Reference:submariner - Revision history

Admin: Replace prescriptive Start-here with goal-led Common-entry-points block

2026-05-24T00:14:59Z

Replace prescriptive Start-here with goal-led Common-entry-points block

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:14, 24 May 2026
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	[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]		[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]

	== ~~Start here~~ ==		== Common entry points ==

	~~If you only read three articles in the line, read these.~~

	{\| style="width:100%; border-collapse:separate; border-spacing:8px 0; margin:1em 0 1.5em 0;"		{\| style="width:100%; border-collapse:separate; border-spacing:8px 0; margin:1em 0 1.5em 0;"
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	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:5513\|5513]]''' — ~~the canonical vintage Sub. Twenty~~-seven years of production, four dial generations (gilt, matte, Bart Simpson, white-gold-surround)~~, and the reference most working collectors land on first~~.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Identifying a long-run vintage Sub with crown guards?''<br/>'''[[Reference:5513\|5513]]''' — twenty-seven years of production, four dial generations (gilt, matte, Bart Simpson, white-gold-surround). The mid-vintage benchmark.
	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:1680\|1680]]''' — ~~the~~ first ~~Submariner with a~~ date ~~complication~~, ~~the~~ first ~~to carry a~~ depth rating on the dial, ~~and~~ the ~~reference~~ that ~~introduced~~ the Red Sub ~~heritage~~.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Researching a Red Sub or the first date Submariner?''<br/>'''[[Reference:1680\|1680]]''' — first date Sub, first depth rating on the dial, the platform that hosts the Red Sub and White Sub eras.
	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:16610\|16610]]''' — the twenty-three-year five-digit benchmark~~. Sapphire crystal,~~ caliber 3135, the ~~Sub most people picture when they hear "Rolex~~ Submariner~~" today~~.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Cross-checking a five-digit modern Sub?''<br/>'''[[Reference:16610\|16610]]''' — the twenty-three-year five-digit benchmark on caliber 3135, sapphire crystal, the canonical 1987–2010 Submariner.
	\|}		\|}

Admin: Conversion funnel: Start-here card block + Related-families bridges to cut bounce rate from family landing page

2026-05-24T00:01:02Z

Conversion funnel: Start-here card block + Related-families bridges to cut bounce rate from family landing page

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 [[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp|thumb|center|400px|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]
 == Early Submariner (1953–1959) ==
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 | 3135 || 28,800 vph || 48 hr || 16610–116619LB || The 3135 era; 23+ years
 |}
 == Sources ==

Admin: De-orphan: forward-link to comex, milsub, submariner-5xxx-family, submariner-early-family

2026-04-30T04:16:21Z

De-orphan: forward-link to comex, milsub, submariner-5xxx-family, submariner-early-family

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:16, 30 April 2026
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	== Early Submariner (1953–1959) ==		== Early Submariner (1953–1959) ==

	Six years of unsettled design before the line found its shape. Crown sizes changed, depth ratings jumped from 100m to 200m, hands shifted from pencil to Mercedes, and the dial alternated between a clean three-line layout and an Explorer-style 3-6-9.		Six years of unsettled design before the line found its shape. Crown sizes changed, depth ratings jumped from 100m to 200m, hands shifted from pencil to Mercedes, and the dial alternated between a clean three-line layout and an Explorer-style 3-6-9. The grouped sub-family page ([[Reference:submariner-early-family\|early family]]) carries the cross-reference map across the 6204, 6205, 6200, 6536, 6536/1, and 6538.

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	== Crown-guard era (1958–1990) ==		== Crown-guard era (1958–1990) ==

	The Submariner takes the form it would carry for three decades. Crown guards arrived on the 5512 in 1959, the chronometer / non-chronometer split hardened into the 5512 / 5513 pairing, and the 1680 added the date complication in 1969.		The Submariner takes the form it would carry for three decades. Crown guards arrived on the 5512 in 1959, the chronometer / non-chronometer split hardened into the 5512 / 5513 pairing, and the 1680 added the date complication in 1969. The 5512, 5513, 5514, and 5517 are tracked together on the [[Reference:submariner-5xxx-family\|5xxx-family]] page.

