Why the Sub?

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by SamP

Now we're getting there.

Coke is generic, but I imagine you meant why is Coca-Cola more popular than 7up?
Purely down to the exhaustive marketing since its inception to the present day.
Likewise for the phenomenal marketing machine that is the charity Rolex.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was commercially available a year before the Rolex Submariner was. But a clever Hans Wildorf was a pioneer of marketing and advertising.
This is why the sheepish world has followed the Sub, Coca-Cola etc.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 5 digit Subs. Too many times I've seen a young man gushing over a Sub on his wrist in a Rolex AD. The watch absolutely dwarfing his wrist, but it's a Sub & he's conditioned to beleive it's the dogs
proverbials. He'll never dive with it, he can't even lift his wrist, but yes - his mates have one so...
This is what I hoped someone would say.
I wasn't really after I think it's great or sexy etc. The question was why the world covets the Sub.
If the Daytona flooded the market, would people still drool over it.
Regards

It seems you have a bias of what you want the answer to be before you post. That's not exactly scientific or socratic discussion/analysis.

[Beowulf]

This topic is well timed for me, since I ordered one exactly one day after the post. It's the first model I get from the brand.

It's a 116610LN. It still puzzles me a bit why I got it as I didn't care for the design many years ago, but with time I suppose I came to appreciate it and started recognizing it in other models that were influenced by it.

There's definitely a lot of marketing/branding pushing it. Also, the sense of scarcity makes it seem tastier. I reached out four ADs that not only told me they didn't have it but didn't even bother to try to help me get one. Two said "the waiting list is closed" flat out, as if the thing was an extreme rarity (talking a "mere" 116610LN here).

Another practical aspect that made me go for it is that it seems to be popular, so it should resell very fast if I decide to get rid of it one day. And finally, the bracelet - I think GlideLock is probably very useful. I never had a watch with it so can't really tell, but in concept it seems a potentially more comfortable that other bracelets without fine adjustment.

So to me,

1. Well known design, popular > easy to flip if needed, hopefully retaining a decent amount of the original cost.
2. Proven reliable.
3. Pratical (for me) - easily legible and with a date.
4. Not changing much, which might make it seem less outdated as years go by.
5. Nice bracelet in terms of functionality/clasp.

It's also a Rolex that isn't too discrete or too obvious. I think it might be able to "blend in" in more discrete moments/crowds, which is something I like.

Two things that would be nice to have would be an applied logo (I don't know why but I really like applied logos) like the Daytona and a ceramic dial (to handle fade and aging better). If I had to bed, I'd say Rolex will start using the latter eventually.

[Thatguy]

Not sure the answer to the question but how about a pic of your tropical dial???


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[faldoc]

I first wanted a Sub after seeing a TT on a friend's wrist 31 years ago.

I finally got on in May.

It's the rugged, functional look.

Kinda wish I got one back 30 years ago!

[SamP]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

This topic is well timed for me, since I ordered one exactly one day after the post. It's the first model I get from the brand.

It's a 116610LN. It still puzzles me a bit why I got it as I didn't care for the design many years ago, but with time I suppose I came to appreciate it and started recognizing it in other models that were influenced by it.

There's definitely a lot of marketing/branding pushing it. Also, the sense of scarcity makes it seem tastier. I reached out four ADs that not only told me they didn't have it but didn't even bother to try to help me get one. Two said "the waiting list is closed" flat out, as if the thing was an extreme rarity (talking a "mere" 116610LN here).

Another practical aspect that made me go for it is that it seems to be popular, so it should resell very fast if I decide to get rid of it one day. And finally, the bracelet - I think GlideLock is probably very useful. I never had a watch with it so can't really tell, but in concept it seems a potentially more comfortable that other bracelets without fine adjustment.

So to me,

1. Well known design, popular > easy to flip if needed, hopefully retaining a decent amount of the original cost.
2. Proven reliable.
3. Pratical (for me) - easily legible and with a date.
4. Not changing much, which might make it seem less outdated as years go by.
5. Nice bracelet in terms of functionality/clasp.

It's also a Rolex that isn't too discrete or too obvious. I think it might be able to "blend in" in more discrete moments/crowds, which is something I like.

Two things that would be nice to have would be an applied logo (I don't know why but I really like applied logos) like the Daytona and a ceramic dial (to handle fade and aging better). If I had to bed, I'd say Rolex will start using the latter eventually.

Brovo. A great answer. If people are honest, its only this popular because of a culmination of factors.
I prefer my GMT's over my Subs.
And the poster was naturally correct re Coke & cola, my bad.
Regards

[SamP]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

Not sure the answer to the question but how about a pic of your tropical dial???


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Hey Thatguy.

My avatar is my tropical dial 1680/8 sans bezel & crystal.
Regards

[doramas]

The real Rolex is the Datejust. It is Rolex par excellence.

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by SamP

Hey Thatguy.



My avatar is my tropical dial 1680/8 sans bezel & crystal.

Regards

Very nice! The pic in Tapatalk is so small I didn't notice!


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[GMT Aviator]

Because its the benchmark watch by which all others are measured in terms of its build quality vs cost vs durability.

