Rolex 14060 & 14060M 2-liner Submariner : All Dial Versions

[Alexxonvaldez]

It’s uncompromising straight to the point 2+2 lines glossy dial was released under several variants only to offer the privilege to the WIS we all are to keep digging endlessly in the depths of their cherished watch with a magnifying glass screwed to the eye...

To discover All the Dial Versions of the 14060m 4-liners Submariner, rendez-vous ici.
To discover All the Dial Versions of the 16610 Submariner Date, rendez-vous là.

(I gleaned most of the information below on Drouot, Christie’s, Sotheby’s and the Parisian pawn shop Crédit municipal de Paris past auctions databases, including a few blogs and the online marketplace Chrono 24.)

The following classification is empirical but I dare say quite accurate, and I hope you’ll find my terminology to your taste.

A bit of History

Released in 1988, the Rolex Submariner No-Date 2-liners 14060 with 3000 Cal. is the direct successor to the long-lived ref. 5513 (first launched in 1962).
Featuring a glossy black lacquered dial, a sapphire crystal and a Triplock crown, the watch was adorned with a “Fat Four” black aluminum insert, a 93150 Oyster Bracelet with 501B end link and a Rolex signed Submariner clasp with diver extension. It is the last Submariner reference still with pinholes.

In 1998, the watch receives a 2160 coded case back (common to ref. 14060, 14060m, 16610 and 16613)
In 1999 a Crown is etched on the sapphire crystal at 6. The same year, the luminous compound of the dial and hands is switched from Tritium to Luminova and SuperLuminova. The 14060M (for “Moderne” or “Modified”) with COSC certified 3130 Cal. is released (A series).

In 2005, a new box is offered with the watch. The trademark green leather box and bare wood interior with a beige-brown velvet cushions inside (ref 68.00.01/08/55) or a fixing clip of the same color securely attached to the tray (ref 64.00.01) is discontinued. Rolex introduces the green wave plastic box design (ref 30.00.01/04/71), which is still in use today.
The same year, the “Slim Four” insert supersedes the Fat Four.

In 2007, Rolex submit the model to the scrutiny of COSC and gave buyers the choice of going for the formally sanctioned four-liner Superlative Chronometer or sticking with the more vintage inspired two-liner.
From 2007 to 2011 the 14060M Submariner was produced with an engraved inner rehaut.

The 14060M is discontinued in 2010 or 2011 (G series and random serial numbers, introduced somewhere in 2010). This marks the end of the two-liner era in Rolex professional watch production.
The maxi-case 114060 is introduced at the 2012 BaselWorld watch show, ending the 5 digits Submariner’s hegemony over the underwater world.

Mark I A : SWISS - T<25 Serif Submariner

1990-1997
(E, N, X, S, W, T and U series).
A thin and delicate serif font : you can check the serifs (the small extensions that end the ends of characters) in the D, M and A of Submariner.

“Swiss – T<25” over 5 shortened minute markers
24% of the hundred+ 14060 2-liner Subs I reviewed was showing this dial.







Mark I B : SWISS - T<25 Sans-Serif “Flat S” Zubmariner Five-O

1995-1996
Mostly in W and T series and a handful of recently serviced ones (Swiss made SuperLuminova dials in pre-1999 cases) but we’ll talk about that later.

Sans-Serif typeface, Semi-bold font, Flat “A”
Long Feet, “=” and “m” in Italic letters
Instead of Oval zeros in 1000Ft=300m, the dial shows five round O
As we have seen before, the “1” is pretty distinctive, looking like an “I”: IOOOFt=3OOm

The “Five-O” pattern seems to be the hallmark of the cadranier Beyeler (written in full all over the back of the dial or stamped with a ß) since the 1680/16800 Sub’s references.

“Swiss – T<25” over 5 shortened minute markers
12% of the hundred+ 14060 2-liner Subs I reviewed was showing this dial.





Mark I C and D : Tiffany & Co.

Featured in E, N (Mark I A + the jeweller’s signature) and W (Mark I B + signature)

“Swiss – T<25” over 5 shortened minute markers

Mark II A and B : SWISS Serif Submariner and SWISS Sans-serif Zubmariner

1998 (A serial).
Same distinction as above between Submariner and Zubmariner
“Swiss” over 1 (pretty rare) or 3 shortened minute markers

Mark III A : SWISS MADE Serif Submariner

1998-2005 (A, P, K, Y, F) to be confirmed !
28% of the hundred+ 14060 2-liner Subs I reviewed was showing this dial.

Mark III B : SWISS MADE Sans-serif Zubmariner

1999-2000 & 2003-2008 (A, P, F, Z, M) to be confirmed !
15% of the hundred+ 14060 2-liner Subs I reviewed was showing this dial.

