Revolutionary Design 1922 Rolex Submarine Vintage Watch
The images below showcase a rare 1922 Rolex ‘Submarine,’ a groundbreaking watch from the early 20th century. Notably, it’s named the ‘Submarine,’ not the ‘Submariner,’ a distinction often overlooked. This name was inspired by the watch’s design, which mirrors the hatch of a submarine – a rotating mechanism that opens and closes similarly to a jar lid.
The watch was marketed as a ‘Hermetic’ model, a term used to describe a fully sealed watch that protected the internal movement from external elements. A unique feature of this design is how the watch’s winding crown is completely concealed within the case when sealed, offering an extra layer of protection.
The concept behind the Hermetic design was originally patented in 1921 by Jean Finger, whose patent was later acquired by Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex. The idea behind the watch was simple yet innovative: imagine a jar with a screw-on lid, with a round glass window. When the lid is securely fastened, the contents of the jar are completely sealed off from the outside world, protecting them from external forces. In the case of the Rolex Submarine, this design offered a barrier against dust, moisture, and other contaminants – though it wouldn’t withstand deep water pressure due to the lack of a gasket at the time.
In many ways, the 1922 Rolex Submarine can be seen as the precursor to the iconic Rolex Submariner, which would make its debut three decades later. While the Submariner was designed for deep-water exploration, the Submarine laid the groundwork for Rolex’s future innovations in water-resistant watches.
One fascinating document that sheds light on the Submarine’s history is a page from the Swiss journal E-Periodica featuring Rolex trademarks from 1938-1939. This page lists the ROLEX AQUA, ROLEX RANGER, ROLEX SUBMARINE, and THE TUDOR – brands that would later become part of Rolex’s extensive portfolio. Interestingly, this page does not mention the first use of the SUBMARINE trademark in 1922, which remains an enigma that warrants further investigation. Notably, there is also a trademark from December 1938 titled “SOUSMARINE,” the French equivalent of “Submarine.”
Franz Von Holzhausen’s Vintage Rolex Daytona (or Is It?)
For some time, I’ve been intrigued by a vintage Rolex Daytona worn by Franz Von Holzhausen, Tesla’s lead designer. Speculation swirled around whether this could be the famous black-dial Rolex Daytona that once belonged to Paul Newman. But after closer inspection, new information came to light.
In an update from December 21, 2024, Bryan shared an important correction: the watch Franz is wearing isn’t a Rolex Daytona at all, but a Breitling 765 AVI/Co-Pilot Panda from the early 1960s. Bryan pointed out the distinctive lime green 15-second timer on the right sub-dial, which can be seen in the photo. I must admit, I was wrong in my initial assumption, but I still find the Breitling incredibly stylish – a truly remarkable watch in its own right.
The image of Franz Von Holzhausen wearing the replica watch was originally featured by the Wall Street Journal while he was seen in the back of a Tesla CyberTruck prototype. Below, in a recent video, Franz can be spotted wearing the watch again, and it still looks incredibly cool, regardless of the brand!
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