1922 Rolex Submarine

1922

Rolex Submarine

The Photos below feature a hermetic Rolex 'Submarine' watch made in 1922. Note, it's NOT named 'Submariner', but 'Submarine' as it was based upon the same principle as a Submarine hatch that would spin open and closed like a jar lid. It was called a 'Hermetic' watch as this new style of watch completely protected the entire movement, and notice, when it is sealed the watch winding crown, is hidden inside the watch. This case design was originally patented by Jean Finger in 1921, and Hans Wilsdorf later purchased the rights to the patent. 

1922 Rolex Submariner 

Think of a Hermetically sealed watch as being very similar to a jar lid (with a round glass aperture window) screwed on a jar. Once the lid is screwed into place, it forms an impervious barrier. No liquid can get in or out of the jar when the lid is securely screwed into place. (This, of course, is if you do not submerge the watch in deep water. At some point, without a gasket the case would fail and let water in). In many ways the Rolex Submarine was the great grandfather of the Rolex Submariner which Rolex would bring to life three decades later.

This page below shows Rolex's trademark for THE SUBMARINE, which was first registered in 1922, most fascinatingly by Rolex Founder, Hans Wilsdorf, himself!

The absolutely fascinating trademark page above and below are from the Swiss Journals E-Periodica and the one below features Rolex trademarks from 1938-1939, including the ROLEX AQUA, ROLEX RANGER, ROLEX SUBMARINE, and THE TUDOR. It's also worth noting in the bottom left hand corner there is a trademark from December of 1938 that is named "SOUSMARINE", which is French for "Submarine".

The First Rolex Submariner 1922 Hermetically Sealed Pre-Oyster

...In The Time Before Rolex Oyster Time...

The First Rolex Submariner

1922 Hermetically Sealed Pre-Oyster

The Rolex Submariner is the most iconic watch ever made, and its origins are absolutely fascinating. The photo below is of a 1922 Rolex Submarine, which is a hermetically sealed Pre-Oyster, waterproof watch. This is an extremely rare example in pristine condition. You can learn much, much more about the history of the Rolex Submariner in my 19 part series named "The Complete History Of The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER. Rolex's Conquest Of The Ocean."

Although Rolex perfected the Rolex Oyster waterproof watch case in 1926, it had been working on perfecting a waterproof case for many years prior, and the Rolex Submarine which was made in 1922 (seen above and below) was waterproof, but it did not have a very high depth rating, and in order to access the watch to wind or change the time, you had to screw-off the top fluted bezel, which over time would wear, and was not so easy, yet it was effective. You can learn, much, much more about how Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex revolutionized the wrist-watch in the early 20th century by checking out my story named, "The Complete History Of Rolex Leadership. Part 1: The Hans Wilsdorf Years: Founder Of Rolex."