New York Fashion Week kicked off on Feb. 11 and we have been on the lookout for the biggest, boldest and most beautiful jewelry from the events. It’s time to prepare for the fall and winter fashion seasons, so check out some of our favorite looks from the best jewelry fashion designers.

1. Lulu Frost

Lulu Frost is a NYC-based jewelry company featuring the designs of Lisa Salzer. Her jewelry is known for its particular combination of modern and vintage aesthetics and this was abundantly clear during her NYFW presentation of Frost’s fall/winter collection. The elaborate and futuristic designs featured retro and art deco motifs for a unique look that we are excited to see in the fall and winter seasons.

2. Eddie Borgo

Eddie Borgo’s pieces for the fall/winter fashion seasons are a colorful nod to the autumnal shades and a vintage color palette. The spike design gives these warm shades a cool edge. We think these pieces will add an edge to a daytime look or pair perfectly for an evening outfit. We can’t wait to see more from the fall/winter collection.

3. Creatures of the Wind

Creatures of the Wind went with the futuristic vibe of the NYFW jewelry trends. There were no frills from the designer, but that didn’t mean the jewelry couldn’t make a statement. Bold and clean lines and large baubles made for simple designs with a strong look. We see this as a serious trend to look out for in 2016.

4. Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony filed in step with Creatures of the Wind. In 2016, the future is now. The collection had the appearance of a retro depction of what the future will look like. The clean and rigid lines of the clothing were complimented by the spiraling metal motifs of the collection’s accessories.

5. Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang is known for the youthful attitude of his eponymous fashion line. His designs feature a punk vibe reminiscent of the ’80s and ’90s clubwear. The jewelry to compliment the fashion is edgy metal chains, buckles, collars and horse bits cuffs. This is a fashion easy enough to mimic even if you want to tone down the edge — just had a chainlink necklace in silver-toned metal to add a bit of attitude to your everyday look.

Photo Credit: lulufrost.com / wwd.com / vogue.com

Harry Winston is one the most acclaimed jewelers in the business and counterfeiters understand the demand! Many online retailers and dubious diamond dealers are willing to pass off replica goods as the real thing. Don’t get fooled during your next purchase — keep reading to learn how to spot a fake.

1. Examine the Quality

The first step to examining a questionable watch or piece of jewelry is to examine the quality of the piece. There are some things easy enough to see, even to the untrained eye. Since Harry Winston pieces are made by some of the best jewelers in the world, the quality metal, gems and quality of the craftsmanship will always be high quality.

Often, some of the most obvious indicators that a piece is fake are obvious spelling errors. Examine any writing on the watch carefully for a misspelled word, like “Hary Winston” or “Harry Winsten,” etc. Also look for sloppy fonts or misaligned writing.
Next, look at the edges of the metal, particularly where the metal comes in contact with the the skin. If the metal is discolored and exposes another color underneath then the piece is likely fake. Look out for a patina on the piece as well as Harry Winston does not typically use silver.

For watches, examined the edges where pieces connect. Harry Winston watches are not glued together, so if you spot any adhesive, then it is likely that the piece is inauthentic. Examine the genuine watch from the manufacturer online or in person. Thoroughly compare that everything looks the same as the original. If you can examine the real watch in person, then compare the weight. Many counterfeits will use cheaper, lighter materials.

2. Inspect Jewelry + Watch Markings

Next, look on the inner part of the piece to find the jewelry markings. There should be markings for the metal content, the maker’s mark and serial number. Check that the stamps are clear and clean. If they appear sloppy, then there’s a chance the piece if fake. Then, check that the metal content stamp is consistent with the piece. If you bought a platinum piece, but the metal content is marked 18K, then this is a red flag.

Finally, look for a serial number engraved on the piece. You can call the manufacturer to see if the piece you have matches the serial number. Keep in mind that even if the serial number matches, your piece could still be counterfeit. Many times counterfeiters will use a real serial number repeatedly.

3. Compare Prices

You should look online at trusted sites for competitive pricing. Also look at the original price directly from Harry Winston so you know you aren’t overpaying. Many times, a counterfeiter will price their items far below the market price to entice buyers. If a price seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

4. Examined the Seller

Next, thoroughly examined the person you are buying from. If the seller has a storefront, then research for reviews online. If you cannot find any reviews, then be wary of the seller. If you doubt the authenticity of the reviews, then it’s best to avoid the seller.

