Why the Sub?

[SamP]

I've a sub, the 1680/8. I bought it for it's beautiful tropical purple nipple dial.
I don't have a modern sub. I thinks all subs, in fact all Rolex's, are great.
However I can't understand why that particular type of watch has become folklore. After all, not many of us dive.
Any thoughts?
I'm interested in hearing your view on why the world fell for the Submariner.
Hints, tv promotion - Bond.
Cool rotating bezel. Relative cheapness compared to the DayDate, etc.
Regards

[Busyboy]

I suppose, you have a point

Why is coke better than 7up tho?

[SamP]

Originally Posted by Busyboy

I suppose, you have a point

Why is coke better than 7up tho?

Now we're getting there.

Coke is generic, but I imagine you meant why is Coca-Cola more popular than 7up?
Purely down to the exhaustive marketing since its inception to the present day.
Likewise for the phenomenal marketing machine that is the charity Rolex.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was commercially available a year before the Rolex Submariner was. But a clever Hans Wildorf was a pioneer of marketing and advertising.
This is why the sheepish world has followed the Sub, Coca-Cola etc.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 5 digit Subs. Too many times I've seen a young man gushing over a Sub on his wrist in a Rolex AD. The watch absolutely dwarfing his wrist, but it's a Sub & he's conditioned to beleive it's the dogs
proverbials. He'll never dive with it, he can't even lift his wrist, but yes - his mates have one so...
This is what I hoped someone would say.
I wasn't really after I think it's great or sexy etc. The question was why the world covets the Sub.
If the Daytona flooded the market, would people still drool over it.
Regards

[Manofsteelpt]

Originally Posted by SamP

Coke is generic, but I imagine you meant why is Coca-Cola more popular than 7up?

Cola is generic, Coke is short for Coca-Cola.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by Manofsteelpt

Cola is generic, Coke is short for Coca-Cola.

x2

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by SamP

Now we're getting there.

Coke is generic, but I imagine you meant why is Coca-Cola more popular than 7up?
Purely down to the exhaustive marketing since its inception to the present day.
Likewise for the phenomenal marketing machine that is the charity Rolex.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was commercially available a year before the Rolex Submariner was. But a clever Hans Wildorf was a pioneer of marketing and advertising.
This is why the sheepish world has followed the Sub, Coca-Cola etc.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 5 digit Subs. Too many times I've seen a young man gushing over a Sub on his wrist in a Rolex AD. The watch absolutely dwarfing his wrist, but it's a Sub & he's conditioned to beleive it's the dogs
proverbials. He'll never dive with it, he can't even lift his wrist, but yes - his mates have one so...
This is what I hoped someone would say.
I wasn't really after I think it's great or sexy etc. The question was why the world covets the Sub.
If the Daytona flooded the market, would people still drool over it.
Regards

It seems you have a bias of what you want the answer to be before you post. That's not exactly scientific or socratic discussion/analysis.

[Busyboy]

I guess....

People like honest things. It was, what it was

It was also very well - marketed

[springer]

Did you know that the Submariner 1680 was never overly popular or a big seller?

[sfc rick]

I think it's way overrated, and if anyone is just as sick and tired of theirs send it to me so you can rest better.

Ever time I look at my 1680, just know I'm taking it for the Rolex team.

[Rock]

Some products/items are attractive to the majority of eyes.
The Submariner/Submariner Date is one of those.
The "visual" attraction is usually the first attraction with many things - before you know anything about it.
If on closer inspection you find that the beauty is one-dimensional or superficial (or even false) then you move on.
I've seen a lot of Submariner clones but none of them comes up as well on close inspection.(I can even overlook the tin-can bracelet)

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by Rock

Some products/items are attractive to the majority of eyes.
The Submariner/Submariner Date is one of those.
The "visual" attraction is usually the first attraction with many things - before you know anything about it.

[Etschell]

It's a tribute to the oyster case and humans connection with the ocean and water. We are after all 75 percent eater.

The size of the sub and design makes it stand the test of time.

[Boaters]

They are one of the best my go to wear anywhere watch.

[watchmework]

It's a simple yet elegant design that has proven to be timeless and with each iteration Rolex fine tuning and advancing the parts that compose the Sub without majorly changing the design. On top of that you have the Rolex quality in the case and bracelet that has been very well marketed and branded in addition to the watch holding its value much better than other brands.

[run23]

A little embarrassed to admit, but I've wanted a Sub ever since I saw Connery's in Goldfinger when they would show old Bond movies late night.

I avoided getting one for years because I was turned off by the Rolex name and the 1980s yuppie associations, but after a while a switch flipped in my head and I began to see the Sub as a tough, no-nonsense tool watch that works in almost every situation. So I bought one this year.

Yeah, maybe it bugs me that every banker/lawyer of a certain age in NYC has one, but I can get over that.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by run23

A little embarrassed to admit, but I've wanted a Sub ever since I saw Connery's in Goldfinger when they would show old Bond movies late night.

I avoided getting one for years because I was turned off by the Rolex name and the 1980s yuppie associations, but after a while a switch flipped in my head and I began to see the Sub as a tough, no-nonsense tool watch that works in almost every situation. So I bought one this year.

Yeah, maybe it bugs me that every banker/lawyer of a certain age in NYC has one, but I can get over that.

Bankers have more than enough to answer for, the last thing in the world I am going to do is let them have any influence over what watch I buy.

