Reference:14060M

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Revision as of 19:35, 29 April 2026 by Admin (talk | contribs) (14060M: per audit feedback. (1) Fold "The last of the old line" section as H3 subsection under "Where it sits in the line" — fixes non-canonical H2 between Where-it-sits and Production. (2) Drop Notes column from auction table (3 of 5 cells were blank — fold remaining estimate/retail tags into Configuration column). (3) Add Tom Mulraney byline to Monochrome Submariner history Part 3.)


Submariner -> 14060M

The 14060M is the last 40mm aluminium-bezel Submariner — the closing chapter of a silhouette that began with the 5512 / 5513 in 1959. Production ran 1999 to 2012. The "M" suffix indicates the COSC chronometer modification: caliber 3130 replaced the 14060's caliber 3000 with chronometer-rated regulation, a Breguet overcoil reinstated, a larger balance wheel, and a full balance bridge in place of the cock. Two-line dial through approximately 2007, then four-line "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" dial 2007 to 2012. Engraved rehaut from 2008. Replaced by the 114060 at Baselworld 2012 with the same case dimensions but a Maxi case and a ceramic Cerachrom bezel.

Rolex Submariner Ref. 14060M
Rolex Submariner Ref. 14060M

Core facts

detail value
reference 14060M
family Submariner (no date), COSC-rated successor to the 14060
production 1999 to 2012. Two-line dial 1999–2007; four-line dial 2007–2012. Replaced by the 114060 at Baselworld 2012
case 40mm Oyster with crown guards, Triplock crown, sapphire crystal — last 40mm aluminium-bezel Submariner before the ceramic 114060 / 116610LN line
water resistance 300m / 1000ft
movement caliber 3130 — 31 jewels, 28,800 vph, ~48-hour reserve, hacking, no quickset (no date complication). COSC chronometer-rated. Architectural changes vs cal 3000: Breguet overcoil reinstated, larger balance wheel, full balance bridge replacing the cock
dial generations two-line "Submariner / 660ft = 200m" 1999–2007; four-line "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified / Submariner / 660ft = 200m" 2007–2012
bezel 24-hour bidirectional aluminium insert, all-black only
lume Super-LumiNova throughout the 14060M production. The Luminova → Super-LumiNova transition happened earlier on the 14060, around 1998/99 with the late U / A-serial cohort
bracelet Oyster 93150 with stamped folding clasp and hollow end-links throughout the run. Glidelock did not ship from the factory on the 14060M
rehaut inner-bezel engraving rolled out 2005, became rehaut-only on later production from 2008 onward. Late G-serial (2010–2011) examples carry the "Rolex Rolex Rolex" repeating coronet engraving

Where it sits in the line

The 14060M sits as the closing chapter of the 40mm aluminium-bezel Submariner. The 5512 / 5513 (1959–1989, acrylic, 200m, caliber 1520) opened the silhouette; the 14060 (1989–1999, caliber 3000, sapphire era, 300m) carried it into the modern crown-guard case; the 14060M (1999–2012, caliber 3130, COSC) closes it. After 2012 the 114060 takes over at the same 40mm size but with a Maxi case profile and a ceramic Cerachrom bezel — the visual silhouette that ran for fifty-three years ends with the 14060M.

The 14060M ran in parallel with the 116610LN (the date Submariner's ceramic Maxi-case successor to the 16610) from 2010 onwards. On the no-date side specifically, the 14060M is the final reference before the 114060 ceramic transition; on the date side, the 116610LN had already taken over by 2010. That two-year overlap (2010–2012) is why the 14060M reads as the last "no-frills" Submariner — the Maxi-case ceramic Sub had already arrived on the date side, but the no-date 14060M kept the older silhouette running through to its 2012 retirement.