If you are buying online, then you will also want to find reviews of the site. Also examine the website. Check that you typed the URL correctly. Often, a counterfeiter will have a URL and site design similar to legitimate sites. Also check every page on the site. Sometimes, illegitimate sites will not have completed each page of the site like the “About Us” page. Look for the seller’s location. If the seller is from Asia, be careful. Most of the fakes imported to the US originate in China. Finally, make sure there is a clear return policy and warranty information. A legitimate site should offer these.

5. Ask a Trusted Jeweler

In end, these tips will only help you spot a fake, but not determine authenticity. As the counterfeiting industry grows, fake pieces become harder to catch. Someone untrained in jewelry and watch appraisal won’t be able to guarantee authenticity. To be sure your piece is the real deal, take your item to a trusted jeweler.

At TrueFacet, we guarantee the authenticity of every item sold. Our gemologists and watch experts examine each item that comes through the office with a multi-point appraisal process. Each piece comes with a TrueFacet appraisal report and certificate of authenticity. Each item also comes with a 7-day return policy. If you have further questions regarding TrueFacet’s authentication process, contact our concierge representative here.

Photo Credit: hautetime.com / langantiques.com

Our wardrobe is a physical manifestation of the self. Charismatic personalities tend to wear bright, vibrant colors. While a scholar might wear something muted, preferring gray and black tones, perhaps with an accent scarf. The jewelry we wear only adds to the figure we want to represent to the world. There are those who are fine wearing a faux-gold statement necklace to work; believing no one is the wiser. Then there are individuals who, when given the choice, will wear a fine piece of Tiffany & Co. jewelry. The untrained eye may not be able to tell real gold from its facsimile, but you certainly can.

At TrueFacet, we love providing our clientele with genuine luxury jewelry pieces. Check out some unique and refreshing Tiffany & Co. jewelry pieces below.

18K Yellow Gold Peridot Ring

Tiffany & Company’s Peridot Ring is simple in design without lacking luster. The yellow gold peridot with its smooth finish and opalescent green stone can be dressed up or down with just a wardrobe change. Perfect for daywear or night, Tiffany & Company’s design has stood the test of time; evolving to match the tastes of the contemporary woman while maintaining its organic integrity.

Schlumberger Taj Mahal Earrings

Inspired by the ornate decoration of the domes that top the Taj Mahal, jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger created this earring set to grace the earlobes of a woman with distinguishable character. Designed for the individual with unpierced ears, these clip-on earrings feature collet set round dazzling diamonds with elaborately inlaid black enamel. This 18K yellow gold and diamond design twinkles in the light.

18K Yellow Gold, Diamond and Ruby Bee Brooch

The symbol of honor, order and sacrifice, the bee is a creature who strives for perfection. Its natural gifts of flight and dance evoke a state of gratitude and wisdom. Tiffany’s diamond and ruby bee brooch is textured in the Byzantine fashion with red enamel wings, cabochon ruby eyes and a brilliant back pave-set with natural round diamonds. Worn beautifully on a blazer lapel or dark sweater, the bee brooch pops with color and shines with radiance.

Sterling Silver and Enamel Money Clip

Functional in design and attractive to the eye, Tiffany & Company’s money clip is smart and stylish. The inlaid black and red enamel against the sterling silver finish plays with abstraction and order. The red enamel rectangles sitting diagonally in pairs of two create movement in what could have been a static space. The vertical black enamel lines separating the playful red rectangles from their single elongated counterparts freezes the motif while at once bringing it to life.

For the last century, Tiffany & Company has changed the jewelry world with their genius designs. Here at TrueFacet we work tirelessly to make sure each of its pieces are in its original, exquisite shape. Explore our Tiffany & Co. jewelry offerings today on our online jewelry marketplace.

Founded in 1932, Harry Winston, Inc. is a younger jeweler compared to many established brands that are well known across the world. Over his lifetime, founder Harry Winston continued to grow and shape his famed jewelry house into one of the most respected in the world. His dedication, passion and unique approach to his business allowed him to build a brand that’s become synonymous with elegance and glamour. Keep reading to learn about the history of Harry Winston.

In 1935 Winston began his famous collection of impressive gemstones. He purchased his first important diamond, the Jonker, a diamond weighing 726 carats, uncut. This stone yielded 12 jewelry grade diamonds when cut, the largest a 125.35 emerald cut gem.