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	\| [[Reference:116619LB\|116619LB]] \|\| 2010–2020 \|\| 3135 \|\| Date \|\| 40mm WG \|\| "Smurf" — white gold, blue bezel		\| [[Reference:116619LB\|116619LB]] \|\| 2010–2020 \|\| 3135 \|\| Date \|\| 40mm WG \|\| "Smurf" — white gold, blue bezel
	\|}		\|}

			== Special branches ==

			Two institutional branches sit alongside the retail line. The [[Reference:comex\|COMEX]] program issued seven references (5513, 5514, 1665, 16660, 16800, 16600, 16610) to Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises in Marseille between 1971 and 1997 for saturation diving; the 5514 was built as a dedicated COMEX product, the rest are retail references modified or marked at supply. The [[Reference:milsub\|MilSub]] is the British military configuration of the 5513 and 5517 issued to Royal Navy and Army units between roughly 1971 and 1979, with fixed bars, a fully graduated 60-minute bezel, sword hands, T SWISS T tritium dial, and broad-arrow caseback engraving.

	== Movement progression ==		== Movement progression ==

Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T03:24:29Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:24, 29 April 2026
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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex ~~Submariner — Complete Reference Guide~~ — BezelBase		\|title=Rolex submariner — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=Every Rolex Submariner reference from the 1953 original through the current 41mm generation. Production histories, dial variants, movement specs, and collector context.		\|description=Every Rolex Submariner reference from the 1953 original through the current 41mm generation. Production histories, dial variants, movement specs, and collector context.
	\|keywords=Rolex Submariner, vintage Submariner, 5512, 5513, 1680, 16610, 116610, 126610, dive watch, collector guide		\|keywords=Rolex Submariner, vintage Submariner, 5512, 5513, 1680, 16610, 116610, 126610, dive watch, collector guide
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	\|published_time=2026-04-14T19:18:33Z		\|published_time=2026-04-14T19:18:33Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:37:~~43Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:51:51Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
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Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T02:51:51Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:51, 29 April 2026
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	\|modified_time=2026-04-~~27T04~~:48:~~09Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:37:43Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
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Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T02:37:43Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:37, 29 April 2026
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	\|published_time=2026-04-14T19:18:33Z		\|published_time=2026-04-14T19:18:33Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-~~23T13~~:48:~~16Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-27T04:48:09Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
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Admin: Slop sweep: paragraph challenge + AI-tone scrub

2026-04-27T04:48:09Z

Slop sweep: paragraph challenge + AI-tone scrub

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:48, 27 April 2026
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	== Rolex Submariner ==		== Rolex Submariner ==
	The Submariner is Rolex's core dive watch and the ~~reference~~ that ~~set~~ the basic template ~~for the category~~. Rolex introduced the first Submariner, the 6204, in 1953, and the line has ~~stayed in continuous production ever~~ since. ~~The fast map is simple~~: ~~early no~~-crown-guard watches in the 1950s, the long acrylic crown-guard ~~era~~ led by the 5512 and 5513, sapphire five-digit references from 1979, and ceramic six-digit references from 2010.		The Submariner is Rolex's core dive watch and the model that fixed the basic template every other dive watch later borrowed from. Rolex introduced the first Submariner, the 6204, in 1953, and the line has run continuously since. Four broad eras follow: pre-crown-guard watches through the late 1950s, the long acrylic crown-guard run led by the 5512 and 5513, sapphire-crystal five-digit references from 1979, and ceramic six-digit references from 2010.

	[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]		[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]
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	== Early Submariner (1953–1959) ==		== Early Submariner (1953–1959) ==

	~~The experimental~~ years before ~~Rolex settled on what~~ the ~~Submariner would become~~. Crown sizes changed, depth ratings jumped from 100m to 200m, ~~the~~ hands shifted from pencil to Mercedes, and the dial ~~moved~~ between a clean ~~face~~ and an Explorer-style 3-6-9 ~~layout~~.		Six years of unsettled design before the line found its shape. Crown sizes changed, depth ratings jumped from 100m to 200m, hands shifted from pencil to Mercedes, and the dial alternated between a clean three-line layout and an Explorer-style 3-6-9.

	{\| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
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	== Crown-guard era (1958–1990) ==		== Crown-guard era (1958–1990) ==

	The Submariner ~~finds its lasting~~ form. Crown guards ~~arrive~~ on the 5512 in 1959, ~~and the era settles~~ the chronometer ~~and~~ non-chronometer split ~~while introducing~~ the date complication ~~on the 1680~~.		The Submariner takes the form it would carry for three decades. Crown guards arrived on the 5512 in 1959, the chronometer / non-chronometer split hardened into the 5512 / 5513 pairing, and the 1680 added the date complication in 1969.

