Rolex Sub: innovative or marketing legend?

[jshepard]

My next and last (one can hope there is an ending to this obsession right?) watch will be a diver. I've been trying to acquire watch models, within my budget, that have had historical and/or innovative significance in the world of watches. Now the obvious choice in the diver's genre is the Submariner. To be honest, I've been a long time admirer of the Submariner, but both times I've considered getting one I've end up getting something else (Explorer I and GMT Master II). But this time it's going to be a diver! So it's a pretty sure thing right? Only problem is, no matter how much of an icon the Sub is, the more I research the history of dive watches, the more the Sub feels more of a marketing feat than an engineering one. Am I wrong in this?

The first diver, I thought was the Sub, but I found out actually came out decades before with the Omega Marine. Then I learned even Panerai released divers before Rolex (though one can argue it was powered by Rolex but the case seems more important in terms of waterproofing than the movement). Then I thought, wait, maybe the Sub invented the look of the modern diver, with the legible dial and unidirectional bezel. But even that is debatable with some claiming Blancpain came out with the Fifty Fathoms first with the classic diver design and proving itself when it appeared in the film "The Silent World".

I get the impression the Sub became legend when Bond wore it in the 60s. I don't count that an achievement because Bond is not a real person with no real life achievements. Was the Sub just another divers watch before Bond? Or was it THE TOP divers watch back then? Was Bond the only reason it became the quintessential dive watch? Would the Sub still be the most copied design in the world if Bond had worn a DJ or an Explorer I?

FYI, I'm not in anyway commenting whether the Sub is a good or bad watch. I'm just interested in what makes the Sub so legendary... Brilliant first of its kind innovation or popular through the marketing genius of Rolex and pure luck with the James Bond connection...




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