All the news aside...

[Tallbark]

There was a time that at least I can remember when the sub looked exactly the same year after year after year. Then they changed the bracelet to solid endlinks maybe, but the rest was the same. It seems that Rolex is moving away from this, changing the looks of their models more often and in a more drastic way. I kind of liked the slow moving Rolex as opposed to other brands...

[Likestheshiny]

The sub has changed a fair bit since it was first introduced, to the extent that the BB58 is arguably a closer representation of the original than any current sub. And, really, the current sub still looks an awful lot like the five-digit classic models you're presumably referring to, especially now that the lugs are less chunky.

It's also worth noting that this year has seen Rolex go decidedly backwards to a more traditional look in several ways. GMTs are now available on both bracelets for the first time in years, and the Explorer is again available at 36mm.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

GMTs are now available on both bracelets for the first time in years, and the Explorer is again available at 36mm.

Great news on both cases!


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[Harry-57]

I can only speak for myself and my own tastes/preferences. The transition from 1 series to 11 series was significant and for me it was the turning point. The 11 series Subs were the weight, quality, and depth of build that I was looking for. The bracelet in particular of the 16610 was awful for a watch at its price point. I think Rolex achieved a lot without drastically changing the style when the 116610 arrived.

The 12 series was a similar transition. Just about everything about it is new down to the AR coating, yet it could not be mistaken for anything but a Submariner. Some of the new announcements from across the industry this week look positively garish to me. They just seem to be going for click bait. Some of them are going to seem so last Wednesday, come next Wednesday.

[101031-28]

Originally Posted by Tallbark

There was a time that at least I can remember when the sub looked exactly the same year after year after year. Then they changed the bracelet to solid endlinks maybe, but the rest was the same. It seems that Rolex is moving away from this, changing the looks of their models more often and in a more drastic way. I kind of liked the slow moving Rolex as opposed to other brands...

Completely agree with you. OP. Not interested in Rolex turning into some kind of Apple product

[Master_Grogu]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

I can only speak for myself and my own tastes/preferences. The transition from 1 series to 11 series was significant and for me it was the turning point. The 11 series Subs were the weight, quality, and depth of build that I was looking for. The bracelet in particular of the 16610 was awful for a watch at its price point. I think Rolex achieved a lot without drastically changing the style when the 116610 arrived.

The 12 series was a similar transition. Just about everything about it is new down to the AR coating, yet it could not be mistaken for anything but a Submariner. Some of the new announcements from across the industry this week look positively garish to me. They just seem to be going for click bait. Some of them are going to seem so last Wednesday, come next Wednesday.

Kindred spirits we are.

What I like about Rolex is that a submariner back then looks like a submariner from now. Sometimes they go a bit wild and we get weird references, but at least there is a design ethos and aesthetic rigidity that makes Rolex, well Rolex.

So many brands are just trying to commoditize watches and make them a fashion accessory that ought to be changed each year. A person wearing a 20 yo sub will look as sharp as one buying a 12 reference.

Meanwhile, a dude donning a Olympic or 007 series seems stuck in the age it came from.

W&W21 releases were quite disappointing to me. More might be coming but each new volley of new watches is consolidating my intuition that those who made these brands great left and we are now facing the product of suit-wearing MBAs with short term incentives instead of a true vision.

[Shadow Play]

Originally Posted by Tallbark

There was a time that at least I can remember when the sub looked exactly the same year after year after year. Then they changed the bracelet to solid endlinks maybe, but the rest was the same. It seems that Rolex is moving away from this, changing the looks of their models more often and in a more drastic way. I kind of liked the slow moving Rolex as opposed to other brands...

If you think the Submariner has changed a lot over a good number of years have a look at how much the the Omega Planet Ocean has changed over a far shorter period

For what it’s worth I think the original Planet Ocean was outstanding and by far the best.