The Rugged Rolex Submariner

A good watch is an investment that should do more than tell time. Ideally, it should run as precisely in its 50th year as it did in its first, no matter what feats of endurance come in between. The Rolex Oyster, the world’s first waterproof watch, has been a staple for adventurers since it was introduced in 1926, and the Submariner is one of its best-known models. With its chunky stainless-steel bracelet, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and unidirectional bezel that tracks submersion time at depths of up to 1,000 feet, it’s little wonder that the watch has adorned the wrists of everyone from oceanographer Jacques Piccard (during deep-sea explorations of the North Pacific) to James Bond.