm sure some members will fight you tooth and nails on this, but Rolex has mentioned numerous times in past that the 116610 and similar references were inspired by the "original" Submariner designs. What most don't realize is the case itself today is more similar to the original Submariner than the 16610 era Submariners. Both design perspectives IMO are beautiful and different at the same time

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by 904VT

It sure does, so does the family resemblance up to the 5510 reference IMO. I'm sure some members will fight you tooth and nails on this, but Rolex has mentioned numerous times in past that the 116610 and similar references were inspired by the "original" Submariner designs. What most don't realize is the case itself today is more similar to the original Submariner than the 16610 era Submariners. Both design perspectives IMO are beautiful and different at the same time

Interesting perspective. I don't dispute that at all, because the fact is I have no idea. I do know I love my 116610LN, and if that was inspired by the original Sub, so much the better.

However, how accurate are these pictures as a basis for comparing fine details? Compare, for instance, the 16610LN to the 16610LV. On the LN, the 6 o'clock lugs are foreshortened, while the 12 o'clock lugs are elongated. On the LV, it's just the opposite, indicating these two watches (with presumably the same case) were taken from slightly different perspectives. This is also made clear when comparing how their date windows line up with the cyclops. If one wasn't paying close attention, he might think the LN had long lugs, and the LV had short ones. Therefore, is the picture of the 6200 an accurate enough representation that we can use it as a basis for determining its similarity to the 116619?

[Indy11]

Originally Posted by 904VT

It sure does, so does the family resemblance up to the 5510 reference IMO. I'm sure some members will fight you tooth and nails on this, but Rolex has mentioned numerous times in past that the 116610 and similar references were inspired by the "original" Submariner designs. What most don't realize is the case itself today is more similar to the original Submariner than the 16610 era Submariners. Both design perspectives IMO are beautiful and different at the same time

Thanks, I was unaware Rolex had mentioned that. Thought maybe it was from my glass of wine and imagination!

[visualplane]

Great post

[Palermo]

When was the first issue of the Cameron Deepsea D-Blue then?

[watchwatcher]

Ah, to go back to 1966-67 again...

[Afghanvet]

That's really cool! Thanks for posting!

[padi56]

Now old Hans Wilsdorf was a clever man his first waterproof watch was called the submarine,now he wanted to increase sales worldwide and especially in tropical climates like Asia.So he tried to make a watch that was waterproof,now the evolution of the first oyster case was started.His idea was very simple,he would fit a case inside a case,and he called it the Submarine watch.Now this worked,but had certain drawbacks you had to open the case to wind it,and the outer case had a threaded screw on bezel to protect the watch.This was not very user owner friendly and caused wear on the hinges and bezel threads.So he started to look for a new idea for a truely waterproof wrist watch.

So later in 1925 he heard that two watchmakers one was Paul Perregaux other George Perrolet they had taken out a Swiss patent for the first twin lock screwed stem system crown.Now Hans Wilsdorf of Rolex grasped that a hermetically sealed case, together with careful fitting of the crystal and a special stem mechanism, would produce a better water proof wristwatch.He quickly negotiated to have the Perregaux patent assigned to him. Wilsdorf then obtained a British patent on October 18 1926.And then soon after the Rolex Oyster was born and became a commercial success..
Then in 1927, a stenographer, Mercedes Gleitze, swam the English Channel with the unheard of accompaniment of a wristwatch –the Rolex Oyster— on her person for the entire 15 hour, 15 minute,swim and the rest is Rolex history and a great first big advertising first for Rolex a fully waterproof watch,and then we had to wait 30 odd years for the rebirth from Submarine, to the first Submariner as we know it today.

First Rolex Submarine.



Paul Perregaux patent screwed stem system 1925,which Hans Wilsdorf of Rolex acquired,to make the first oyster cased Rolex.

[ZaQ2253]

So I don't have to start a new thread with such a simple question; when did the dial writing on the gold black dialed Sub go from all gold to white?

[mailman]

Originally Posted by ZaQ2253

So I don't have to start a new thread with such a simple question; when did the dial writing on the gold black dialed Sub go from all gold to white?

When they went from five to six digit models. Aluminum inserts to ceramic

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by mailman

When they went from five to six digit models. Aluminum inserts to ceramic

Is that your 6th digit in your avatar???

[mailman]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Is that your 6th digit in your avatar???

[1William]

Very informative. Thanks.

[nick c]

Very cool thanks for sharing Al

[varkom]

would Rolex even be around today if they kept the arabic numerals in the submariner?

[yannis]

Great thread. Thanks for the info! Very useful and concise reference!

[AK797]

Would love to get my hands on the Arabic 6200. The red sub pic should really be of the Mk 1.

[madmole]

Missed the 1953 6204, the first Submariner!

[Hairdude1]

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by natosub

Interesting and nice visual, but there are quite a few errors in there.

Indeed a few errors.