Rolex Submariner 14060 – 52Mondayz, week #17
The Rolex Submariner 14060
What else do you need? This week I’ll be very much off the beaten track, and very much off-line as well. In and out the water, swimming and hiking, name it a sporty holiday.
Beatable, readable and uncluttered
For these circumstances I almost always choose a beatable, readable and uncluttered watch. Not afraid of water as well. And no date. In order not to disturb my time-off with the perspective of when it will end.
A Rolex Submariner, although not very original nor exclusive, is perfect for this. And so that’s why I chose it to wear as my 52Mondayz watch this week.
Supplied in 1992
The one I’m wearing is a reference 14060 and has a N-serial number. It dates from 1992, as indicated on its accompanying original paperwork. The bracelet reference is 93150 with 501B end links.
It has the flimsy but very useful diving extension which was the common one used in those days. The inside of the folding clasp bears, except the obvious ‘steel inox’ and ‘registered swiss made’ marks, R7 as date code.
Caliber 3000 and 3130 differences
In 1989 the 14060 was the successor of the now illustrious reference 5513. Inside the 14060 Rolex Submariner ticks the simple and reliable Rolex caliber 3000. Later – past 1999 – models indicated with reference 14060M had a modified (hence M) caliber, the 3130.
The differences of the new caliber were a full balance bridge and a larger balance wheel. Often said enabling Rolex to easier COSC chronometer certify the movements, which the 14060 wasn’t. As well, at that time pretty much the whole Rolex caliber line was fitted with a full balance bridge making it more or less a company signature. Michael Stockton did an in-depth review of the 14060M before on Fratello Watches, you’ll find it here: Rolex Submariner 14060M review
Production run from 1989 till 1999
So the reference 14060 was in production for around 10 years (1989-1999), and then the 14060M was approximately for 10 years as well (1999-2009). Later this model got, like most other Rolex sports models, an engraved rehaut. Then the reference changed to 114060 and it became the new Submariner No Date. It has a totally different case with ceramic bezel inlay, a new bracelet and much more.
Tritium dots and hands
Almost all 14060 models were supplied with tritium dials, probably a few just before the reference changed to 14060M had Super-LumiNova already. The one I’m wearing has a nice cream discolouration of the tritium dots in the dial. The hands stay a bit behind. Although never changed, they’re still somewhat more white.
Good examples of this 14060 model Rolex Submariner can be found for sale around € 5.000,= nowadays.
An overview of the Rolex Submariner history can be found here.
