Gold Submariner - why all the love?

[Maverick686]

I may catch a lot of heat for this comment. However, I'd like to preface this by saying I do love Rolex and they are fine time pieces.

However, I don't understand the popularity of the Gold Submariner. Do people take them diving? The submariner is probably my least favorite Rolex, unless used as an actual dive watch.

What am I missing? There are many other gold watches I'd prefer before the Submariner.

[iLLGT2]

And there are many other gold watches that you prefer however not others? Pretty self explanatory, preference :)

But to answer your question, Sub is iconic, point blank.

[Runnin' Rebel]

Merry Christmas

[vman]

There is nothing rational about high-end watches.

[GoldenSub]

The Gold Sub is the Ultimate Watch!

[Muzz]

If you want some blue on your Submariner it is the only way that it is going to happen. Personal preference.

[LuminousMaximus]

Originally Posted by Maverick686

I may catch a lot of heat for this comment. However, I'd like to preface this by saying I do love Rolex and they are fine time pieces.

However, I don't understand the popularity of the Gold Submariner. Do people take them diving? The submariner is probably my least favorite Rolex, unless used as an actual dive watch.

What am I missing? There are many other gold watches I'd prefer before the Submariner.

First, you should give specific reasons why you don't like the Submariner...

1.

2.

3.

4.

and so on...

[LuminousMaximus]

oops, I forgot the obligatory, $36,800.00 Retail Gold Sub pic's...

[Old Expat Beast]

I've noticed a couple of people here quoting the first gold Sub release in the late 1960s as marking the early beginnings of the Rolex transition to purveyor of overpriced jewellery watches. Not sure if I agree, but it's an interesting talking point.

[douglasf13]

Why stop at Rolex? I mean, I even wear a steel wedding ring. What about you?

As they say, to each his/her own.

[Maverick686]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

First, you should give specific reasons why you don't like the Submariner...

1.

2.

3.

4.

and so on...

Sure...

1. Most popular, Go-To Rolex Watch particularly for people who don't know anything about watches but have a little bit of money

2. I hate the Raised White Dot on the dial (minor, but it annoys me)

3. Everyone and his mom has a Submariner

4. It's fist and foremost a dive watch. I dive, and IMHO, should consider a dive watch if you're actually going to use it for its intended purpose. With the modern day dive computer, it's not really necessary.

5. I travel constantly, so a GMT watch fits my needs perfect and is water resistant to 100m. Realistically, most divers, even advanced, don't go much beyond 30 meters.

I'm not knocking the people who own them, it's a personal preference.

But if I were looking for a gold watch, it would be a, IWC, Patek, or Jaeger-LeCoultre...

[japenney]

The sub is an amazing watch. It is the only gold rolex with a glide lock adjustment which is especially useful for comfort with heavy gold watches. It also looks great and makes me happy to look at it. I could have chose any gold rolex after flipping 10+ rolex this year but I picked this one for so many reasons.

Some people go through a phase were they don't want to wear iconic watches because too many people wear them. Some day you realize that they are popular for a good reason and you are missing out just because you want to be unique.

[520Matt]

I personally love the look of the yellow gold blue sub.

[Scapegoat]

That is a beautiful gold watch...

[Castiel]

After being on TRF for a while now, I love me some YG or WG sub.

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

oops, I forgot the obligatory, $36,800.00 Retail Gold Sub pic's...

[toneafficianado]

A sub with a blue dial!!!

Simply a thing of beauty in TT, YG or WG. All great and slightly different.

Beauty has always been in the eyes of the beholder.
Personally, I LOVE 'em.

[TG3N]

Originally Posted by Maverick686

Sure...

1. Most popular, Go-To Rolex Watch particularly for people who don't know anything about watches but have a little bit of money

2. I hate the Raised White Dot on the dial (minor, but it annoys me)

3. Everyone and his mom has a Submariner

4. It's fist and foremost a dive watch. I dive, and IMHO, should consider a dive watch if you're actually going to use it for its intended purpose. With the modern day dive computer, it's not really necessary.

5. I travel constantly, so a GMT watch fits my needs perfect and is water resistant to 100m. Realistically, most divers, even advanced, don't go much beyond 30 meters.

I'm not knocking the people who own them, it's a personal preference.

But if I were looking for a gold watch, it would be a, IWC, Patek, or Jaeger-LeCoultre...

Fair enough, you don't like them, that's absolutely fine, but your explanatory logic is a bit questionable perhaps:

1) The Datejust is a bigger seller than the Sub, and for those with cash to spunk, I bet they bet buy more precious metal Datejusts than Subs.

2) 'Raised White Dot' - do you mean the deep-filled lume markers, or the bezel pip? Either way, as you are a Diver, I'd have assumed either feature would be quite useful, and that you would know what they are called.