A few years after his first big purchase, Winston demonstrated his very personal dedication with a journey to find what would later be known as the Vargas diamond. Harry Winston was highly involved in his company, taking to the ground to build its reputation himself. In 1938 Winston learned of a 726.60 carat diamond found in Brazil. He immediately set across the world to find the massive stone. He traveled by boat and plane to track down the diamond and finally found and purchased it before any other jeweler in the world could make an offer.

It seems that every notable jeweler needs an innovative gemstone setting technique. For Harry Winston, it was diamond clusters. With this technique, the diamonds would dictate the setting and not the other way around as typical with gem setting prior.

Harry Winston started another jewelry trend in 1944 when he became the first jeweler to lend diamonds to celebrities for the red carpet. He lent diamonds to actress Jennifer Jones to accept her Best Actress award at the Academy Awards. Ever since, celebrities take stunning pieces to the red carpet and Harry Winston became known as “jeweler to the stars.”

The jeweler was still in pursuit if important and historical diamonds and in 1949 acquired the Star of the East and the famous Hope Diamond. By 1952 it was believed that Harry Winston had the second largest collection of historical gemstones, second only to Crown Jewels of the British royal family. Though in 1958, Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institute to start their historic National Gem collection.

Winston continued to grow the company and expanded internationally to Switzerland and France. He also maintained his relationship as celebrity jeweler and important gem collector. No other example of this is more obvious than with his purchase and sale of a diamond for Elizabeth Taylor, known as the Taylor-Burton Diamond.

At the age of 82, Harry Winston died in 1978, but his legacy continues today. Winston’s son too control of the company and expanded the company further, with locations in Asia and a new watch collection. The watch collection has grown with headquarters in Switzerland, the watchmaking capital of the world. The Harry Winston gemstone collection has also continued to grow with the purchase of a diamond that would become the Winston legacy diamond in 2013 and the Winston Blue in 2014, the largest known blue diamond.

Photo Credit: 77diamonds.com / harrywinston.com / smithsonianscience.si.edu / swissclassicwatches.com

Harry Winston became the “Jeweler to the Stars” in 1944 when he became the first jeweler to loan diamonds to an actress to wear on the red carpet.

Best Actress Jennifer Jones created a sensation and heightened the level of Hollywood glamour when she attended the Academy Awards in Harry Winston diamonds. This became a watershed moment for Harry Winston and the awards show, transforming it from a comparatively modest celebrity fete into the lavish and dazzling affair it is today.

Harry Winston remains the go-to choice for celebrities to borrow the brilliant jewels they wear to awards shows. Here are TrueFacet’s 10 favorite red carpet looks from Harry Winston.

10. Rosario Dawson — 2015

In February 2015, actress Rosario Dawson attended the amfAR New York Gala, sponsored by Harry Winston. As one of the night’s honorees, Dawson wore a stunning pair of Harry Winston Sunflower Cascading Diamond Earrings that would later be auctioned by Harry Winston to benefit amfAR’s HIV/AIDS cure research. Dawson’s diamond chandelier earrings were set in platinum and totaled 29.59 carats. She also wore an 18.65 carat radiant-cut yellow diamond ring set in yellow gold and platinum.

9. Jennifer Lopez — 1999

Jennifer Lopez wore the Winston Cluster by Harry Winston, Diamond Wreath Necklace to the 1999 Oscars where she presented the award for Best Original Song. The brilliant necklace features a dazzling array of pear-, marquise- and round-cut diamonds, totally a jaw-dropping 100 carats. The diamond cluster earrings weighed in at an impressive 10 carats. Lopez paired her stunning jewels with a Badgley Mischka gown.

8. Coco Rocha — 2015

Supermodel Coco Rocha attended the 2015 amfAR New York Gala, sponsored by Harry Winston. The model, who was well into her third trimester at the time of the fundraising event, wore a deep red mermaid-style dress, designed by Zac Posen. To accessorize her elegant gown, Rocha wore a 62-carat cluster diamond necklace and 6.11-carat cluster diamond earrings.

7. Amal Clooney — 2015

Amal Clooney attended the Golden Globes in 2015 with her husband George Clooney. The awards show was the recently wed couple’s first Hollywood red carpet event. Amal wore a one-shoulder Dior Haute Couture dress—complete with a flowing cape—and a pair of white elbow-length gloves she had sewn herself. To accentuate her gown’s unique neckline, Amal wore a pair gorgeous 29.62-carat cascading drop earrings from Harry Winston’s Deel Collection.

