New Standards

The entire Rolex Submariner range gets an update, in an unexpected development

- Jonathan Ho And Ashok Soman

This is the first of two stories about the new Rolex Submariner in this issue. This one was published online first, because there is compelling public interest here. As readers of a watch specialist title, we have no doubt you have already read quite a bit on the new watches online. A new Submariner is newsworthy, like a new Apple iPhone, for example. Rolex itself played this up online, first by saying nothing, then by saying virtually everything with just a teaser. That teaser came in for extensive scrutiny, meaning untold numbers of bloggers and vloggers must have been frantically refreshing the Rolex website for a few days. This is in no way a criticism, because the editor of this magazine was doing the same thing. An entirely refreshed Rolex Submariner collection is that rarest of phenomena - a true horological event.

At first glance though, the reason for the fuss is not evident. Retaining the classic look that has remained mostly unchanged since the 1950s, the new Rolex Submariner is nevertheless the biggest evolution of the world’s most recognisable dive watch. Boasting an all new movement, the new 41mm Submariner Date comes in seven configurations, accompanying the “OG” no-date Submariner. This one is only available in Oystersteel with a black dial and black bezel. By this time, you do not need us to tell you that the big story here is about 1mm…