The knowledge behind the Rolex Submariner

　　Introduction: People often only see the exterior of a watch and overlook the lesser-known facts behind them. Now, I will take you throughRolexthe knowledge behind the Submariner.

　　First Generation 1953 Ref.6204

　　The Submariner, commonly known as the " Sub ", was born in 1953 and was the first watch to be waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). At the time, it was designed specifically for divers, featuring the patented Rolex Oyster waterproof case, with a rotating bezel to help divers track their immersion time. However, the first batch of Submariners did not feature the word "Submariner" on the dial; it did not appear until 1954, at which point the water resistance was also increased to 200 metres.

　　Second Generation 1959 Ref.5512

　　By 1959, the second generation of the Submariner underwent significant changes that would deeply influence the generations to follow.

　　Firstly, the case was modified. The diameter was increased from the first generation's 36 mm to 40 mm, a size that remains in use today. The case was also given crown guards to protect the winding crown from impact, thereby ensuring its water resistance.

　　Secondly, the bezel was changed. The grooves on the bezel were moved from the side to the front, and the bezel was updated with more detailed 15-minute graduations. This change made it easier for divers to adjust the bezel and read the time.

　　Furthermore, the hands were updated. The Mercedes-style hands replaced the original sword hands, and the luminous dot on the second hand was moved. The Rolex Submariner's hands are commonly known as "Mercedes hands"; they are designed this way to allow for more even application and stability of the luminous material, as well as to make it easier to distinguish between the hour and minute hands in the dark to obtain an accurate time.

　　Third Generation 1969 Ref.1680

　　A date display was added, along with the "Cyclops" magnifying lens. This was patented by the brand in the 50s and first used on the Datejust in 1953, allowing for easier reading of the date.

　　Fourth Generation 1979 Ref.16800

　　Sapphire crystal began to replace the original acrylic plastic crystal. The iconic "Cyclops" magnifying lens was retained, but due to technical reasons, it was changed to two pieces of sapphire bonded together. Shadowless adhesive was used, making it difficult to detect, and it can be removed by heating the crystal. Water resistance was also increased from the original 200 metres to 300 metres.

　　More importantly, it was not until 1981 that the upgraded Ref.16800 Submariner adopted a "unidirectional rotating bezel". The previous two generations of Submariners used bidirectional rotating bezels, and frankly, bidirectional rotation is not as good as unidirectional.

　　This is because a bidirectional rotating bezel is prone to accidental operation, which could lead a diver to miscalculate their dive time and decompression time, thereby endangering their life.

　　On 1955 6, 14, Mr Jean Jacques Fiechter, then at the helm of Blancpain, submitted his patent application for the Fifty Fathoms watch case, numbered 290989.

　　This case included a double-sealed crown design, ensuring water resistance even when the crown is pulled out for time adjustment. It featured a rotating numbered bezel, allowing divers to easily read their dive time, and a wavy case back ring to increase friction and ensure water resistance.

　　Because of this patent, Rolex did not use the superior "unidirectional rotating bezel" until the Blancpain patent had expired.

　　Fifth Generation 2010 Ref.11610

　　The watch switched to a Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert; the first four generations of Submariners used anodised aluminium bezels. Due to the nature of the material, the older bezels were not only prone to scratches and wear, but would also discolour and fade over time due to UV exposure.

　　The new Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert is extremely hard, corrosion-resistant, and scratch-resistant.

　　The luminous material has also evolved, replacing the older tritium luminescence, which contained trace amounts of radiation, with blue Chromalight luminescence. Under the same conditions, blue luminescence is more durable and visible than green.

　　This isRolexThe story behind the Submariner, a Rolex diver's watch with a long history and continuous evolution.