Rolex Submariner waiting time 2023

« Most wanted Diver »

Professional applications were what the Geneva-based luxury brand had in mind when it introduced its first diving watches in 1953. Nowadays, those who are interested in them rarely plan daring underwater missions. The legendary watch family is simply popular – among collectors, investors and style-conscious men. The large circle of interested parties leads to bottlenecks and the question: How long are the waiting list and waiting time for the Rolex Submariner at the moment?

Tolerable waiting time for no-frills Diver icons

Rolex is notorious for not divulging internal information. This applies to differentiated production figures as well as the waiting time that one has to plan for when buying coveted models. If you want to get a rough idea, you have to rely on the experience of other watch lovers and insider tips from the official boutiques. Accordingly, for the simplest Rolex Submariner, the 2023 waiting time is at least three months, but can extend to half a year. Compared to other Rolex families, this is a moderate test of patience.

Stainless steel strap and case, diving bezel and dial in black, and striking indices that glow intensely in the dark: There are self-confessed fans for this purist, which does credit to the debut model. In general, the charming focus on the essentials is less in demand at the moment. Therefore, although each authorized dealer receives only a maximum of 20 pieces per year, the waiting time for the Rolex Submariner No Date is quite bearable.

Even if you’re not a regular customer, you can get the classic at list price within half a year. The same applies to the black-and-white stainless steel Divers with a day date, which first appeared in the range in 1966. For the matter-of-factly designed Rolex Submariner with Date, a waiting period of three to six months is bearable, considering that the legendary diving watches provide timeless pleasure. If you buy them to wear or collect.

Simple equation: exquisite taste = long waiting time

Absolutely reliable, robust, and waterproof: the practical needs of diving directed the watch design. A welcome side effect is the purist, casual look that always suits everyday sports watches. For all the love of the original 1953 design, a dash of individuality is enticing, and with the Rolex Submariner, it extends the wait to 2023 as well.

Black bezel and leaf are designed. The case and strap profess a yellow gold that seems more chic than glamorous. The contrasting design of reference 126618LN obviously appeals to many watch lovers. After all, a two-year waiting period is not unusual for this model of the Submariner family. Even more serenity is required when dreaming of the “cool smurf”. This aesthetic play on cool white gold and black and blue color duet was understood as a tribute to the 65th brand anniversary and has enriched the diving watch portfolio ever since.

The “Luxury Smurf” with the reference 126619LB is issued in smaller batches, which means that many concessionaires can only get hold of one copy per year for their clientele. Thus, one can consider oneself lucky if the waiting period for this Rolex Submariner Date is “only” three years.

First moderate, then endless – unpredictable waiting times for Rolex watches

Anyone interested in luxury watches knows: there is no binding waiting list and the waiting time at Rolex can be long. The Submariner is no exception. Official retailers include customers in their lists of interested parties, provided the expressed enthusiasm for the desired watch seems genuine to them. If a specimen arrives at the store with the appropriate reference, the list is not worked through step by step. Many aspects influence the decision as to which person from the waiting list gets the chance to pay only the list price for the dream watch and when.

Besides the usual hurdles, sometimes trends and events affect the waiting time. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Rolex Submariner. The wait may be longer in 2023 simply because there is more media coverage of the diver’s watch. So long cherished watch dreams come back to mind. The rerun of a cult movie, a watch auction with a breathtaking sale price, or the general color trend in accessories: many factors can suddenly make the waiting time for luxury wristwatches absurdly longer.

Sometimes the unattractive quintessence of such hype is that production of the coveted model is discontinued while one is still bobbing around on the list of interested parties. This was the experience of some watch collectors with the bright green Submariner “Hulk”, which debuted in 2010 and disappeared from the official catalog a decade later.

Strategy for flexible watch fans: predecessor models instead of waiting lists

Rolex is known for presenting only a few design variants of a watch family and sticking to them for a long time. The comparable vintage specimen would be welcome when it comes to an accessory for the leisure outfit and the aesthetics are in the foreground. However, the idea is doubly limp: older references often impress with their increase in value and are significantly more expensive. Moreover, the luxury brand remains true to its classics, but still adapts them discreetly.

For the diver’s watch’s 50th birthday, for example, a popular model with a black dial and grass-green bezel made its debut. The color accent evoked associations with Kermit the Frog and earned the Submariner variant this nickname. For its counterpart from the 2023 collection, the nickname “Starbucks” is more common – for good reason: the green resembles the logo of the café chain rather than the host of the Muppet Show. The aesthetic differences are joined by functional differences, as the manufacture has further developed the movement.

Purposeful sideways glances or alternative sources

Those who simply urgently need a wristwatch suitable for diving can turn to other manufacturers with excellent reputation. Breitling, Omega and Tag Heuer are appreciated not only for sophisticated diving watches. The brands offer some models that can be ordered immediately without waiting. The pragmatic approach is not up for discussion if you dream about a certain timepiece – for example, a Rolex Submariner no Date. However, you can save yourself the waiting time for it. For that, it is enough to look around the specialty store for Certified Pre-Owned luxury watches. The Uhrinstinkt store offers both options of buying watches and will be happy to advise you.

Admittedly: For the current catalog list price of 8,950 euros, you won’t find a mint Submariner with the reference 124060 anywhere. However, even the noble brand indirectly admits on its website that the catalog price is only valid in official boutiques and that if demand is high, you will have to go to the open market and expect higher acquisition costs.

The reality can be summarized briefly: New customers who want to purchase the “Diver with a crown” must be flexible and dig a little deeper into their pockets. Otherwise, the chances are high that the watch dream will not come true.

---

Image source:

Article image | By Si Griffiths – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24380109