The Submariner is not the most expensive, the most robust, the most complicated, or the most beautiful diver – so why is it so desired, valued, and successful? Certainly, one of the reasons is its famous in-house Caliber 3135 movement, which has a reputation for being robust, accurate, durable, and easy to service. The Parachrom used in the production of this Submariner model's movement improves accuracy, allows the power reserve to be increased to over 48 hours, and enhances the movement's robustness and operational life.
The model presented is part of perhaps the brand's most recognizable line, the Submariner, and is certainly one of the models from the cult brand that has helped it continue to hold a leading position in the watchmaking industry. The Submariner was first introduced in 1953 and almost immediately gained a reputation as a robust and reliable diver's tool. 50 years after its launch, Rolex released an anniversary edition that was destined to become one of the most desired and sought-after modern Submariners, and which very quickly received its nickname “Kermit”. And years later, thanks to the launch of the new, ceramic version of the Sub, today's model was introduced, which immediately received the nickname “Hulk”. The differences from the standard Submariner are not many, but they are significant – first, of course, is the bezel, here it is green, which, being the “brand color,” is used by Rolex for all anniversary editions of all their models. The second is the dial, which only in this version of the Rolex gets a vibrant green color, and in combination with the “maxi dial” with enlarged hour markers and hands, the end result is phenomenal! The model receives the reference 116610LV (Lunette Verde). The model was produced for only 10 years – from 2010 to 2020, in very limited quantities, and the fact that very few examples were delivered to the USA further contributes to the rapid increase in its price, as we know that is the brand's largest market and collectors acquire the desired “Hulks” from the secondary market.
Rolex very zealously guards its “special” models, so that a standard Submariner cannot be turned into a Hulk just by changing the bezel insert and the dial. The replacement procedure in this case is very different – the old parts are sent to the manufacture, they are replaced there and returned to the authorized service center, with the watch remaining at the service center the entire time....
The watch's dial is very clean and easy to read, and the luminescence on the hands and indices facilitates its use at night. This particular model is one of the first in which Rolex replaced the green color of the luminescence with blue (which is proven to be much more pleasant and harmless to the human eye) – and the so-called Chromalight used by Rolex allows the indices to appear milky white during the day. Also, here Rolex uses the so-called "Maxi dial" style, which was launched a few years before this series and with which the manufacturer increased the size of the hands and markers – one of the reasons I like this model much more than the previous ones.
Regardless of the fact that the Submariner is a professional tool, as was the manufacturer's intention from its very launch, it is clear to everyone that for a long time now it has become a luxury attribute – and this function is increasingly prevailing over the original reason for its creation. Perhaps for this very reason, Rolex does many things in this model so that the appearance and the overall impression the watch creates prevail over its functionality. The first thing that makes an impression is, of course, the classic look with the protruding “cyclops” for the date – according to marketing research, the first brand mentioned by respondents when asked about a luxury watch brand is “Rolex,” and the most recognizable watch model of all is precisely the Submariner, and the cyclops plays no small part in this.
For the case back of the watch, Rolex uses a simple solid case back (as, by the way, in almost all of its models) – in the case of the Submariner, it is devoid of any markings, inscriptions, or other “decorations”. As we all know, for its watches Rolex uses noble 904L steel – the difference with the usual 316L for other brands is its greater resistance (especially against salt water). It is a widely known fact that Rolex can be called fanatics when it comes to the alloys they use – a large part of the metallurgical processes are done in-house to guarantee a uniform quality of the raw material – many watches have passed through my hands, but I can say with absolute certainty that no other brand dedicates so much attention and effort to the quality of the final product in terms of the finish of the cases – and as a result, it is impossible not to achieve a unique quality and presence.
The overall impression is complemented by the watch's diver's bezel – its purpose is clear, to time how long you are underwater – trivial, isn't it. In previous Sub models, the bezel insert was made of aluminum with minute indices printed on it, but this model introduces the ceramic bezel. Here again, the material is a special creation and is different from commonly used materials – this gives Rolex the right to give it its own name - "Cerachrom." The traditional “pip” at 12 o'clock, and you have the final product – unlike the aluminum one, the ceramic one is glossier, more robust, and more scratch-resistant. Modest, isn't it? First, it was their own material for luminescence, now their own material for the bezel – what could be next...
For many years, the Submariner has been offered with a three-piece steel bracelet with a profile that tapers towards the clasp – with this model, the tradition is maintained, and from this point of view, the bracelet is just as comfortable.
So where is the difference from previous generations? It is mainly in the clasp – the new Submariner is equipped with a clasp with a micro-adjustment system – called Glidelock. The idea is that you can adjust the size of the bracelet by a few millimeters on the fly. We all know that our wrists change size depending on the weather, humidity, temperature, etc. – well, the guys at Rolex offer a perfect solution for such cases. It is important to know that this Glidelock system is offered only with the Submariner and the Deepsea – another big plus for this model. The other fact that must be noted is that the clasp is machined from a solid block of steel, cut to the required shape, and not from a bent sheet of steel – I think that besides Rolex, only 2 other brands do this.
Indeed, in the 50s, Rolex created a great product and invested the next 60 years to improve and perfect it. If at the beginning it was valued by customers as a not-very-expensive everyday watch, today it is to a greater extent a fashion accessory, which however has all the qualities to become a long-term partner to its owner, one that will not only never let you down, but will also not lose much of its value, because it is no secret to anyone here that this brand, besides not being found with large discounts when new, also has the reputation of a brand with the best value-retaining watches, and this particular model can boldly rank among the forefront of Rolex in terms of popularity and is consequently one of the most sought-after and desired. Certainly, one of the reasons for this is the fact that this watch looks equally good on your wrist whether you are in a formal suit or wearing worn-out jeans and a white t-shirt – in both cases, the Submariner will help attract admiring glances to your appearance.