3) Yeah, you're correct there - a sub is pretty ubiquitous, which isn't for everyone. I'd argue a gold Sub is lesser-spotted beast though.

4) I agree that Rolex moved away from pure Tool watches some time ago - give me a Seiko for that - but the thing I admire about Subs is that, if you want, you can still use them for that purpose, even a gold one, if so desired. Rolex don't mess-about with Trip-Lock crown technology, Oyster cases & wet-testing QC for fun. Secondly, for diving, isn't it best practice to use a watch alongside a dive computer for redundancy/malfunction reasons. For regular divers, I'd imagine a watch, or Sub, is complimentary to the computer, rather than a replacement? Thirdly, people wear sports shoes & drive sports cars - it doesn't make them athletes or racing drivers. Sometimes a little reassuring over-performance is a god thing to possess...

5) Agreed, the GMT is plenty water-resistant for most, but again, I'd have thought the Sub would be more useful to a diver. Leaving aside the greater depth rating - which I agree is inapplicable for most - the wet-suit/Glidelock extension and elapsed time bezel are features lacking from the GMT, and whilst not critical all the time, would be handy sometimes.

I'm not 'having a go' by the way - I actually agree with you that the Yellow Gold Sub is not to my taste either (though the bluesy above is just gorgeous), and nor would I dive with a gold Sub, but your rationales just intrigued me.

[Maverick686]

Originally Posted by TG3N

Fair enough, you don't like them, that's absolutely fine, but your explanatory logic is a bit questionable perhaps:

1) The Datejust is a bigger seller than the Sub, and for those with cash to spunk, I bet they bet buy more precious metal Datejusts than Subs.

2) 'Raised White Dot' - do you mean the deep-filled lume markers, or the bezel pip? Either way, as you are a Diver, I'd have assumed either feature would be quite useful, and that you would know what they are called.

3) Yeah, you're correct there - a sub is pretty ubiquitous, which isn't for everyone. I'd argue a gold Sub is lesser-spotted beast though.

4) I agree that Rolex moved away from pure Tool watches some time ago - give me a Seiko for that - but the thing I admire about Subs is that, if you want, you can still use them for that purpose, even a gold one, if so desired. Rolex don't mess-about with Trip-Lock crown technology, Oyster cases & wet-testing QC for fun. Secondly, for diving, isn't it best practice to use a watch alongside a dive computer for redundancy/malfunction reasons. For regular divers, I'd imagine a watch, or Sub, is complimentary to the computer, rather than a replacement? Thirdly, people wear sports shoes & drive sports cars - it doesn't make them athletes or racing drivers. Sometimes a little reassuring over-performance is a god thing to possess...

5) Agreed, the GMT is plenty water-resistant for most, but again, I'd have thought the Sub would be more useful to a diver. Leaving aside the greater depth rating - which I agree is inapplicable for most - the wet-suit/Glidelock extension and elapsed time bezel are features lacking from the GMT, and whilst not critical all the time, would be handy sometimes.

I'm not 'having a go' by the way - I actually agree with you that the Yellow Gold Sub is not to my taste either (though the bluesy above is just gorgeous), and nor would I dive with a gold Sub, but your rationales just intrigued me.

I agree, the Bluesy above is a pretty watch. You do make interesting points, which leads to interesting discussions. :)

1) Correct. I should have mentioned that the Sub is the biggest seller from Rolex's "sport" watch line

2) I mean the bezel pip. We used dive computers for our drive training, we never used a sport watch for driving. I had no idea the 'raised white dot' on the bezel was called. Thanks

3) Correct, Gold Submariners are area. I was hoping someone would post a photo of them diving with their gold sub. Hehe

4) Fair point. I'm actually looking at Seiko dive watch for a beater (something $2k or less). Typically, when diving, you always have a partner so a dive watch wouldn't be a necessary back up to a dive computer. However, some advanced divers do go out a lone (risky and dangerous IMO) so it would make sense in that case. I tend to agree over performance is never a bad thing, and I absolutely recognize Rolex uses the Sub's 300m depth rating to differentiate from other Oyster cases. Indeed, mostly marketing, but understandably so. I would bet the sales of the GMT would be higher than they are now if it also had a 300m resistance rating.

5) Agreed, again. In fact, in a perfect world, I would love to have the GMT on a glide lock bracelet. Not sure I want to spend $2k on just a bracelet, though.

Maybe after more time on this forum I'll be swayed. The WG Blue Watch is a beauty. YG has a long way to grow on me!