[Beowulf]

This topic is well timed for me, since I ordered one exactly one day after the post. It's the first model I get from the brand.

It's a 116610LN. It still puzzles me a bit why I got it as I didn't care for the design many years ago, but with time I suppose I came to appreciate it and started recognizing it in other models that were influenced by it.

There's definitely a lot of marketing/branding pushing it. Also, the sense of scarcity makes it seem tastier. I reached out four ADs that not only told me they didn't have it but didn't even bother to try to help me get one. Two said "the waiting list is closed" flat out, as if the thing was an extreme rarity (talking a "mere" 116610LN here).

Another practical aspect that made me go for it is that it seems to be popular, so it should resell very fast if I decide to get rid of it one day. And finally, the bracelet - I think GlideLock is probably very useful. I never had a watch with it so can't really tell, but in concept it seems a potentially more comfortable that other bracelets without fine adjustment.

So to me,

1. Well known design, popular > easy to flip if needed, hopefully retaining a decent amount of the original cost.
2. Proven reliable.
3. Pratical (for me) - easily legible and with a date.
4. Not changing much, which might make it seem less outdated as years go by.
5. Nice bracelet in terms of functionality/clasp.

It's also a Rolex that isn't too discrete or too obvious. I think it might be able to "blend in" in more discrete moments/crowds, which is something I like.

Two things that would be nice to have would be an applied logo (I don't know why but I really like applied logos) like the Daytona and a ceramic dial (to handle fade and aging better). If I had to bed, I'd say Rolex will start using the latter eventually.

[SamP]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

This topic is well timed for me, since I ordered one exactly one day after the post. It's the first model I get from the brand.

It's a 116610LN. It still puzzles me a bit why I got it as I didn't care for the design many years ago, but with time I suppose I came to appreciate it and started recognizing it in other models that were influenced by it.

There's definitely a lot of marketing/branding pushing it. Also, the sense of scarcity makes it seem tastier. I reached out four ADs that not only told me they didn't have it but didn't even bother to try to help me get one. Two said "the waiting list is closed" flat out, as if the thing was an extreme rarity (talking a "mere" 116610LN here).

Another practical aspect that made me go for it is that it seems to be popular, so it should resell very fast if I decide to get rid of it one day. And finally, the bracelet - I think GlideLock is probably very useful. I never had a watch with it so can't really tell, but in concept it seems a potentially more comfortable that other bracelets without fine adjustment.

So to me,

1. Well known design, popular > easy to flip if needed, hopefully retaining a decent amount of the original cost.
2. Proven reliable.
3. Pratical (for me) - easily legible and with a date.
4. Not changing much, which might make it seem less outdated as years go by.
5. Nice bracelet in terms of functionality/clasp.

It's also a Rolex that isn't too discrete or too obvious. I think it might be able to "blend in" in more discrete moments/crowds, which is something I like.

Two things that would be nice to have would be an applied logo (I don't know why but I really like applied logos) like the Daytona and a ceramic dial (to handle fade and aging better). If I had to bed, I'd say Rolex will start using the latter eventually.

Brovo. A great answer. If people are honest, its only this popular because of a culmination of factors.
I prefer my GMT's over my Subs.
And the poster was naturally correct re Coke & cola, my bad.
Regards

[Thatguy]

Not sure the answer to the question but how about a pic of your tropical dial???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SamP]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

Not sure the answer to the question but how about a pic of your tropical dial???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Thatguy.

My avatar is my tropical dial 1680/8 sans bezel & crystal.
Regards

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by SamP

Hey Thatguy.



My avatar is my tropical dial 1680/8 sans bezel & crystal.

Regards

Very nice! The pic in Tapatalk is so small I didn't notice!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[faldoc]

I first wanted a Sub after seeing a TT on a friend's wrist 31 years ago.

I finally got on in May.

It's the rugged, functional look.

Kinda wish I got one back 30 years ago!

[doramas]

The real Rolex is the Datejust. It is Rolex par excellence.

[GMT Aviator]

Because its the benchmark watch by which all others are measured in terms of its build quality vs cost vs durability.

Having said that, being a GMT kinda guy, I have never owned one and likely never will. For me, I see a Sub as merely a GMT thats missing something.

[mfletch]

Well, I'm 45 and have never owned a Rolex prior to two days ago. There are many that I love, but in case my first is gonna by my only Rolex, I chose the Submariner Date, in black of course. It may be one of the most common among Rolex owners, but I believe that's a testament to its design.

[ExpSubGMT]

Why Pinto?

[broken_link]

I did not care about watches at all for about 5 past years and did not care much about them all my life before that. But when I realized I wanted to buy a good one - a Sub instantly came in mind. I just remembered the look of it on somebody's wrist from many years ago. Well proportioned black/white watch, robust and not cheap. It has actually become a GMT, but a Sub was the thirst thing I have thought about.

[run23]

Rolex has great marketing, which certainly helps drive value, but you can't have decades of devotion to a brand without the brand backing up the hype with an excellent product.

[lhawli]

Couldn't we say the same for, say...
Why the DateJust?
Why the GMT?


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[rolex aficionado]

I think it's because you can use it anytime anywhere,
with a tux or shorts,
Classy, sporty and never goes out of style!
very tough watch! yet so elegant!
This ad from the 60's sums it up