Introduced by Rolex in 1953, the Submariner quickly took the watch world by storm. Rolex had already made significant innovations by creating the first waterproof wristwatch with the Oyster case, but with the Submariner, they set the standard for the modern diving watch. Although it wasn’t the first diving watch in existence, Rolex’s technical and design ingenuity made it by far the best diving watch and the most aesthetically pleasing. This was the first Rolex watch to be water resistant up to 100 metres. Design advancements would lead to future models of the Submariner being resistant up to 200 metres and eventually 300 metres. 

The Rolex Submariner was originally released with a 37mm case but quickly switched to a 40mm case in 1959. This would remain the standard size all the way until 2020, when Rolex surprised everyone by releasing the Submariner with a 41mm case. Other changes in design include the addition of the Submariner Date in 1969. Aside from these changes, the design of the Submariner remained relatively consistent over the years, with only the technology of the watches being updated. All Submariners can be marked by their signature Oyster case, Oyster bracelets, automatic movement, luminous dials for visibility in the depths of the sea and rotating time bezels to keep track of timing during dives.