The Rolex Submariner was first developed in 1953 and has grown into the watchmaker’s best-seller. We explore the Submariner’s diving origins and its rise to fame, thanks to James Bond.

Selling the Idea of a Professional Rolex Diving Watch
In the early 1950s, René-Paul Jeanneret, a member of the Rolex board and a diving enthusiast, pitched the idea of a diving watch that was elegant enough to be worn every day to Rolex founder and president, Hans Wilsdorf. Rolex had been producing water resistant Oyster-cases with screw-down crowns since the 1930s but Jeanneret envisioned a professional diving watch that could withstand the under water pressure. Jeanneret turned to his friend, famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, to further appeal to Wilsdorf. At the time, Cousteau was building his notoriety with a series of inventions that spring boarded man’s deep-sea exploration. And Cousteau’s opinion seemed to convince Wilsdorf that Jeanneret’s idea was worth pursuing.

The Rolex Submariner’s First Deep-Sea Dive
What would ultimately be known as the Rolex Submariner went into production in 1953. In September of 1953, Rolex announced their foray into diving watches with great fanfare. Rolex attached their new Rolex Submariner to the outside of Swiss inventor August Piccard’s bathyscaphe, a bubble-shaped deep-sea submersible. The bathyscaphe and the affixed Rolex were lowered into Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of Italy, and descended a world record-breaking 3,131.8 meters (more than 10,000 feet) towards the ocean floor. When the bathyscaphe surfaced, the Rolex Submariner was in perfect working condition.

Basel Fair 1954 and Initial Reception
Following this successful and historic dive, the Rolex Submariner made its official public debut at the 1954 Basel Fair. Fair-goers were delighted with the sporty-yet-elegant design and sturdiness of the hardware was the perfect combination for the professional and casual sportsman. The Rolex also featured a new rotating bezel that allowed divers to easily monitor their remaining oxygen and time spent underwater, a feature suggested by the Submariner’s greatest champion René-Paul Jeanneret. The Rolex Submariner also featured a “triplock” clasp that Rolex is now known for and that helped divers easily remove the watch even while wearing a wet suit and clumsy gloves.

Rolex claimed their new water-resistant Submariner could withstand depths of 200 meters (660 feet) which ranked the Rolex Submariner as the best water-resistant watch of its time. To back up their claims, Rolex referred to the Institute for Deep Sea Research in Cannes, France that tested the Rolex Submariner in a series of 132 dives at various depths, up to 60 meters.

However, for all its accolades and record-breaking mechanics, the Rolex Submariner’s initial public reception was pretty cool until the 1960s when it turned into a runaway success.

The Influence of James Bond
The British Royal Navy made the Submariner its official watch in 1955. This would ultimately lead author and naval intelligence officer Ian Fleming to write that his most famous fictional character, James Bond, wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual. (Fleming himself wore Rolex Explorer.) When the suave spy James Bond would make his silver screen debut (played by Sean Connery) in 1962, he wore a Rolex Submariner. The watch was then a commercial sensation and has since grown to be one of Rolex’s best-selling models.

The Rolex Submariner Today
Rolex has been quite slow to modify its popular Submariner watch. Throughout the 1970s, Rolex started offering the Rolex with more colorful faces including bright blue, yellow gold, and even two-tone options. In 2003, Rolex commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Submariner with the release of the Submariner-Date, which added a date window and green bezel.

Photo Credit: watchonista.com / professionalwatches.com

Until the 1950s, Breitling was best known for its aviation-focused watches. But, amidst the 1950s heyday of dive watches, Breitling introduced the Superocean: a bold declaration that Breitling was ready to take up the challenges of designing and perfecting diving watches. We take a look at the history of the iconic Breitling Superocean and how it beat out its diving watch competitors.

A History in Aviation
Founded in 1884, Breitling had long established itself as a premier watchmaker. Founder Léon Breitling had perfected his intricate and complicated design which even impressed his watchmaking contemporaries. After his death, Breitling’s best-selling chronograph was frequently worn by military forces and police officers.

After World War I, with Léon’s grandson Willy at the helm, Breitling made a big push to become the watch of choice for aviation crews. The Swiss watchmaker focused on manufacturing watches that allowed pilots to quickly calculate flight speed and distance. During this innovative time, Breitling debuted the Navitimer collection which featured a slide rotating bezel that made the crucial in-flight calculations (like fuel consumption and air speed) even easier for pilots. Ultimately, Breitling won the bid to supply watches to the Royal Air Force.

