To find some explanation for this we need to turn to the modern day watch booklets. If you look at the most recent booklet for the Explorer watch you will clearly see two different Explorer II models pictured. The main picture is of the most recent 16570 model, but the watch that is used to demonstrate the crown settings and 24 hour function is clearly the earlier model 16550. This model ceased production in approximately 1989, nearly 12 years ago. Therefore, if Rolex are using stock photographs now, it is plausible they were using them back in the 1970’s

However, a discrepancy to the 66-73 production run which is far more difficult to explain comes from the replies of Red Submariner owners. A great majority date their watches to the 66-73 period. Yet, there are some owners that comment that their watches have a 5 or 6 million serial number and this would put production somewhere in the late 1970’s. They have confirmed that they are first owners so the possible excuse that their watches have either had a dial or case change sometime in their lives is discounted.

As it stands at the moment the one explanation I can give, if we are to hold with the 6 year production run, is tenuous. At this time Rolex were not producing their own dials, they bought them in from other manufactures. It may be possible that these manufactures made a batch of dials to the original specifications, stored them away only to rediscover them latter. They were subsequently sent out to Rolex who used them, as they were perfectly good submariner dials, and hence the late serial numbers. I said it was tenuous!

Another possible explanation that has been mentioned by other collectors, and one far more credible, is that different geographic markets were supplied with slightly different specified watches. The only way to know for any certainty is to know the original county to which these watches are supplied. Information that at this time that I do not possess.

Another question that is asked is to do with the depth rating on the dial. Owners and prospective buyers ask what importance is there to the way this is set out. Initially, I concluded that the earlier models carried the format of putting the meters first and at about 1969 this was reversed with the feet coming first. I say initially as only last month I came across a Red Submariner that showed the depth rating with the meters first, however the serial number of the watch indicated a production date of 1973.

As to the reason for the format difference are two possible explanations. The first being that having the larger number first gives the watch the appearance of being more suitable for deep diving. As Rolex are always aware of their marketing they may have seen this public conception early in the Red Submariner production and altered their dial accordingly. A second possible explanation may be that the depth ratings were subject to regional variations. Certain countries may have preferred their measurements in metric as opposed to imperial.

The last question is why did Rolex produce the red writing Submariner at all. The red Submariner was not the first or last red line Rolex to have been produced. There have been early Datejusts, early Explorer dates, the initial batch of single and double red Sea-Dwellers and the current full size Yacht-Master. Perhaps it was to commemorate the introduction of a new model, but this is just a hunch. What I have been able to find out was one explanation of why the change from red to white. The reply to this question was,

‘No special reason, they just did’

How much credence I can give to this explanation is debatable. Probably as much as I give to my own!