AGAINST TIME

Tatler takes a trip back in time to explore how some of history's most recognised sports watches carved a niche in horology

- Amrita Katara

Luxury sports watches stand out not only for their robust engineering and sophisticated aesthetics but also for their storied pasts, each intertwined with pivotal moments in human history. From being submerged in the profound depths of the ocean to navigating the vast expanse of space, these watches have not merely kept time but have also been integral to adventures that define the modern era. Let’s explore.

Our journey begins in 1953, with the birth of the Rolex Submariner. This wasn’t just any timepiece; it was a revolution in stainless steel, meticulously engineered to conquer the ocean, with its water resistance initially going down to 100 metres, a figure that would later be enhanced to an impressive 300 metres. The Submariner was first introduced as a direct response to the growing demand for dive watches that could withstand the pressures of deep-sea exploration. Its robust and functional design featured a rotatable bezel, allowing divers to monitor their immersion time, a critical feature for safe diving.

But as we all know, interest in the Submariner reached far beyond the diving community. While Omega is best known for its association with the James Bond franchise, the first watch to appear in a Bond film was in fact the Rolex Submariner. It gained icon status when it graced the wrist of Sean Connery in the 1962 film Dr No. This association with Bond, a character known for his suave yet adventurous persona, transformed the Submariner into a symbol of ultimate sophistication that was equally at home in dangerous waters as it was at lavish casino nights.