The Introduction of Breitling Superocean
With their aviation reputation firmly established, Breitling turned its focus toward diving watches. In the 1950s, dive watches were incredibly popular. Competitors like Rolex and Omega had put their dive-watch stakes in the ground: the Omega Seamaster broke its first diving record in 1955, reaching depths of 62.5. Meanwhile, Rolex debuted the Submariner in 1953, which was waterproof to a depth of 100 meters.

In turn, Breitling released its Superocean in 1957. The Breitling Superocean touted its water resistance of 200 meters, which impressively beat out its contemporaries. The Superocean’s clean and practical design also featured large Arabic numerals and oversized hands to make it easier for divers to read.

The Breitling Superocean Today
Since its debut, the Breitling Superocean has been fine-tuned to withstand deeper depths and, on select models, is water resistant up to 2,000 meters. The diving watch now features a helium valve that allows the watch to withstand the incredible underwater pressure without exploding. Breitling has also expanded the look of the Superocean, now offering the diving watch in more colors and different case sizes.

In 2007, Breitling commemorated the model’s 50th anniversary with the Superocean Heritage Collection. The Superocean Heritage pays homage to the inaugural Superocean with its braided steel bracelet and Breitling even brought back its 1950s logo for this collection. But in step with modern tastes, the Superocean Heritage is available in a 38 mm or 46 mm case size in several different colors and three different bracelets: rubber, leather, and steel mesh.

Photo Credit: www.breitlingsource.com / breitling.com

The prestige and decadence of Tiffany and Co. necklaces have graced many fine women’s necks since the late 19th century. Makers of exquisite jewelry, the designers at Tiffany & Co. have breathed new life into the sterile definition of art. Having designed such masterful pieces of charm and exceptional beauty, Tiffany & Company has, without a shadow of a doubt, perfected the jewelry making technique. We applaud their unwavering design diligence and are pleased to bring the glamorous and colorful designs of Tiffany jewelry to you.

18K Yellow Gold Picasso Zellige Medallion Necklace

Daughter of famed artist Pablo Picasso, (and a gifted artist in her own right) jewelry designer Paloma Picasso says her designs are “about a joy for life and a timeless beauty.” Growing up, Paloma understood what many of us take years to learn: art is a natural part of the human existence. From a young age, art came as naturally to Paloma as breathing. Picasso’s work with Tiffany’s has ranged from exploring delicate geometrical forms and bold stone color. The Zellige Medalion Necklace features a large round pendant encircling a square and framing an eight-point star. Reminiscent of the memorizing architectural mocarabes of the Hall of the Two Sisters. The woman who wears this Tiffany and Co necklace is one with heightened sophistication and taste.

Signature “X” Diamond and Gold Necklace

The stunning yellow gold setting of Tiffany & Co. Signature “X” Necklace catches the light and shimmers with sophistication. This Tiffany and Co. gold necklace features 7.74 carats of bead set round diamonds. The “X” design perfectly framing each sparkling diamond. The Signature “X” Diamond and Gold Necklace highlights the most cultured and stylish of women.

Paloma Picasso Necklace

Yet another exquisite piece of jewelry designed by Paloma Picasso, this pendant necklace is as delicate as it is bold. Its Mobe pearl and diamond center draws the eye to its simple perfection. The rounded gold pendant inset of the pearl captures the geometrical organicism of nature, mirroring the brilliance of the sun. The pearl, grown against the inside of a mollusk’s shell is as unique in its generating as is the woman who wears it. The intensity of the Picasso’s design will complement the radiance of the woman.

Platinum Garland Diamond Necklace

This finely designed Garland Platinum Necklace designed exclusively by Tiffany & Co. draws from the natural beauty of life’s simplest of pleasures: nature. Made of solid platinum, the necklace holds 2.38 total carat weight of natural round brilliant ideal cut diamonds. The diamonds, set in the foliage of the necklace sparkle like dew in the early morning light on a bright, crisp wintry morning. The elegant design of the necklace and its luscious detail will make even the most selective jewelry wearers shiver with delight.

