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The iconic Vintage Submariner

The iconic Vintage Submariner

Posted on5 Months ago

An icon, a name, a watch we do not have to explain.

In 1953, Auguste Picard, the famous inventor and explorer (aka Pr Tournesol for Hergé fans), joined forces with Rolex to design a diving watch capable of resisting the extremes of his next expedition: a record dive in the Mariana Trench (more precisely the Challenger Pit). The dive took place in 1960 aboard the No. 2 Bathyscaphe, Trieste, with a specially designed Submariner. At the same time, René-Paul Jeanneret (director of Rolex in the 1950s) met with Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the "modern" explorer of the oceans.

All three men were committed in their contribution to research, discovery and knowledge. In 1954, the first Rolex Submariner ref. 6204 was presented in Basel. For the first time a watch, intended for wide commercial distribution, was presented not as a "jewellery" watch but as a tool watch. The public and commercial adventure of the Submariner would begin. The beginnings of the opening of scuba diving to tourism would strongly contribute to accelerate the success of the “Sub” (the diving watch had quasi-only been used for military purposes or for professional exploration until then).

It's in 1962 that an event will forever change the history of cinema and the Submariner: James Bond vs. Dr No! Music, staging, special effects, everything is a revolution for the viewer and what does Sean Connery wear? A Rolex Submariner ref. 6538. If the legend had already been written into the professional world, the myth had just been born to the general public. Rolex did not stop evolving its model, the water resistance increased from 100m to 200m before reaching 300m, the movements become more and more precise and the dials more luminescent. But one of the main aesthetic and technical developments occured in 1966 (or 1969 according to some experts) with the appearance of the date. The Rolex Submariner Date ref. 1680 was born.

The 1680/8 is the Submariner Date in 18ct Yellow Gold is the first gold sport Rolex and inaugurated two superb versions. One with black lacquered dial, yellow gold index and black insert and the other that we present today: blue sunray dial, yellow gold index and blue bezel. The ultimate diving watch. A tool watch built of the most precious metal - gold! This watch, elevated to the status of a horological icon, now has an incommensurable "vintage" seduction dimension. So here we present you a beautiful piece from 1980 with a choice of straps that will allow you to explore the seabed as well as parading on the main avenues or even the casino after dark.