Rolexes, especially Submariners, have been tied to celebrities since their rise to worldwide popularity in the 1960s, with James Bond as one of their principal ambassadors. At the Antiquorum summer sale in New York City last year, a world record was set. The Rolex Submariner of Steve McQueen sold for $234,000. Among other top winners was a Rolex Sea Dweller with Cartier dial, which went for $91,200, and a Rolex Daytona of the rare “Paul Newman” variety, which sold for $84,000.
Interestingly, novelist Ian Fleming incorporated the watch into his story, making it part of the James Bond character even prior to the films. The watch worn by Sean Connery in 1962 film Dr. No, the first Bond film, came to be known as the “James Bond Submariner.”
The Submariner continued to grace Bond’s wrist in the 1970s when Roger Moore took over the role for Connery. However, the 70s were not entirely the era of Bond and the Submariner. In the late 70s and into the 80s, the Swiss watch industry was not dominating the scene consummately, and more Japanese imports began appearing with Bond, from the Seiko brand. These included a Seiko Quartz LC Chronograph, Seiko LCD digital, a Seiko Sports 100 LCD and Seiko TV watch.
Nevertheless, the preeminent reputation of Rolex has continued and escalated, and with its status as the first James Bond watch, its iconic presence can never be diminished. Unfortunately, with that status comes a status marking price, which most people cannot afford. Some may worry that a Rolex Submariner replica watch might be a cheap knock-off that will easily break, but replicas today use durable materials and the latest technology. With scratch resistant crystal, smooth automatic movement and water resistance, a well-made Rolex Submariner replica watch is an ideal purchase for fans of the Bond look.





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