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	== Five-digit era (1979–2010) ==		== Five-digit era (1979–2010) ==

	Sapphire crystal ~~replaces~~ acrylic, the movement line ~~advances~~ from 3035 to 3135, and the ~~Submariner expands into~~ two-tone and full-gold variants alongside the steel benchmark.		Sapphire crystal replaced acrylic, the movement line advanced from caliber 3035 to 3135, and Rolex broadened the catalog with two-tone and full-gold variants running alongside the steel benchmark.

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	== Six-digit era (2010–2020) ==		== Six-digit era (2010–2020) ==

	Cerachrom ceramic bezels, Glidelock micro-adjust bracelets, and, for the 126 series, the move from 40mm to 41mm. ~~This is~~ the ~~Submariner at its~~ most technically refined, though collectors still ~~argue~~ the five-digit era wears ~~better~~.		Cerachrom ceramic bezels, Glidelock micro-adjust bracelets, and, for the 126 series that replaced these in 2020, the move from 40mm to 41mm. The six-digit Subs are the most technically refined the line has been, though many collectors still prefer how the five-digit era wears.

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Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-27T04:03:52Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:03, 27 April 2026
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	\|description=Every Rolex Submariner reference from the 1953 original through the current 41mm generation. Production histories, dial variants, movement specs, and collector context.		\|description=Every Rolex Submariner reference from the 1953 original through the current 41mm generation. Production histories, dial variants, movement specs, and collector context.
	\|keywords=Rolex Submariner, vintage Submariner, 5512, 5513, 1680, 16610, 116610, 126610, dive watch, collector guide		\|keywords=Rolex Submariner, vintage Submariner, 5512, 5513, 1680, 16610, 116610, 126610, dive watch, collector guide
			\|image=Submariner vintage poster.webp
			\|image_alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category
	\|type=article		\|type=article
			\|og_type=article
			\|published_time=2026-04-14T19:18:33Z
			\|modified_time=2026-04-23T13:48:16Z
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Admin: Tighten high-traffic hub page for faster reading

2026-04-23T13:48:16Z

Tighten high-traffic hub page for faster reading

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:48, 23 April 2026
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	== Rolex Submariner ==		== Rolex Submariner ==
	The Submariner is ~~the most recognized~~ dive watch ~~ever made~~. Rolex introduced the first ~~reference (~~the 6204) in 1953, and the line has ~~been~~ in continuous production ~~for more than seventy years across more than three dozen distinct reference numbers~~. The ~~Submariner defined what a sport watch looks like~~: ~~rotating bezel~~, ~~luminous dial~~, ~~water resistance. Every dive watch made since has been built against it~~.		The Submariner is Rolex's core dive watch and the reference that set the basic template for the category. Rolex introduced the first Submariner, the 6204, in 1953, and the line has stayed in continuous production ever since. The fast map is simple: early no-crown-guard watches in the 1950s, the long acrylic crown-guard era led by the 5512 and 5513, sapphire five-digit references from 1979, and ceramic six-digit references from 2010.

	[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]		[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]

Admin: Hero swap + caption source attribution (automated)

2026-04-19T17:50:48Z

Hero swap + caption source attribution (automated)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:50, 19 April 2026
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	The Submariner is the most recognized dive watch ever made. Rolex introduced the first reference (the 6204) in 1953, and the line has been in continuous production for more than seventy years across more than three dozen distinct reference numbers. The Submariner defined what a sport watch looks like: rotating bezel, luminous dial, water resistance. Every dive watch made since has been built against it.		The Submariner is the most recognized dive watch ever made. Rolex introduced the first reference (the 6204) in 1953, and the line has been in continuous production for more than seventy years across more than three dozen distinct reference numbers. The Submariner defined what a sport watch looks like: rotating bezel, luminous dial, water resistance. Every dive watch made since has been built against it.

	[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]		[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category\|Vintage Rolex Submariner advertising — the watch that defined the dive watch category]]

	== Early Submariner (1953–1959) ==		== Early Submariner (1953–1959) ==