Same distinction as above between Submariner and Zubmariner

“Swiss made” over 5 shortened minute markers



From 2005 to the end (Serial F, D and Z)
“Swiss made” over 3 shortened minute markers




Mark III C : SWISS MADE Zubmariner Frog foot

2006-2007 (D and Z serial)
“Swiss made” over 3 shortened minute markers
8% of the hundred+ 14060 2-liner Subs I reviewed was showing this dial.



Yours, Alex

[Alexxonvaldez]

In conclusion :

1990-1997 (E to U series) : Mark I Tritium dial
“Swiss – T < 25” at 6
Mark I Type A : Serif
Mark I Type B : Sans-Serif Flat “S” Five-O

1998 (A series) : Mark II Luminova transition dial
“Swiss” only at 6
Mark II Type A : Serif
Mark II Type B : Sans-Serif Flat “S” Five-O

1998-2010 (A series to Z or V) : Mark III Super Luminova dial
“Swiss made” at 6
Mark III Type A : Serif (1998-2005)
Mark III Type B : Sans-Serif Flat “S” Five-O + 5 (1999-2005)
Mark III Type B : Sans-Serif Flat “S” Five-O + 3 (2005-2008)
Mark III Type C : Sans-Serif Flat “S” Five-O Frog Foot + 3 (2006-2008)

[Easy Rhino]

That's a lot of finer data. Thanks for posting this. I enjoyed it.

[ol' Rex]

The two-line Submariner is probably my all-time favorite model, and although I am quite satisfied with the 124060, I will always regret having sold my 14060m.

Thank you very much for this information!

[watchnwine]

Very informative and one of my favorite references! I was under the impression that a "Swiss" only dial was a service dial replacement. Am I correct?

[MJZRolex]

My 14060M two-line Z serial is a keeper. Thanks for sharing this information.

[Big Tex Rolex]

I lucked into mine … without knowing that I was buying anything special, when I bought my 14060M “2 liner” from my AD in 2005 (at a 15% discount off MSRP) …




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Driver8]

Good info, that will be sadly underappreciated here these days.

[Snowballs]

Thank you so much for posting. Exciting to learn more about this great reference.

My Z serial has the Mark III Type C

[Alexxonvaldez]

Originally Posted by Driver8

Good info, that will be sadly underappreciated here these days.

Thank you ! Why ? What do you mean ?

[Alexxonvaldez]

Originally Posted by watchnwine

I was under the impression that a "Swiss" only dial was a service dial replacement. Am I correct?

It's just a transitional dial as it happened for a lot of references in the past (1675, 5513, 16610...). Subtle updates and changes took place from one generation to the next combining characteristics of earlier references with features of the subsequent generation.

Some say (like here), and they may be right that it's a service dial. It has be seen on the 1675.

[mdwsta4]

Good read, thanks for taking the time to put this together! Guess that makes my M a MKIII Type B

[KatGirl]

Good info.Thank you for putting it together, and for letting me brush up on my H. S. French.

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[zi464]

14060 is my next target.
Thank you for the info.

[WILLIWALKER]

Great thread !! Thanks

[Arch Stanton]

Here's my 2001 P series.

[thesharkfactor]

Nice. You could add some history about the case back transitions from green sticker, hologram, clear sticker too..

[padi56]

In the real world seeing dials are made in 3 different factories now all owned by Rolex there always have been, and always will be, tiny variations to most all dials over production years.

[Dr.Smellody]

Fantastic post! I miss my Swiss only 14060. Such a perfect proportion.

[PepsiBezel]

Thank you for this great post — the tiny variations are what max this an interesting hobby!

[Alexxonvaldez]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Thank you for letting me brush up on my H. S. French.

Kat

Je vous en prie ! Amicalement

[samuel019]

Originally Posted by Driver8

Good info, that will be sadly underappreciated here these days.

Originally Posted by Alexxonvaldez

Thank you ! Why ? What do you mean ?

Pretty sure Driver8 is alluding to the fact that some Rolex owners are more into investment, hype, flexing, etc etc and have no idea all the data you posted even exists. Basically to them a dial is dial and as long as it has Rolex on it that is all that matters

But fantastic post regardless! Things like this I find very interesting and love reading about it. Thank you!

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Here's my 2001 P series.

Is that the original crystal? My P Series doesn’t have LEC

[huba01]

Thank you so much for a fantastic post.

[George.Costanza]

Thanks for posting this, very helpful :)

[rolexrealfan]

Excellent comme Infos !
Merci

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by East of Eden

Is that the original crystal? My P Series doesn’t have LEC

It is actually a service crystal, but the original also had the LEC. They are not very easy to spot.

This is the original crystal.