The Rolex Submariner is, for many, a default watch. That may not be true for most replica Rolex watches UK enthusiasts, but as a cultural object signifying success or as “just a good watch,” the Submariner is way up there. Earlier this year, Rolex loaned me a Submariner so I could have a chance to develop personal thoughts on a watch I’d rarely handled for more than a few minutes. Over four weeks, I got to take this particular watch, the 126610LN, on multiple ocean trips and work journeys. Here are a few thoughts.
Separating the Rolex Submariner from what it represents is no easy task. Part of that challenge is that the Rolex Submariner represents different things to different folks. For some, they are the AAA+ clone Rolex watches they buy to mark a significant moment, such as the birth of a child or getting a new job. For others, the Submariner embodies the weight the Rolex name carries. This means it becomes a sort of “full stop” in the wrist game for folks. What I’m getting at here is that the Rolex Submariner has, in many ways, become the horological “default setting.” It’s one of the biggest animals in the horological jungle and commands a fair bit of respect accordingly.
For me, the Rolex Submariner is the ultimate expression of iterative design. As I write this, I happen to be wearing another rolex replica from the Hans Wilsdorf stable, my Tudor Black Bay 58 in blue. This watch, in a sense, lives under the shadow of what the Rolex (and Tudor) Submariners brought before it. The Black Bay shares many of the key design choices of the Submariner with a sprinkling of some Tudor magic, particularly in elements like the handset.
Not all aspects of Rolex’s reputation are positive. In becoming King Kong, you’re going to spill some barrels or knock some noses out of joint. Much baggage has emerged with a shift in horological culture more broadly. An emphasis on “wrist flexing” — showing off copy Rolex watches for sale rather than simply enjoying it — has gone up several notches in the world of instant gratification and social media. This shift has also affected the cultural weight of the Rolex Submariner. No longer an ultimate tool watch, the Submariner is the go-to option for many flexers. This hasn’t been helped by the difficulty in getting one’s hands on a Rolex Submariner for the past several years. This situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cheap fake Rolex watches wear quite differently from what its specifications would suggest. The case feels a little smaller than Rolex’s listed 41mm measurement (which makes sense since it’s more of a true 40.5mm). This experience is aided by the watch’s relative slimness. Even if it does feel far more refined than my 39mm Tudor Black Bay 58, it still wears larger. But the difference is less significant than I expected or the measurements would suggest.
Taking the watch into the ocean felt good. It was out of the water where, admittedly, the experience wasn’t quite as comfortable. I felt a sense of trepidation while wearing this watch. Sure, I always feel a certain element of apprehension when spending time with a review unit, but this time, the feeling was different. It was more because of the reputation that this watch has nowadays.
Picture this: you’re at an upmarket bar, watching a football game with friends. The bar is starting to fill up with boisterous and, at times, obnoxious investment-banker types. Guess what watch is likely to be found on more than one wrist in that crowd? You guessed it — the Rolex Submariner. Don’t get me wrong; I love the story behind this watch, but it now represents the default “wrist flex” option for many. This cultural phenomenon detracts a little from my experience of wearing it. Perhaps this is the baggage that stays in my hand for a second when reaching for these replica watches when I go out.
With what I have said above, though, it is important to note I reached for this Sub quite a lot while I had it on loan. Like an unwanted shadow, the aversion to modern wrist flexing weighed on me during my time with this watch. Nevertheless, it started to dissipate after a few weeks. I think, with time, it would disappear altogether if I were to ever find myself owning this handsome dive watch.