Ode to the Classic Rolex Submariner

[Michaeli Paulo]

The Rolex Submariner.



It’s much more than “just a watch” to me, so if you’re in the “it’s just a watch” camp, with all due respect, you’ll probably be happier avoiding the rest of this thread.



Like many others, I grew up watching James Bond and Steve McQueen wearing a Submariner which contributed to making the watch so cool and iconic to me.



When I turned 18, I joined the Navy and upon reporting to boot camp, was delighted to find myself assigned to “Company 007.”



When the Company Commanders discovered that I was drawing portraits of my fellow recruits, (so they could send them home to their sweethearts,) I was assigned to illustrate the company flag.





After graduating from boot camp, I was sent to Submarine School where I began my four year tour in the Submarine Service.



Though I wasn’t anything close to being a Submarine Commander like the above gentleman, I did earn my “Dolphins” and experienced the unique and mysterious underwater life of a Submariner.



After my stint in the Submarine Service, I moved on to a career working for the government and have since retired. However, the longing for a Rolex Submariner has never passed. But I always figured that these watches were for the “wealthy” so I never seriously considered owning one myself.

Then, around a month ago, I stumbled upon The Rolex Forum. I began researching and soon realized that my lifelong dream could actually become a reality.

I showed a picture of the Submariner to my lovely wife and told her all about it. She surprised me by saying how much she loved the watch, how every “gentleman” should wear a nice watch and that she completely supported my desire...she even insisted that she help pay for it!



Soon “the other shoe dropped” and I learned of the current difficulties in obtaining a new Submariner. Remaining positive, my wife and I visited three of our local Authorized Dealers, briefly sharing my story and giving each of them a typed half sheet of information about me and the 114060 reference which I hoped to obtain.

The following week, I “made a day of it” and made similar visits to nine Authorized Dealers in my neighboring cities.

Though I figured I’d be in for a long wait, I was willing, after having waited nearly a lifetime already.

When initially researching the Submariner, I was set upon buying an 114060 from an AD, because I had convinced myself that for an investment like this, I should go with the “new one” from an Authorized Dealer with a full warranty.

But I was continually drawn back to the look and feel of the classic Submariners prior to the changes made with the advent of the 114060.



Then, less than a week ago, I began seriously looking into the possibility of attaining an 14060m as opposed to the 114060.

I realized that with a late model 14060M, I could get a Submariner which had many of the recent “upgrades” while retaining the classic look.

(Note: Before this thread devolves into a “2 liner vs. 4 liner” or a “14060M vs. 114060” discussion, let me say that this thread is in honor of the Rolex Submariner in all of it’s renditions over the years. They are all fantastic!!!)

A Trusted Seller here (speedy_master1 aka Nima) was offering a 14060M reference from 2011 with the complete package, in mint condition, only one owner, and a “safe queen.”

After putting Nima “through the wringer” with tons of questions over a 24 hour period, I bought my dream watch!



My Rolex Submariner (I enjoy saying that!) arrived in pristine condition! I immediately took it to my (new) watchmaker and he authenticated it and put it on his machine to check it’s functions. He said everything looked great and helped fit the bracelet on me.

I am so blessed; I have a classic Rolex Submariner in “like new” condition! I couldn’t be any happier with it!



Ironically, if it wasn’t for the “SS shortage” at the AD’s, I never would have researched and found the 14060m. Instead, I would have walked out with a brand new 114060, a month ago. (Which in all actuality would have been great, as well!)

Another interesting point is that (though I plan on wearing the heck out of this watch,) I totally appreciate those collectors who are guarding their “safe queens.” Those collectors are doing us a great service; preserving watches in pristine condition so that someone else will benefit later; someone like me, buying an eight year old watch in essentially “new” condition.

Aesthetically, just gazing at the watch, it is simply “perfect” to me visually. The Rolex Submariner is simply “the” watch for me.

(Found the hidden Crown!) :)



Some folks might respond to my excitement and enthusiasm with statements like, “It’s just a watch!”

Well, one could also say that Michelangelo’s Pieta is “just a statue“ or that Cologne Cathedral is “just a building.”

Not every man-made creation is a thing of beauty or excellence, but when they are, there’s nothing wrong with appreciating these qualities.



And if Rolex Submariners were inexpensive, (like a Timex or Casio,) and if Submariners were commonplace, I would still want one for all the above reasons.

As for it’s high price, that has never made the Submariner more desirable to me; it has only served as a reason why I’ve never owned one.

Speaking of price, this ad from 1964 is intriguing; I was 5 years old at the time.



Apparently $195.00 was a lot of money for a watch back then, but even adjusting for inflation, that would only equate to around $1,600 today. I’m sure other factors have driven the price up, like technical improvements, name recognition, desirability and status.

Regardless, now that I actually own one of these treasures, it is “the one” for me and no others.

Her maiden voyage...



Thank you, TRF members for educating me and thank you Nima, for helping make my dream a reality!

The iconic Rolex Submariner.

I can’t believe it’s on my wrist and I actually own one!!!



Thank you for taking the time to share in my joy!

God bless you and yours!

Michael

P.S. Photographing the watch has already proven much more challenging than I had anticipated! And “wrist shots” even more so!

Over time I will try to add more pictures to this thread, particularly “vintage still lifes” and “classic wrist shots.”