The last of the old line — what makes this reference significant

The 14060M sits at the structural end of multiple Submariner conventions:

  • Last 40mm aluminium-bezel Submariner. The 114060 carries the same nominal 40mm size but with the Maxi case profile and ceramic Cerachrom bezel — a different visual silhouette.
  • Last no-quickset Submariner. The cal 3130 has hacking but no quickset because there is no date complication. The ceramic 114060 keeps the no-date logic and the cal 3130 architecture.
  • Last manual-flange Submariner. Engraved rehaut from 2008 marks the start of the laser-engraved inner flange that the modern Sub line carries; pre-2008 14060M examples are the last with a clean smooth rehaut.
  • COSC pass added without dial-text change for first eight years. The 1999 modification earned the chronometer rating but the dial-text addition didn't follow until 2007 — an unusual eight-year lag between movement certification and the dial-text wording change.

The two-line / four-line dial split inside the run (2007 hinge) is the single most consequential collector axis. Two-liners are read as quasi-vintage tool watches; four-liners as the warm-up act for the modern Submariner.

Production outline and specification timeline

Production runs 1999 to 2012. The 114060 was announced at Baselworld 2012 and replaces the 14060M in the catalog. The 114060 carries over the cal 3130 unchanged.

Two-line dial era (1999 to mid-2007)

The first eight years of 14060M production carry a two-line dial reading "Submariner" above and "660ft = 200m" below. The dial wording is identical to the 14060 it replaced. The watch is COSC-rated from 1999 onward via the cal 3130, but the dial-text addition didn't follow until 2007 — collectors and dealers commonly distinguish the two-line and four-line eras by dial only, treating the 1999–2007 watches as visually identical to a late 14060 except for the M-suffix on the case-back stamp.

Four-line dial era (2007 to 2012)

From approximately 2007 the dial gained two extra lines: "Superlative Chronometer / Officially Certified" above the existing two lines. The text addition aligns the 14060M dial wording with the rest of the COSC-rated Submariner family. The four-line wording stays through to the end of 14060M production in 2012 and carries forward to the 114060 successor.

Serial numbers

The reference covers the full letter-prefix serial system used 1999–2010 and the start of the random-letter serial system from 2010 onward. Letter-prefix serials A → P → K → Y → F → D → Z → M → V → G run roughly 1999–2010; G-serial closes the letter-prefix system. From mid-2010 onwards Rolex switched to random-letter alphanumeric serials that do not date the watch directly; G-serial remains the last datable letter prefix on a 14060M.

Movement notes

Detail view
Detail view

Caliber 3130 replaces the 3000 with the chronometer modification that earns the M suffix. Architectural changes versus cal 3000:

  • Breguet overcoil reinstated — the cal 3000 had used a flat hairspring; the 3130 returns to the Breguet overcoil for improved isochronism.
  • Larger balance wheel — slower, more stable oscillation.
  • Full balance bridge — replaces the simpler balance cock, providing two-point support for the balance staff and improved shock resistance.

Specifications: 31 jewels, 28,800 vph, approximately 48-hour reserve, hacking seconds, no quickset (no date complication on this caliber). COSC chronometer-rated — the M suffix indicates the chronometer pass that the 14060 never had. The cal 3130 architecture carries forward unchanged into the 114060 ceramic successor in 2012.

Dial map

Two dial generations across the run, distinguished by line count.

Two-line dial (1999 to mid-2007)

Glossy black lacquer with applied white-gold-surround indices. Mercedes hour and minute hands paired with a Mercedes second hand carrying a small luminous tip. Dial text reads "Submariner / 660ft = 200m" only — the COSC-rated cal 3130 underneath does not carry the SCOC dial wording until 2007.

Four-line dial (mid-2007 to 2012)

Same glossy black lacquer and white-gold-surround indices. Dial text adds "Superlative Chronometer / Officially Certified" above the existing two-line wording — the four-line "OCC" or "SCOC" configuration that aligns the 14060M with the rest of the Submariner family. Late G-serial examples from 2010–2011 carry the engraved-rehaut "RRR" repeating-Rolex inner flange alongside the four-line dial.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

The case is the standard 40mm Submariner Oyster with crown guards in 904L stainless steel. Triplock screw-down crown supports the 300m water-resistance rating. Sapphire crystal sits flat over the dial without a Cyclops magnifier — there is no date on this reference. Bezel is a 24-hour bidirectional aluminium insert in all-black only.

