Subexplorer shares a deeply personal narrative spanning over 50 years, detailing his enduring "love affair" with Rolex, particularly the Submariner. This introspective post explores how a childhood encounter with his father's passion for Rolex ignited his own lifelong dedication to the brand, culminating in a significant collection of Submariners.

Rolex, Submariner, and Me. (A 50 years of Passion story)

Hello Friends!

I wish to share this little story about my long "love affair" with the Rolex brand, and in special with the Submariner, a model which has been on my wrist for more than 45 years, though the passion for the brand, was acquired some years before.

 My Dad introduced me to the Rolex brand, around the year 1960 or 61, when I was 12 or 13 years old, in occasion of a visit to a jewellers store. My father was in those days, a fervent admirer of the brand, though in those years, his only watch was a  gold Omega.

 On that day, I heard my Dad saying to me: "Some day I´ll buy a watch just like that" while pointing his index finger to a shining steel Date Just with an Oyster bracelet, resting among other Rolex watches within a showcase. He then proceeded to give me a short lesson explaining with great enthusiasm, the virtues of Rolex watches.

 I was completely convinced on the spot! When Dad finished his speech, I solemny declared: "Some day I´ll also get one for me!" I have no doubt that on that very day, Dad instilled me the passion for the Brand.

My father bought his first Rolex (an steel Date Just, with a plain gold bezel, on an expanding Oyster ss bracelet), during a trip we made together, visiting the U.S.A., on February 1966.

 I´ll never forget the details of the purchase, at an AD located on Flaggler and 2nd Ave. in Downtown Miami. It was almost a ceremony, and can well remember the smile and satisfaction of my dad, when we left the watchshop with his shining new Rolex on his wrist.

 But the Rolex I wished for myself, was not a DJ, but a Submariner. I didn´t know about references. To me, a Sub was a Sub, was a Sub. The only one I knew, was the 5513.

In those far years, I had begun to learn to scuba dive, and the Submariner was the most beautiful diving watch I had ever seen.

And it was a Rolex!

 In those times, I devoured every book written by Jacques Cousteau (whom by that time, hadn´t received yet, the fame he reached years later).  Some photographs showed the Captain wearing one of the first versions of the Submariner, on his wrist.

 To complete my "madness" for the Submariner, during the year 1964, I had discovered my first film for a then new silver screen hero. A super cool British Agent whose name was Bond, James Bond, delighted me on the screen. I was hooked! I became a Bond fan. And surely, he showed a Submariner on his wrist!

Of course, a Rolex was something beyond the reach of a young lad having 14 or 15 years old. So I had to wait a few years more to get my own Sub.

The time arrived in September 1966, for my 18th birthday.  The morning of my birthday, I discovered a small green box, waiting to be opened, resting on my night table. That was a suprise my parents had prepared without saying a word to me, about their trip to the AD shop.

 Oh, my God! I surely loved that watch. I didn´t take it from my wrist to take a shower, or to sleep. I was so happy!

I am 63 years old now, and my love and passion for Rolex, and for Submariners in particular, has not diminished a bit.

 By the contrary, I feel my interest grew, and for each and any of its many variants, vintage or modern, though with a preference for the vintage versions.

That beloved 5513, accompanied me during my first scuba dives, and during each moment of my life, incuding my marriage ceremony, but not for much time. In 1977, I sufferend an armed robbery, and my watch was taken away by the robbers.

 I was really scared after the incident, and I felt so desvastated for the loss of that Sub, which I loved so much, that my young wife secretly visited a local AD, and bought a new Submariner to comfort me. I loved that beautiful gesture.

 When I received that Sub, just a few days after the robbery, I discovered with surprise, that it had the date feature. As said, in those far years, a Sub was just a Sub for me, and both my wife and me, didn´t know a word about different references. The sales person at the AD, had sold her a 1680, to replace my previous Sub.

 This watch was my only timekeeper during many years. I used in the office, during my vacations by the sea, in sport scuba diving, in my trips. Never out of my wrist, even to sleep or have a shower.

 A few years ago, being afraid of losing it, I retired it with honours, to my box of collector pieces, and replaced it with a modern 14060M. The 1680 I use in special occasions.

 I also got a new 5513 for my collection, this time of 1976 vintage, as I had always loved this reference, which was the one of my first Submariner.




I love the look of the 5513, with its classic clean dial, with little inscriptions as it is not a COSC. In my view, the most beautiful dial of all Submariners.

That 1680 has faithfuly accompanied me, since 1977, and never let me down. It received two services, at the local Official Rolex Service, in 1992 and 2010. Dial and hands are original. Only parts replaced are the crown, tube and plexi, and gaskets of course.

 A few years ago, following my passion for Submariners, and my declared fanatism for Bond films, I searched for a no crown guards, affordable to my limited budget. I finally found this 5508, which became my grail, and a favourite of my collection.

It is known among collectors, that the real "Bond Sub" belongs to the reference 6500 series, big crown, but the prices they reach and their rarity, made me to decide that this watch could satisfy my desire of a "watch like Bond´s". It got a 1530 movement, in good working condition, and of 1959 vintage, which I found in a happy circumstance.











I own some other brands, and enjoy wearing from time to time, but a Rolex, and a Submariner, is the watch you´ll see more often on my wrist.

 I thank you so much for your kind attention, and for allowing me to share this long story about Rolex, and me!

 Best cordial regards, Abel.