Rolex Submariner
Submariner listings: price and sales statistics
- Listings for sale
- 5
- Median asking price
- $14,360
- Price range
- $10,000 – $39,875
- Made 1987–2025
- Sold listings
- 8
- Median asking price $11,415
Based on asking prices · 29 October 2026
About Rolex Submariner
The Archetype and Birth of the Dive Watch
Developed in 1953 and officially launched at the 1954 Basel Fair, the Rolex Submariner was created to meet the demands of professional divers at a time when underwater exploration was gaining momentum. Taking its name directly from the underwater world, the model became one of the most defining tool watch designs in horological history, thanks to its rotating bezel for tracking elapsed time during a dive and its screw-down crown system ensuring water tightness. Among the brand's other professional models like the Explorer and Deepsea, its ability to combine a function-driven structure with timeless aesthetics allowed it to bridge the identity of both a diving instrument and an everyday watch in a single case.
From Plexiglas to Ceramic: Generations and Reference Evolution
Over its more than seventy-year history, the Submariner family has passed through distinct eras in terms of case architecture and material technology. Reference 5513, an icon of the vintage era, represents the classic period with its domed acrylic crystal and symmetrical two-line dial; while the neo-vintage reference 14060 produced in the 1990s and the 14060M updated with calibre 3130 combined traditional elements such as an aluminium bezel insert and drilled lugs with a sapphire crystal.
Introduced in 2012, reference 114060 set modern production standards with its scratch-resistant Cerachrom ceramic bezel and case geometry featuring bolder lugs. Models in the current generation, such as the reference 124060 with a 41 mm case diameter and the 18 ct white gold 126619LB, continue this evolution with slimmer lug proportions, a widened Oyster bracelet, and in-house automatic movements—calibre 3230 and calibre 3235—offering a 70-hour power reserve.
Movement Details and Points to Consider When Choosing Pre-Owned
When evaluating a Submariner, adherence to the era's production standards is the primary criterion. On Oystersteel stainless steel cases, preserving the sharp lines of the lugs and maintaining the original form of the brushed and polished surface transitions are key to assessing condition. On vintage and neo-vintage references, uniform aging of tritium indices and bracelet stretch should be inspected; on modern ceramic models, the condition of the Chromalight lume fill on the dial, the clarity of the sapphire crystal, and the health of the micro-adjustment mechanism on the bracelet-integrated Glidelock folding clasp must be taken into account. Listings on Watchlabb come from individuals with verified identities and contact details as well as approved stores; individual listings undergo editorial review before publication, and buyers conduct the process by contacting the seller directly.
Rolex Submariner — frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Rolex Submariner 14060 and 14060M?
The reference 14060 is powered by the calibre 3000 movement, whereas the 14060M model produced after 1999 is equipped with the calibre 3130 movement featuring a more advanced architecture and balance bridge. Additionally, in later production years of the 14060M, two extra lines of text indicating chronometer certification were added to the dial, and engraving was applied to the inner case ring.
What are the key differences between the Submariner 114060 and 124060?
While the reference 114060 features a 40 mm case diameter and thicker lugs, the 124060 model released in 2020 has a 41 mm case diameter, slimmer lugs, and a 21 mm bracelet width. On the mechanical side, the 114060 uses calibre 3130 with a 48-hour power reserve, whereas the 124060 houses calibre 3230 with a Chronergy escapement and a 70-hour power reserve.
How is the water resistance performance of Rolex Submariner models?
Modern Rolex Submariner models offer water resistance up to 300 metres (1,000 feet) thanks to the Triplock screw-down crown system and Oyster case structure. To maintain the watch's water resistance performance, it is recommended to keep the crown fully screwed down at all times and not to skip periodic gasket checks.
What differences exist between the Submariner Date with a date aperture and the no-date Submariner?
The no-date Submariner maintains a symmetrical dial layout and runs on movements without a date function, such as calibre 3230, while Submariner Date models feature a date aperture at 3 o'clock, a sapphire crystal with a Cyclops magnifying lens, and the calibre 3235 movement. Furthermore, while the no-date model is produced exclusively in a steel case and black dial combination, the Date series offers various material choices including yellow gold, white gold, and two-tone.