At TrueFacet, we take pleasure in providing our clients with top quality jewelry. Shop our online jewelry marketplace today to find the perfect piece for your collection.

Sometimes knowing what to get him for Valentine’s Day is difficult, but not this year. Find something special to fit your loved one’s style this year. From cufflinks to sports watches, we’ve chosen our favorites from our specially-curated Valentine’s Day boutiques. To view the rest of the shops click here.

1. Accessories

Men’s accessories have been trending more and more in the past year, and you’ll need to find the perfect piece to fit your man’s style. This January, we’ve seen men’s rings trending on the runways of Valentino, Gucci and more. Find the perfect ring to start or add to his collection, like this Valentino onyx ring. If your loved one attends formal events regularly, or if there’s a special occasion coming up, you may consider a beautiful tie bar, like the above from Cartier.

Finally, if he likes to wear a watch, find the perfect bracelet to compliment his favorite timepiece. For a sportier watch, find something more casual like this John Hardy leather bracelet. For a dressier watch, consider something finer, like this Cartier gold link bracelet. View more men’s accessories here.

2. Cufflinks

Cufflinks are a subtle addition that makes a world of difference. Only to be worn with French cuffs, the small accessory is typically reserved for especially formal occasions. Due to the nature of an event appropriate for cufflinks, the accessory is perfect for a meaningful occasion and meaningful gift.

With hundreds of cufflinks to choose from on TrueFacet, you will be sure to find the perfect pair for your Valentine. For a man who loves the classics, there’s Tiffany & Co. and Cartier. For a man who loves to keep things simple, there’s David Yurman and John Hardy. For the watch lovers there’s even cufflinks from Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. You can view more men’s cufflinks here.

3. Sports Watches

A watch is the ultimate men’s accessory, but with so many to choose from, getting overwhelmed is easy. If your Valentine dresses casually more than formally and leads an active lifestyle, the a sports watch is the perfect choice.

Our best-selling men’s watch is the Rolex Submariner, a classic model from a prestigious brand. So far in 2016, the Breitling Superocean has been a high-demand watch, making another great gift. At a lower price point, TAG Heuer watches are a favorite. Finally, if your budget allows for it, the Royal Oak Offshore from Audemars Piguet is a favorite among watch lovers. You can View more men’s watches here.

4. Dress Watches

For a man who spends more time in the office than anywhere else, a dress watch is required. If he doesn’t already have one, then now is the time to take his work wardrobe to the next level with a beautiful and practical gift. If he already has a dress watch, then you can help him expand his watch collection and vary his daily wrist accessory.

If your Valentine loves classic and reliable, then a Cartier watch is perfect, like a Roadster or Tank. The Rolex Day-Date is also known as the President due to the job held by many wearers. This watch is the ultimate accessory for any important man. For the watch lover, a Calatrava by Patek Philippe, widely considered the most prestigious watchmaker, will always be appreciated. View more men’s watches here.

This year, we don’t want you to struggle to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your loved one. With this in mind, we created out Valentine’s Day Shop with specially curated collections. Now, finding the perfect piece of jewelry for your special someone is easier than ever. Below, we’ve selected some of our favorites from the best collections. To visit the Valentine’s Day Shop click here.

1. Her Heart’s Desire

If you are unsure exactly what to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day, then your safest bet is to choose a trending piece of jewelry that’s proven its long-lasting value. You should choose an item that is not only highly desired today, but one you can be sure will in fashion for years. For a piece that fits this description, you will want to look at the icons of a brand. We suggest a piece from the Cartier Love collection, like a Love ring or Love bracelet. Any item from the Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra collection, like a necklace, bracelet or ring, is also a safe bet.

These items will also retain their value better than many other trending designers. Another secure choice is a Bulgari Serpenti item, like a bracelet or ring. Finally, at a lower price point, you can’t go wrong with an item from David Yurman’s cable collection, like this neutral, hematite and sterling silver cable bracelet. You can view more examples from our curated collection here.

2. Let Love Shine

If you wish to truly convey your love this Valentine’s Day, then there’s no better way than to spell it out — in diamonds. The dazzling gemstone has been a symbol of love throughout history, so it’s no wonder that jewelers use the stone in love-inspired collections. The Happy Diamond collection is Chopard’s most popular jewelry collection, inspired by feminine cheer and freedom. Spell out the love with Happy Diamonds and you have the perfect gift for your Valentine.