Having said that, being a GMT kinda guy, I have never owned one and likely never will. For me, I see a Sub as merely a GMT thats missing something.

[mfletch]

Well, I'm 45 and have never owned a Rolex prior to two days ago. There are many that I love, but in case my first is gonna by my only Rolex, I chose the Submariner Date, in black of course. It may be one of the most common among Rolex owners, but I believe that's a testament to its design.

[ExpSubGMT]

Why Pinto?

[broken_link]

I did not care about watches at all for about 5 past years and did not care much about them all my life before that. But when I realized I wanted to buy a good one - a Sub instantly came in mind. I just remembered the look of it on somebody's wrist from many years ago. Well proportioned black/white watch, robust and not cheap. It has actually become a GMT, but a Sub was the thirst thing I have thought about.

[KBM]

Originally Posted by Mystro

sexy as hell.

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Decades of marketing and a well made product to boot.

Probably sums it up well!

[run23]

Rolex has great marketing, which certainly helps drive value, but you can't have decades of devotion to a brand without the brand backing up the hype with an excellent product.

[lhawli]

Couldn't we say the same for, say...
Why the DateJust?
Why the GMT?


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[rolex aficionado]

I think it's because you can use it anytime anywhere,
with a tux or shorts,
Classy, sporty and never goes out of style!
very tough watch! yet so elegant!
This ad from the 60's sums it up

[ajas]

Because it is damm good watch

[SamP]

Looks like this has come to conclusion.
There were a few really good answers. Personally, I don't get why it's so popular amongst non watch people who want a Rolex, given that it's a proper tool watch - never the be used as such.
If you must have Rolex... DJ is the most popular choice.
Regards

[AK797]

Originally Posted by SamP

Looks like this has come to conclusion.
There were a few really good answers. Personally, I don't get why it's so popular amongst non watch people who want a Rolex.
I would have thought DJ or DD filled that role.
Regards

I think the DJ does, the most sold watch by some distance and that's obviously mainly not to WIS, the Sub is more favoured by WIS proportionally, as this forum echoes.

[lhawli]

Originally Posted by SamP

Looks like this has come to conclusion.
There were a few really good answers. Personally, I don't get why it's so popular amongst non watch people who want a Rolex, given that it's a proper tool watch - never the be used as such.
If you must have Rolex... DJ is the most popular choice.
Regards

I own both the DJ41 and the SubC Date. The DJ is the most popular watch and beats the Sub in terms of sales. But when you're on a WIS forum (not even 1% of total Rolex owners), the Sub wins every day and twice on Sunday.


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[MGWT]

Refinement and proper brand management

[Joearch]

Why not a Sub. Simply a classic.

[Joearch]

[toneafficianado]

The Sub was invented in the same year as the Fender Stratocaster guitar..another perfect piece of design. Gorgeous, effective, long lasting and desirable. Many famous folks bought and used one. And were seen with it around the world.
The Strat is the most copied electric guitar as the Sub is the most copied sports watch.
The 1950s was a great decade!!!

[Laszlo]

Because there is no substitute.

[HogwldFLTR]

It was one of the first dive watches (second I believe to Blancpain Fifty Fathoms). It has history and has played major roles in movies and literature. It's right up there with Mercedes and BMW in terms of pedigree.

[Ruud Van Driver]

I'm fortunate enough to have two. The black dial is my Grail. They're awesome timepieces

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by AK797

I think the DJ does, the most sold watch by some distance and that's obviously mainly not to WIS, the Sub is more favoured by WIS proportionally, as this forum echoes.

Originally Posted by lhawli

But when you're on a WIS forum (not even 1% of total Rolex owners), the Sub wins every day and twice on Sunday.

It's a deeply-flawed premise to equate merely being enthused enough to participate and pipe-up on an internet forum to being a WIS, or that a forum (being self-selecting survey at best, which is a horrible way to conduct a survey or extrapolate any sampling to draw a conclusion) approximates a reliable cross-section of opinion, especially when you're talking about a couple hundred active participants vs millions of buyers/owners/wearers.

Since this forum only measures at best enthusiasm and a certain propensity/desire/leisure the time for someone to go online, there's no way for conclusions to be drawn that points to "DateJust buyers are mainly not WIS", yet at the same time assumes WIS prefer Submariners. There are plenty of Submariner buyers/wearers even on this forum who's knowledge of watches or even Rolex extends little beyond their favorite model. That's not a "WIS", thats just being a vocal proponent of one's favorite and in no way representative of anything past that.

Out there in the world you can be sure out of the gazillion DJ owners there are WIS aplenty but don't prioritize or have the time to join forums, or maybe just couldn't care less about getting into it on the internet.

A better study would be to examine what type of personality is drawn to participate on internet forums and voice opinions and to what degree as to what's "best", "most iconic", etc etc. relative to what type of watch they purchase/wear.

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by rolex aficionado

I've always thought that's the most laughable Rolex ad ever. "Ask her. Maybe she knows.." along with the imagery. Utterly lame.

"Run out and buy those Subs boys, throw on the black tie! The girls will be rendered helpless in the presence of your James Bondyness as you stand there with your drink"

Advertising targeting WIS?.....uh, no. But you can be assured those ads worked. Hell, in so many words it gets quoted left and right around here.