Rolex Submariner

There is just no watch like the Rolex Submariner.  Simple, accessible, understated, definitive; the Submariner has become what is probably the most universally-recognizable watch of all time. 

Whether you're 3000 nautical miles from dry land or 300 paces from the coffee machine, chances are you can find a Rolex Submariner close by.  And it's for good reason - the Submariner is as functional as it is beautiful.  It is a watch that was designed for hard use, developed for depths and tested by the world's top enthusiast and professional divers.   

Though the Submariner has evolved over time, it has remained very close to its original execution. And while there are some variants that are valued at incredibly high levels, the modest no-date, matte dial Reference 5513, produced from the early 1960s until 1990, is perhaps the loveliest - a simple tool watch constructed for one purpose in mind.

The world of vintage Submariners is replete with terms the collector or enthusiast has undoubtedly heard. But decoding this often complex lexicon can be difficult, and leaves many individuals clawing at terms that have become inflated, overused and largely misunderstood over time. Words like maxi, meters first, serif and non-serif have become catchy terms, flipped here and there carelessly by many an enthusiast. But when its all said and done, they generally don't add much clarity to the process of knowing where to begin looking, how to know how much you should spend and what the value of the watch you are getting actually is. In our opinion, a Submariner should check three simple boxes.

First and foremost, the case should be thick with no signs of over-polishing - once metal has been polished away, there is no getting it back. Secondly, the watch should have an honest, matching dial and handset. Refinished and re-lumed dials should be avoided.

Lastly, and most importantly, the watch should sing to you. When deciding between these monoliths that surged through history as the most iconic watches in existence, look for that something special that moves you.

This particular example checks all of the boxes in spades, an honest piece with a crisp case appearing completely original and unpolished, a stunning dial and handset, and great naturally-aged look that any enthusiast would enjoy!