In 1953, Rolex introduced what would become one of their most iconic watches of all time: the Submariner. Popularized by many celebrities and professionals, this watch that has been featured in various James Bond movies remains one of the most demanded today. Whereas many opt for a brand new Submariner, some avid collectors search for vintage Rolex watches for their antique look and exclusivity.

Many people, when hearing the word "vintage Submariner" is unsure what the term exactly refers to: just how old do Rolex watches have to be in order for them to be considered ‘vintage’? Does the ‘vintage’ status have to do with the age of the individual watch, or its production date? Actually, the term vintage is quite simple: it refers to a model that is no longer actively produced by Rolex. In the case of the Submariner, then, Reference 14060, last produced by Rolex in 1999, is as ‘vintage’ as the 6204 - the very first model introduced in 1953.

Does this mean that all vintage Submariners are worth the same? The answer to this question may seem obvious to you - of course not. Because the Submariner is one of the Rolex watches with the most fascinating history of improvements, there are many different models spanning over decades that are of interest to collectors today.

For example, Reference 6538 and 6536, introduced in 1954 and 1955 respectively, are considered by many to be one of highest demand due to their associations with James Bond. Often referred to as the "James Bond" Submariners, the 6538 and 6536 look identical but have a major difference to them - the 6538 is water resistant to 660 feet while the 6536 is only water resistant to 330 feet. The two versions of the Submariner are considered as two of the most influential Rolex watches because they were the first to implement the famed "Mercedes" hands and the Trip-Lock crown - two features of the Submariner that can still be found in the model in production today.

Arguably one of the most demanded Rolex Submariner to date, the Reference 5513 was first introduced in 1962 and in production until 1990. One of the most distinguishing features of the 5513 is the so-called "Meters First" mark - nicknamed in reference to the "200 m/660 ft" mark printed on the Submariner dial, the first version to have the ‘200 meters’ written before the ‘660 feet.’ The 5513 was also the first time that the the ‘crown guard’ was implemented - a 7mm crown providing shock-protection of varying degrees, another progression toward ensuring that the Submariner would become the most reliable dive watches of all time.

One of the most recent Rolex Submariners that has gone ‘vintage’ is the 16610LV - widely known as the 50th anniversary model - which was last produced by Rolex in the past year, in 2010. It will definitely be interesting to see how prices for this model will rise substantially in the next few decades. If you’re an avid Rolex watches collector, be sure to purchase one - they will be a great item to pass onto future generations!