For more subtle professions of love, diamond jewelry featuring a heart motif is a great option, like this Piaget heart-shaped pave diamond ring, this Carrera y Carrera bangle, or this Cartier C heart ring. For more diamond jewelry that will surly steal her heart, check out the rest of the collection here.

3. A Few of Our Favorite Rings

If you wear your heart on your sleeve, then your loved one should wear it on their finger. The heart is the most forward symbol of love, and its interpretation in jewelry is almost universal. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a heart motif edition that fits your Valentine’s style or is from their favorite jeweler.

For the simple and understated style, we love this purple-toned rings from Kabana and this coral cabochon heart ring. For the woman with a bolder style who likes to make a statement, we love this Bulgari amethyst ring. Finally, for the woman with a more adventurous style, this Roberto Coin pink enamel and diamond ring is the perfect choice. For a few more of our favorite rings, you can view the rest of the collection here.

4. From New York With Love

It’s difficult to find a gift more romantic than one from Tiffany & Co — no one’s ever been disappointed by a little blue box. The jewelry company has produced some of the most iconic love-inspired jewelry known. From Tiffany engagement rings to heart tag necklaces and bracelets, Tiffany jewelry is the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift.

You can gift her a classic Elsa Peretti Open Heart pendant necklace or a gorgeous heart charm bracelet. If you are looking for something more unique than ubiquitous, you can easily find something colorful and charming like this lapis lazuli necklace. Finally, you can give her the key to your heart with this sweet key ring pendant. For more Tiffany & Co. jewelry, you can view the rest of the collection here.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we know you won’t want to be scrambling for the average last-minute gift. Treat your significant other to something special this year. If you can’t decide just what to get your special someone, don’t worry — we put together a simple gift guide to help. Check out the perfect gifts for him or her no matter the budget. If you see something you like below, click on the image to see the item. You can also check out our Be True Valentine Shops for more gifting inspiration.

Gifts for Her

Under $2,000

If you are looking for a gorgeous gift that won’t break the bank, we have plenty of trendy options. There are certain budget-friendly pieces that we see selling faster than anything else. If your special someone loves a serious stack, then a David Yurman cable bracelet is the perfect choice. For a woman who loves to add a bit of color to her look, Hermes bangles are the way to go. If you aren’t quite sure what to get, then there are some classics at this price point. You can’t go wrong with Valentine-friendly heart tag from Tiffany & Co. or classic Chanel CC earrings.

Under $10,000

If you have a bit more stretch in your budget, then you do have many more fine jewelry options. Our best-selling piece on TrueFacet, hands-down, is the Cartier Love bracelet, especially in yellow gold. The Love bracelet carries the perfect symbolism of love and devotion for Valentine’s Day too! Other favorites include Bulgari rings. The B.Zero1 ring is perfect for the woman with a modern style. For the classic style, you can’t go wrong with a string of pearls from Mikimoto. Finally, for the practical woman, consider a Rolex ladies Datejust.

Over $10,000

If you plan on spending over $10,000 this Valentine’s Day, then you will want to buy a piece that will hold its value and quality through the years. You should buy from a jeweler that is known for quality and craftsmanship. Chopard has the Happy Amore collection that’s perfect for a Valentine. Jewelers like Cartier and Bulgari have their own icons — the panther and serpent, respectively. These are gifts that won’t go unnoticed and unappreciated. Finally, Van Cleef & Arpels is one of the finest French jewelers, and any item from the Alhambra collection makes the perfect, romantic gift.

Gifts for Him

Under $2,000

Men’s gifts are always gifts of practicality and at a price point under $2,000 there’s no lack of options. A Van Cleef & Arpels money clip is the perfect gift for a man who finds himself at formal events often and needs something less bulky than a wallet. Gucci cufflinks are also a great gift for the formal man who appreciates designer fashion. For the active man, a sports watch is perfect and Breitling and TAG Heuer are two of our best-selling watch brands for men at this price point.

Under $10,000

If your budget is a little higher, then there are even more options for novelties and esteemed brands. For a quirky edition to a formal outfit, a unique tie bar makes a great statement, like this Cartier paper clip tie bar. For an understated touch that speaks to classic taste, a set of Patek Philippe cufflinks is perfect. For the watch enthusiast, a Rolex Submariner is a staple for any watch collection and our best-selling watch model of any brand. Finally, for a more formal watch, the IWC Portofino is a quality dress watch.

