The Basel 2012 launched Submariner Ceramic ref:114060.
It's time for a review.
As expected, the markers and the hands of the watch have gone maxi as well as the case.
Notice the thicker lugs. This makes the whole watch appear squarish. Some people hate it. I like it.
Check out the sharp and crisp bezel.
See what I mean about the watch looking squarish?
To some people, it seems like the flow of the case to the bracelet is somewhat stunted... Looks ok to me on the wrist though.
Bezel insert is now ceramic.
Markings and graduations are in platinum dust.
Ceramic is shiny and according to Rolex, will never fade, lose it's luster and virtually scratchproof and indestructible.
I don't buy the indestructible part as ceramic is known to be quite brittle.
Due to the lack of the date feature. Markings on the dial now reads "oyster perpetual"
4 lines of text on the bottom half of the dial.
Movement powering the watch is the Rolex Caliber 3131.
Movement is basically a 3130 but fitted with Rolex's in house developed parachrom blue hairspring.
Clasp is now the new fliplock clasp with the gridelock feature.
Nicely executed. Sturdy in design and function.
The old tuna can clasps are a thing of the past.
As much complaints as there are on the tuna can clasps, they will work flawlessly for 10-20 years without much problems.
Will this new design be the same? I sure do hope so.
The gridelock clasp are a welcomed improvement.
A very ingenious way of tightening or loosening the fit in 2mm increments up to a total of 20mm... all without using any tools at all!! Excellent design.
Folks with small wrists will rejoice with another improvement.
The 6 o'clock side of the bracelet can now be removed leaving a minimum of 3 links.
Used to be 5... and the problem is this will cause the clasp will rest uneven on the wrist. Not anymore now.
And they also include a half link for you!!
So the uneven clasp resting to the side of your wrist is also a thing of the past. (folks that have small wrists and have owned the previous iteration of this model will understand)
In order to get the clasp centralised, I used 3 and a half link on the 6 o'clock side and 5 links on the 12 o'clock side.
My wrist size? 6.75 inch.
Bracelet links of course are now all solid.
Tadaaa!! Finally... the Rolex people must have been listening.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the watch.
It wears comfortably on my wrist.
The absence of the date means that it will fit into my regular rotation and if it happens to exhaust the power reserve, just wind it up, set the time and go.
To most people, the purest of the Submariner reference will have to be without the date. And I agree completely!
