Classic Submariner Ads

[harb]

[Credit: All pictures and text by Subfiend unless noted otherwise]

Let's start this thread off with what is probably the very first ad for the "new" Submariner, from May 1954.

The watch was so new the artist didn't know what it looked like. The watch pictured is actually
the Deep Sea Special with a bezel drawn on to it. The ad appeared in National Geographic
magazine, along with an article about the 1953 conquest of Mt. Everest and deep diving in the
bathyscaphe Trieste to 10,350 ft.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/32/296132/54adlr.jpg

[harb]

"Time for Sports," May 1955

This ad features the Turn-O-Graph, Skindiver (err...., Submariner?), Sportsman (a/k/a OP) and
Chronograph. The drawings are correct, but the names are a little off.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/38/296138/55sportslr.jpg

[harb]

1955

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/40/296140/1955.jpg

[harb]

1957

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/41/296141/1957a.jpg

[harb]

1961

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/19/296319/61Sub5512Large.jpg

[harb]

1967

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/20/296320/1967c.jpg

[harb]

1967

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/2/296602/1967b.jpeg

[harb]

1968

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/4/296604/68Subad2Large.jpg

[harb]

1969

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/22/296922/1969.jpg

[harb]

1970. Time for a little color.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/24/296924/1970.jpg

[harb]

1980 Red Sub.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/6/297206/1980RedSubMedium.jpg

[harb]

1985 TT Black Sub. For Harb.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/11/297211/SylviaTTBlack85Medium.jpg

[harb]

1990 TT Black Sub. George is the only guy I know who actually dives with his TT Sub, other than me.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/13/297213/GBass90Medium.jpg

[harb]

TT Blue Sub. Bob Ballard

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/15/297215/BallardTTBlue.jpg

[harb]

Here's another TT Black -- National Geographic photographer David Doubilet from 1999
http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/66/297566/1999.jpg

[harb]

Lots of Bling. Early 1990s.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/17/297617/1101681923140_rol127.jpg

[harb]

Another Doubilet TT Black Sub

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/54/297854/Doubiletclownfish.jpg

[harb]

Back to the TT Blue Sub. 1998.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/55/297855/1998.jpg

[harb]

[Credit: SoCalSam]

1966

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/31/299031/1966.jpg

1967

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/32/299032/1967a.jpg

1985

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/35/299035/1985.jpg

1983

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/34/299034/1983a.jpg

2003

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/36/299036/2003.jpg

[harb]

[Credit: laurentjoseph]

1984

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/92/303892/1984TimSSubad.jpg

[harb]

Another variation of the 1980 Red 1680 Sub ad with the America's Cup.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/51/486951/1980Red1680AmCupTURF.jpg

[harb]

Late 60s. Rare AND expensive!

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/45/365645/CapeHorn5513small.jpg

[harb]

Early 1961. Same text and theme as the Trieste ad from June 1961, but note the difference in watches. This ad is for the no crown guard "James Bond" Sub, whereas the June ad is for the new 5512. The price is the same, $180.00.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/77/436377/early61Triesters.jpg

[harb]

1957

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/83/390483/57Diversdreamwm.jpg

[harb]

This one is cool. It's the official program for the 1970 America's Cup race with the mighty Red Sub on the back cover.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/13/318313/70ACredSubMedium.jpg

[harb]

There's a mistake in the ad copy--the red Subs had the 26-jewel, 1575 (1570 base) caliber movement, not a 30-jewel movement! The Rolex advertising department didn't get to proofread that ad before it went to press.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/17/318317/70ACRedSubcuMedium.jpg

[harb]

This is my friend George Bass, a class act if there ever was one, in a 1994 ad for the TT Blue. George actually wears a TT Black Sub, but maybe he has both.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/69/323169/GeorgeTTBlueMedium.jpg

[harb]

1972 "Crushed Oyster" ad. This ad ususally shows the Explorer 1016. However, this time they used the Sub. In fact, this is the Red Sub, but it's hard to tell because its a black and white ad so the word "Submariner" appears to be gray.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/5/325705/72CrushedSubMedium.jpg

[harb]

1973

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/76/334476/73RedSubMedium.jpg

[harb]

How about the classic 1976 Red Sub ad featuring Peter Scott?

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/78/334478/76RedSubMedium.jpg

[harb]

Speaking of 1976, how about Peter Benchley and Jaws?

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/79/334479/76JawsMedium.jpg

[harb]

$195.00 in 1964!

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/20/353620/645513.jpg

[harb]

[Credit: rolexfiend]

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/97/392597/red_Sub_ad.jpg

[harb]

1969, EXTREMELY RARE. FROM CANADA.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/99/392599/69MacInnisLR.jpg

[harb]

1966. 5513 Sub with Explorer 3-6-9 dial. The Daytona is a bonus.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/69/394069/scan0002.jpg

[harb]

From Japan

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/29/417629/aro014e.jpg

[harb]

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/83/417683/Ad98.jpg

[harb]

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/84/417684/Ad85.jpg

[harb]

1960

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/37/433937/1960Whereresized.jpg

[harb]

Tiffany ad from 1960 showing the elusive big crown Bond Sub.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/8/452808/60TiffanyBondSubrs.jpg

[harb]

1970 ad for Bucherer and the Sub. Note this is a 5512 Sub with a 200m - 660 ft dial, which was phased out by 1967.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/8/455808/19705512Buchrs.jpg

[harb]

[Credit: boaman]

One for sharkman...

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/82/462182/ROLEXSHARKADD.jpg

[harb]

Peter Scott from 1976, curiously NOT showing the Red Sub that this ad is usually associated with.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/50/482650/ScottNon-RedSubrs.jpg

[harb]

1974 "Tiffany" dial Red Sub, only $445.00.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/88/484088/78TiffanySub.jpg

[harb]

1964 Sub ad for the 5513 with the 3-6-9 Explorer type dial. You don't see many ads with this dial.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/42/486042/Constellation64TURF.jpg

[harb]

2000 TT Blue Sub with sailor Gary Jobson.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/88/486588/TTSubJobsonTURF.jpg

[harb]

Early 2000s. "A Strong Case: Just in case."

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/89/486589/TTBlueSub-AStrongCaseTURF.jpg

[harb]

1966. "We invented this [now unobtainable 3-6-9 dial Sub] to weather the storms of 'blue water' racing."

I have never seen this ad before, and I was pleasantly surprised when I came across it.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/31/487431/3-6-9DDTURF.jpg

[harb]

1962 pointed crown guard 5512

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/75/504675/62YRS.jpg

[harb]

1966 "Divers Dive With Rolex." Note: This ad uses the same artwork as the 1962 ad above, as well as the well-known photo of the British Navy diver.

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/28/510028/Diversdive.jpg

[harb]

1957. "My waterproof watch."

http://www.newturfers.com/mwf/attach/91/543891/SubmarinerPackerforweb.jpg

[cmcm3]

Harb, these are really cool - do you know if there are really high-def versions available, to print out? I'd like a few of them framed in my study.

[harb]

Not sure - It may be worth sending a PM to Subfiend for his advice as to where to collect these from.

[Subfiend]

Not sure - It may be worth sending a PM to Subfiend for his advice as to where to collect these from.

Harb,

Thanks for posting these. I have been out of touch for a while, but I may have to re-engage now.