After many eons the classic Rolex no-date Submariner has been upgraded. The new Rolex Sub presented at Baselworld 2012 is the ref. 114060, which replaces the 14060M which was the last 20th century holdout in the Rolex sports collection, after last year’s new Explorer II ref. 216570.

Rolex Submariner 114060

It has all the features of the other Rolex Submariners – Cerachrom (ceramic) bezel and the chunkier 40 mm case. Also the bracelet now has solid links, and the spring-loaded Oysterlock clasp as well as Glidelock diver’s extension system. And the hands, dial indices and bezel pip have the blue glowing Chromalight luminous material. The movement remains the same cal. 3130 as the 14060M.

I’m somewhat glad the 14060M has finally been replaced because I own one, as well as its predecessor, the ref. 5513. This is a fitting and long awaited update to a model that has its roots in the original 1954 Rolex 6204 or 6205 Submariners.

And of course the no-date Sub was made all the more iconic because various versions were worn by various James Bonds, more famously Sean Connery and Roger Moore.

There is some irony in the fact that Tudor is going back to its beginnings with the new Black Bay snowflake diver, while Rolex is going in the opposite direction albeit exceptionally gradually.

– SJX