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The Rolex Submariner Date Professional with the Mercedes hands, so named because of the star on the hour hand

The Rolex Submariner is a line of watches manufactured by Rolex, designed for diving and renowned for their resistance to water. The first Submariner was introduced in 1954 as the world's first watch designed for water resistance and tested in high-pressure underwater environments. As a part of Rolex's Oyster Perpetual Professional line, the Rolex Submariner Professional is considered the benchmark of diver's watches available due to its waterproof watch operation and reliability. It is also considered a symbol of the supremacy of Rolex waterproofing technology.^[1] The watch has been part of expeditions, both at sea (such as the Moana) expedition and overland in the Antarctic (where it withstood temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius below zero).^[2] In the Moana sea expedition it withstood in excess of a thousand dives without a problem and the divers described it as perfect.^[2] Thor Heyerdal, the famous Norwegian anthropologist, wore a Rolex Submariner in his 1970 Ra II sea expedition.^[2] Further the Rolex Submariner is a cultural icon that has appeared in nine James Bond movies, while many consider it as one of the best looking watches ever made.^[3][4]

The first Submariner was introduced in 1953 and was rated at a questionable 330ft water resistance, and the watch was subsequently updated through the decade with improved water resistance and improved movements.

Launched in 1953, Rolex celebrated the 50th anniversary by launching the Rolex Submariner anniversary edition ( 16610 LV) . The distinguishing feature being the green bezel and Maxi dial.

The Rolex Submariner Professional is available in the following models:

The Submariner can be taken to a maximum depth of 330 metres/1000 ft, and it is the dive watch with which all other dive watches are compared and benchmarked.

The Rolex Sea-dweller was introduced in 1971. It is a heavier-duty version of the Submariner date in steel, and it features a thicker case and crystal. It also incorporates a helium escape valve for use with helium-based breathing gas mixtures in saturation diving. The current model (ref 16600) is guaranteed waterproof to 1220 metres/4000feet.

In 1962, Sean Connery as James Bond appears in Dr. No wearing a Submariner on his wrist. Connery also appeared with his Submariner in From Russia With Love and in Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Roger Moore appears with it in Live and Let Die (1973) and in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).^[3][4] Roger Moore in Live And Let Die appears with a Q Branch specially tricked Submariner with a powerful electromagnet that could divert the path of a bullet: how a magnet could divert a lead bullet is unclear. It also featured a spinning bezel that acted as a rotating saw, which enabled him to cut his rope restraints and escape a pool full of man-eating sharks and then go on and rescue Solitaire played by Jane Seymour.^[3][4]