[MrGMT]

I think I'm probably in the minority I think the black dial gold sub is nicer and think the sports gold Rolex are really nice would love a gold GMT but think it might be a bit too flashy for me personally

[TG3N]

Originally Posted by Maverick686

I agree, the Bluesy above is a pretty watch. You do make interesting points, which leads to interesting discussions. :)

1) Correct. I should have mentioned that the Sub is the biggest seller from Rolex's "sport" watch line

2) I mean the bezel pip. We used dive computers for our drive training, we never used a sport watch for driving. I had no idea the 'raised white dot' on the bezel was called. Thanks

3) Correct, Gold Submariners are area. I was hoping someone would post a photo of them diving with their gold sub. Hehe

4) Fair point. I'm actually looking at Seiko dive watch for a beater (something $2k or less). Typically, when diving, you always have a partner so a dive watch wouldn't be a necessary back up to a dive computer. However, some advanced divers do go out a lone (risky and dangerous IMO) so it would make sense in that case. I tend to agree over performance is never a bad thing, and I absolutely recognize Rolex uses the Sub's 300m depth rating to differentiate from other Oyster cases. Indeed, mostly marketing, but understandably so. I would bet the sales of the GMT would be higher than they are now if it also had a 300m resistance rating.

5) Agreed, again. In fact, in a perfect world, I would love to have the GMT on a glide lock bracelet. Not sure I want to spend $2k on just a bracelet, though.

Maybe after more time on this forum I'll be swayed. The WG Blue Watch is a beauty. YG has a long way to grow on me!

Thanks for the comprehensive response - and most interesting on the Diving aspects (I'm not a Diver, so I'll absolutely defer to you on those points).

Yep, I totally agree with you that despite the slightly thinner case, I bet the GMT is well capable of more than 100m water resistance, but as you say, Rolex needs some sort of arbitrary differentiator for retail pricing & model distinction purposes, otherwise everybody might just buy a GMT, as it's a great watch, sufficient for most people's needs in water also.

Hard to look past Seiko for a dive watch (or any sort of watch) - in-house movements, rock-solid, ISO rated, heritage & stupendous value for money.

Don't get me started on Rolex & what they charge for bracelets & links - great, well-made products, but extortionately over-priced. For the amounts used, 904L steel isn't that much more expensive than 316L, they have had the machinery & tools for forever, and they probably bang-out over 750k bracelets a year, yet they charge $75 for a single Oyster link?! Ludicrous. That's an old price too, it's probably dearer now. Never mind a full Gildelock bracelet alone costing as much as most luxury watches. Of course, Rolex aren't alone in gouging customers for OEM bracelets, but it's over-charging to my mind.

[malarky_hk]

Its a beautiful and stunning piece in the metal, period.

Take a look at the YG Sub thread: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=444426

[Psmith]

Because it's pretty...

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Maverick686

... if I were looking for a gold watch, it would be a, IWC, Patek, or Jaeger-LeCoultre...

Have you priced gold watches by any other high end brands? They're usually more expensive than Rolex with worse resale values. Rolex PM is the best value in PM watches.

[kilyung]

If GMTs are your thing, then there are models for you.

[gossbeau]

I am a little bit on the same boat as I first flipped my Day Date for a gold Sub, albeit black diamond dial and then got tired of it rather quickly and sold it to finally repurchase a day date.

For me the ultimate gold Rolex is the president period. It's more refined and elegant. After selling the day date I purchased a 116505 prior to the 116618 because I wanted to feel what is it like to own a PM sport model. After all it is more gold and is heavier. Nevertheless, the rose gold Daytona and the gold Sub didn't keep me satiated for long and deep inside I knew that I needed to get a president back.

In short, I get way more pleasure looking at my Day Date than the gold Sub. Also, it feels more comfortable due to the lower weight and the president bracelet just wrap your wrist nicely. For me anything solid gold is a bit like a jewelry and the day date check that box in my book.

I also want to mention that I am talking about the black gold sub. The blue gold sub is probably more exciting. A bit like the Hulk compared to the black SS Sub.

Merry Christmas!!!

[ABChop]

IMHO the 116618LN is the iconic sub.....blue and WG haven't been around that long in the grand scheme of things.
YG & a black dial are where it's at : )
I hope to own one someday.
To each there own though.

[lain09]

I hope I will be able to afford a 116618LB one day..
I agree with the post that at a certain point high end watches make no logical sense same as paying millions for a painting.

[Loevhagen]

I can relate to parts of the YG critique. One year ago I would consider YG at all. But, driftet towards WG and TT - and at now point, YG was just OK.

For me, the wide lugs Submariner versions looks just too much. I prefer the more elegant design, so the 5-digit version was fairly easy too choose.

[cdm765]

There are lots of watches I don't personally like, but don't see the value in making a post bashing them. At the end of the day, a watch is an unnecessary luxury purchase which we are blessed enough to enjoy. Steel "tool" watch or gold stunner, they all serve as both signalling devices and beautiful pieces of quality craftsmanship.