Submariner

The Rolex Submariner is the world's most recognizable dive watch and the benchmark against which every sports watch is measured. Introduced in 1953 as the first watch water-resistant to 100 metres, it evolved in lockstep with professional diving, eventually achieving a 300-metre depth rating and the now-iconic Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert. The current generation — the reference 126610 in 41mm — houses the Calibre 3235 movement, which is accurate to +2/-2 seconds per day and offers a 70-hour power reserve. The two principal references are the 126610LN (black dial and bezel, often called the 'sub no-date') and the 126610LV (black dial with green Cerachrom bezel, nicknamed the 'Kermit'). Both command significant premiums in the secondary market, driven by perpetual demand that far outstrips Rolex's production. The previous-generation 40mm models — references 116610LN and 116610LV — remain extremely popular for collectors who prefer the slightly smaller case. Buying pre-owned means acquiring a fully authenticated timepiece at a genuine market price, without multi-year boutique waitlists.