Wrist Game Or Crying Shame — Rolex Submariner 14060

Welcome to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly serial that allows you to govern your own state of wrist wear affairs. Today’s subject is the Rolex Submariner 14060, a popular aspirational steel dive watch. We’ll see what you think in a bit. But first…

Last week, I brought something bright and bulbous with the Chronoswiss Timemaster. It turns out that a wrist lantern and massive onion-shaped protuberance for a crown do not a winner make. The Chronoswiss got pummeled on the way to a 59% Crying Shame loss. That’s a real shame because I find it rather unique. Today’s pick is far more common and I know some miesepieters will whine about yet another Rolex.

The Rolex Submariner 14060 is Still a Deal

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the Rolex Submariner 14060 is the last decent deal on a big-time sports watch from the fabled brand. And despite the topsy-turvy world of today, something like a steel Submariner carries a strong enough balance sheet to ride through the current storm. It’s the watch that people aspire to own when they “make it” — whatever “it” means. It’s also amazingly comfortable and versatile. With 300 meters of water resistance and a style that works with about anything, even the crankiest likely have a soft spot for the Sub.

Introduced in 1990

The Rolex Submariner 14060 was introduced way back in 1990 and replaced the venerable 5513. The 5513 was around in form or another since 1962 and, thankfully, the 14060 strayed very little. The 14060 brought the Sub into modern times with a sapphire crystal, glossy dial, and the 28,800vph caliber 3000 movement. Us sentimentalists still mourn the passing of acrylic, but the reality is that it was time for change.

Thankfully, the Rolex Submariner 14060 kept its svelte shape and attributes like drilled lugs. Stamped end links stand watch and provide a fit that’s as comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans. In 1999, though, the 14060 became the 14060M. In that year, it also had a bit of a transition period from tritium to Luminova to SuperLuminova. The movement changed to the 3130, but the watch kept its looks. Finally, in 2007, the watch gained a chronometer certification and a couple extra lines of text.

The Last Non-Chronometer Sub

The Rolex Submariner 14060 is an important watch in the minds of Rolex collectors. It’s the last non-chronometer Sub (ok, the identical M was non-chronometer until 2007 as well) and, hence, lacks the paragraph of text that adorns every other watch from the brand. Rolex pencil necks fight fiercely over two lines versus four. I’m a four-liner man myself, but I can see the appeal of the two-liner. It’s clean-looking and truly no-nonsense. And then there’s the future value appeal. With Rolex sports watches, owning the last of something is never a bad idea. Of course, every type of 14060 is sort of the last of the line prior to the uncouth models we have today.

In a former article, I mentioned my current desire to wear what I’m calling “comfort watches”. I’m at home more and generally want a faithful, no-nonsense timekeeper on the wrist. For me, a 36mm Oyster case fits the bill perfectly, but I often grab my 14060M. It’s such a great watch that deserves its modern classic reputation. However, a watch like my 2011 version has hit the $8,000+ price level and that’s a lot of simoleons. Why not travel back a decade or two and pick up an earlier 14060 for far less? It’s a Submariner for goodness sake and that means you should be set for life in terms of watches.

Today’s Candidate

The pictures in today’s article show the Rolex Submariner 14060 we’ve found for you. Those pics are courtesy of the Hungarian dealer, Quality Time. It’s a 1999 — an A series to the socially challenged — model on offer without box or papers for €6,690. Now, there were less expensive 14060’s on Chrono24, but all had cases with signs of polishing. A good tell is to hone in on the lug holes to see if their edges are at all rounded. This has likely been polished — the ad even mentions it — but it’s been done at a very high level. Aka, the local goulash chef moonlighting as a watchmaker didn’t try his hand at bringing things back up to snuff. But the watch looks good to me and should be ready to wear for decades to come.

A Transitional Model

What’s more, is that this Rolex Submariner 14060 is a transitional model. For Rolex collectors, owning such curiosities translates to tome length self-aggrandizing forum posts or, worse yet, CIA investigations due to terrorist threat campaigns between rival dweebs on Instagram. Nonetheless, today’s example states “Swiss” at the bottom of its dial and that’s correct for the Luminova transition dials.  Prior to mid-1998, the Tritium “T>25” script exists. Post-1999, “Swiss Made” enters for SuperLuminova.

With all that in mind, it’s your turn to tell us if owning this Rolex Submariner 14060 is of interest. Perhaps you’re a closet neckbeard who wants to get in on the transitional game or, hopefully, you’re one who has always hoped for a Sub at a nice price. Then again, maybe you hate Rolex and everything that comes with owning one. You be the judge!