The rehaut transition is the late-run case detail. Serial-number engraving on the inside flange rolled out in 2005 and became rehaut-only from 2008 onward. Pre-2008 14060M examples carry a smooth inner flange; from 2008 onward the inside of the bezel carries a "Rolex Rolex Rolex" repeating coronet engraving along with the case serial number engraved at six o'clock. Late G-serial 4-liners (2010–2011) are the canonical engraved-rehaut 14060M configuration.

The laser-etched coronet at six o'clock on the sapphire crystal sits across the entire run — that crystal-side feature was rolled out across the Rolex catalog before the 14060M's launch.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Period-correct delivery is the Oyster 93150 with stamped folding clasp and hollow end-links across the entire 14060M production. Bracelet code, clasp construction, and end-link configuration stay unchanged from 1999 through 2012. The 78360A was the predecessor 20mm Oyster used on earlier six-digit references; 78360A is not period-correct on a 14060M.

Glidelock did not ship from the factory on the 14060M. The Glidelock extending clasp arrived on the 116610LN at the date side and never reached the 14060M during its production run. Glidelock-fitted 14060M examples in the dealer market are aftermarket modifications or RSC service-era swaps. A 14060M with a Glidelock clasp is not original-delivery configuration regardless of the watch's overall condition.

Clasp date codes follow the standard letter-quarter / number-year format. The clasp dates the bracelet, never the watch head — a clasp dating later than the case head implies a swap or a service-era replacement. Born-with paperwork is the cleanest single test for full-set originality.

Historical market and auction record

Rolex Submariner Ref. 14060M
Rolex Submariner Ref. 14060M
Sale Lot Year of watch Configuration
Sotheby's — 2020 "Block Island Race Week Red Fleet Winner 2009" presentation 14060M
Antiquorum Monaco 370/153 2024 "Big Dog Edition" custom-dial 14060M (previously sold at Christie's 2014 for CHF 81,250; est. CHF 38,200–77,000)
Phillips Geneva CH080523 2023 14060M lot
LoupeThis — — NOS new-old-stock 14060M
WatchClub — — 2012 NOS Final Series 14060M, retail

The 14060M trades primarily on the dealer market. Two-line examples (1999–2007) cluster across the modest USD 7,000–11,000 band depending on dial-state originality, paperwork, and case condition. Four-line examples (2007–2012) sit slightly above, with late G-serial engraved-rehaut examples carrying a meaningful premium for full-set originality. The 2024 Antiquorum "Big Dog" custom-dial lot's 2014 Christie's provenance at CHF 81,250 is the documented top of the public auction record — a custom-dial outlier rather than a standard-configuration anchor.

Secondary market notes

The two-line / four-line split drives the bulk of the 14060M secondary-market spread. Two-liners are read as the closer cousin to the late 14060 — quasi-vintage in feel, with the simpler dial wording matching the visual logic of the older Submariner family. Four-liners are read as the warm-up act for the modern Submariner — the SCOC wording, the engraved rehaut from 2008, and the late-run G-serial examples that occasionally surface with the "RRR" inner flange.

Successor

The 114060 (Baselworld 2012) replaces the 14060M with:

  • Maxi case — same 40mm dimension but broader lugs and crown guards
  • Ceramic Cerachrom bezel — replacing the aluminium insert
  • Solid-link 116610LN-style Oyster bracelet with Glidelock clasp — replacing the 93150 Oyster with hollow end-links and stamped folding clasp
  • Caliber 3130 unchanged — the architecture carries over directly from the 14060M

The 114060 keeps the no-date positioning and the 300m water-resistance rating; the visual silhouette shifts to the modern Maxi case profile that the date-side 116610LN had already established in 2010.

Sources

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