Over $10,000

At this price point, you will be able to find a truly remarkable and long-lasting piece, whether its a watch or cufflinks. These Cartier Panthere cufflinks will truly standout with gem-set onyx and emerald features. Even better, these beautiful cufflinks will hold their value relatively well as an item from an iconic Cartier collection. At this price point, watch choices become truly extraordinary. For a sporty man who likes a vintage look, Panerai makes exceptional timepieces and the Luminor is a Panerai enthusiast favorite. Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet are, without question, two of the top watchmakers in the world. Timepieces, especially the the best-sellers, will be sure to please anyone and maintain or increase in value over time. Patek Philippe Calendar models are classic dress watches while the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is a eye-catching sports watch.

The Salon International de la Haute Horologie, or SIHH, is watch industry event closed to the public, that showcases the cutting edge of design and technology in the watch industry. The watches are always extravagant and over-the-top, a different kind of watch than the ones found at Baselworld. We looked to the classic Swiss watch companies to see how the historical business are interpreting modern watchmaking. Check out what’s new from the top watchmakers in the industry below.

1. Cartier

The world-renowned French jeweler, brought the fine art techniques of haute jewelry to the watchmaking business this year at SIHH. With six new releases, Cartier demonstrated its artistic and mechanical prowess. The watchmaker released a skeletonized version of their new Cle de Cartier watch model and a rose gold version of the unique Crash. The Cartier Crash is a unique design with a movement that is specifically created for the odd case shape.

Cartier took the Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon a step further by adding a meteorite dial for a striking effect and another release of the Rotonde de Cartier Day/Night Retrograde Moon Phase. The watchmaker released other artistic and mechanical endeavors including gem-set Panthères Et Colibri with an animated dial. Pressing down the crown cases a smaller panther to appear beneath the larger and a hummingbird to complete an arc motion. Cartier made use of the panthere motif again with a gem-set panther wrapped around a mystery dial.

2. Audemars Piguet

At SIHH Audemars Piguet’s most impressive release was the Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie which features the fruits of extensive acoustic research from the brand. Minute repeaters are typically quiet or need to be held to the ear to hear, but not this Royal Oak. This watch is about 10 times louder than the average minute repeater. The watchmaker also released a Royal Oak with a double balance wheel, one wheel stacked on top of the other, making the watch much more accurate.

The brand, for the most part, focused primarily on producing variations of the Royal Oak. The watchmaker released a brightly-colored collection of Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronographs. The diver and the chronograph editions of the Royal Oak Offshore are two of the most popular selections from AP, and they decided to combine the two with this release. The collection comes in four colors: green, orange, yellow and blue.

3. Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger Le-Coultre celebrated the 85th anniversary of their classiv Reverso this year at SIHH. The Reverso is the most iconic and varied model from the watchmaker and this year JLC added more to the list. First, the released the classic Reverso in three sizes — small, medium and large. They also released two new versions of the Classic Duo in rose gold or stainless steel.

The watchmaker also added two new Reverso models to their Tribute collection. First, the Reverso Tribute Duo which has a larger case at 42mm and two time zones on two sides with a day/night indicator. Finally, they released the Reverso Tribute Calendar. On the front the watch features the day, month and date with a moonphase indicator. The back features a second timezone along with a day/night indicator.

4. A. Lange & Sohne

A. Lange & Sohne also celebrated an anniversary — the 200th anniversary of the company’s founder. In honor of this anniversary, the watchmaker released seven new models. The watchmaker improved upon one of their important models, the Datograph. The stop times are accurate within one-fifth of a second, which is a personal best for the company. They only released 100 special editions of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon.

This year was the year of the moonphase and A. Lange & Sohne added their own to the selection. The new Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase features a luminous dial that was achieved by a sapphire crystal dial that’s thin enough to let UV light in. Only 200 were made. Finally, the watchmaker released their thinnest model with the Saxonia Thin. The case is only 5.9mm, features a simple dial and comes in 18k white or rose gold.

Photo Credit: horologyme.com / timeandwatches.com / monochrome-watches.com / hodinkee.com / ablogtowatch.com