BETTER THAN EVER
Over half a decade since their introduction, the latest Oyster Perpetual Submariner and Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date are Rolex’s best yet
THE LANDSCAPE OF WATERPROOF TIMEPIECES IS REDESIGNED once more by Rolex, the manufacture synonymous with the development of deep-sea diving through decades of pioneering underwater explorations, with refreshed aesthetics and movements at the forefront of watchmaking technology. In the new generation of the Oyster Perpetual Submariner and the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date, not only does Rolex boast the industry’s most established divers’ wristwatches but also the most recognisable, thanks to a design language honouring its lasting legacy. Since the the introduction of the Submariner in 1953, the world’s first divers’ wristwatch waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), Rolex has been on an inexhaustible quest to improve upon the Submariner. Attesting to the perpetual spirit, Rolex believes in unlimited human potential, continuous improvement and lasting excellence. As a result, a litany of technical advances soon followed in the ensuing years, including multiple improvements to waterproofness from 100 metres to an eventual 300 metres ( 1,000 feet) and the addition of a crown guard. In 1969, Rolex unveiled the Submariner Date, adding the date function. Part of Rolex’s novelties this year, both the Submariner and the Submariner Date feature a redesigned, slightly larger 41mm Oyster case tastefully complemented with a remodelled Oyster bracelet. The Oyster bracelet on these new versions is equipped with a Rolex-designed and - patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which prevents accidental opening. The Rolex Glidelock extension system on the Oyster bracelet has 10 notches of approximately 2 mm, allowing the length of the bracelet to be adjusted easily, and without tools, up to some 20 mm. Unambiguously designed and featuring a Chromalight display, the Submariner and the Submariner Date prioritise legibility. The hands and hour markers are coated or filled with a luminescent material that emits a long-lasting blue glow in dark conditions. On the bezel, the triangular zero marker is also visible in darkness thanks to a capsule containing the same luminescent material. The new-generation Submariner and Submariner Date are equipped respectively with calibre 3230 – launched this year – and calibre 3235, movements entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Both self-winding movements incorporate the patented Chronergy escapement, blue Parachrom hairspring and high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, ensuring that they are resistant to shocks and magnetic fields, efficient, precise and reliable. The result is that the power reserve is generously extended to approximately 70 hours. Covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015, the new Submariner in Oystersteel houses a black dial and rotatable bezel with matching Cerachrom insert, while a yellow Rolesor version (combining Oystersteel and 18 ct yellow gold) of the Submariner Date presents a royal blue dial with a rotatable bezel and a blue Cerachrom insert. Two versions of the Submariner Date, one in Oystersteel and the other in 18 ct white gold, bring distinctive colour combinations, with the dial and Cerachrom insert in different hues. The first watch blends a black dial with a green bezel, while the second proposes a black dial and a blue bezel. Virtually scratchproof and impervious to environmental changes, the unidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in black, green or blue ceramic, specific to the version of the watch. The moulded, recessed graduations and numerals are coated with platinum or yellow gold via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition). Providing optimum protection and performance underwater, both the Submariner and the Submariner Date are waterproof to 300 metres.