Watch a watchmaker disassemble and reassemble a Rolex Submariner

Watchfinder & Co. presents: Inside the Rolex Submariner, a demonstration of the intricacies of the Rolex calibre 3135. WF&Co. Head Watchmaker Tony Williams shows you how this famous movement is taken apart and reassembled.

A History of the Rolex Submariner:

First revealed to the public in 1953, the Rolex Submariner was a diving watch for everyone. Appealing to both professional and hobby divers, the Submariner set the standard for the category, its affordability and practicality unmatched. Rolex also developed non-chronometer versions of the Submariner that were even more affordable, costing roughly two weeks' pay at the time.

As the Submariner gained credibility, it was adopted by professional organisations such as COMEX, the deep-sea diving contractor, and the British Ministry of Defence. The civilian model also evolved, growing a date complication, and then an updated dial with white gold markers. Then, in 2010, the Submariner had its biggest change yet to become the 116610 LN, a chunkier, sportier, more high tech watch that brought Rolex into the 21st century.

The Rolex Submariner is one of the most instantly recognisable watches ever made, and continues to be one of the most popular, too.

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Oops... I sneezed and now I can't find any of the screws! So taking it apart is one thing. Can you imagine making all of those parts and holding the necessary tolerances? Can't even imagine! First thing I'd need is an eye piece like he has, except it would be the size of a coffee can. Think I'll pass on this project.

...Tiger

 

I can't imagine making most of those parts. I imagine that today many are made by precision automated machine tools but once they had to have been made entirely by hand.

With the fantastic developments happening in electronics, especially the portable electronics we all carry now, you still have to appreciate a fine mechanical watch.