6. Madonna — 1991

Madonna attended and performed at the 1991 Oscars. On the red carpet, Madonna channeled Marilyn Monroe with her platinum hairdo, a slinky Bob Mackie gown, white elbow-length gloves, and a white fur stole. And in true Monroe fashion, Madonna wore piles and piles of Harry Winston diamond jewelry, an estimated $20 million worth of diamonds.

During her performance of her nominated song “Sooner or Later” from the Dick Tracey soundtrack, Madonna removed and dramatically flung one of her priceless earrings into the crowd. To the immense relief of the entire Harry Winston staff, she wore replicas for the number.

5. Helen Mirren — 2016

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Trumbo, Dame Helen Mirren attended the 2017 Golden Globes in an elegant Badgley Mischka gown with a plunging neckline. Mirren wore three pieces from Harry Winston: an 83.72-carat Secret Cluster diamond necklace, 19.58-carat Secret Cluster diamond bracelet and 12-carat cluster diamond earrings. Mirren’s Harry Winston jewelry was worth an estimated $1 million.

4. Julie Andrews — 2001

At the 2001 Oscars, Julie Andrews wore the same jewelry she wore in her role as Queen Dowager Clarisse Renaldi in the final scene of The Princess Diaries. The Harry Winston four-row bib diamond necklace and diamond drop cluster earrings were worth half a million dollars.

3. Natalie Portman — 2012

Actress Natalie Portman wore a red and black polka dot-covered vintage Christian Dior dress to the 2012 Oscars. She completed her look with a Harry Winston v-shaped diamond cluster necklace and a pair of 5.76-carat oval-shaped diamond drop earrings.

2. Jessica Alba — 2013

Actress Jessica Alba attended the 2013 Golden Globes in show-stopping Oscar de la Renta trumpet gown in a playful melon hue. But her remarkable dress actually paled in comparison to her extravagant Harry Winston jewelry. Alba wore a Mrs. Winston by Harry Winston diamond necklace worth an incredible $5.8 million. The necklace, which totaled an awe-inspiring 187.5-carats, included 407 baguette-, round brilliant-, pear- and marquise-shaped diamonds. She also wore a pair of Harry Winston diamond stud earrings, set in platinum, and a Harry Winston pear-shaped diamond cluster ring.

1. Elizabeth Taylor — 1970

Elizabeth Taylor was a prolific admirer of fine jewelry so it should be no surprise that she tops our list of the 10 Best Harry Winston Red Carpet Moments. While her vast private collection included a variety of Harry Winston jewels, the most iconic and best-known of them is the Taylor-Burton Diamond. A gift from husband actor Richard Burton who paid a whopping $1.1 million for it, the famous diamond was cut by Harry Winston and weighed in at a staggering 69.42 carats. Taylor wore the diamond to the 1970 Oscars with a down-to-there powder blue dress by Edith Head.

To learn more about this lavish gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor, read our post “5 of History’s Most Expensive Jewelry Gifts” here.

Photo Credit: whowhatwear.com / womenshealthmag.com / purepeople.com / fashionstylemag.com / professionaljeweller.com / gotceleb.com

Jewelry has the power to change the way we perceive ourselves and how we look at the world. When we surround ourselves with striking and magnificent things, we in turn share that beauty with the world. Bulgari has long been a jewelry company greatly esteemed for its unwavering attention to detail and design aesthetic. Worn by women of such majesty as Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana, Bulgari has designed lasting testaments in the grand tradition of craftsmanship.

Bulgari rings, necklaces or bracelet bring their own flavor to the wearer, never wearing the same way twice. You are an original, so why not wear a Bvlgari piece as original as you are?

Bvlgari 18K White Gold Band Ring

Immediately recognized as a classic Bvlgari ring with its three-row band design and its one-of-a-kind central mobile part created using the Tubogas technique, wearers of this piece appreciate this white gold band’s minimalist look. Stamped with the Bvlgari insignia, this gorgeous piece of the Bulgari jewelry collection is as stunning as it is masterful.

18K Rose Gold Green Marble Band Ring

As a luxury jewelry connoisseur, you recognize the artistry that goes into making a beautifully well-crafted Bulgari statement piece. Bulgari’s Rose Gold Green Marble Band Ring pops with its verdant, natural color and gleams with Bvlgari-stamped gold. While this ring can be dressed up for cocktail hour or dressed down for the morning’s board meeting, it will never be “just another fashion fad.” This Bvlgari ring exudes elegance and a pinch of panache.

18K Pink Gold Blue Marble Band Ring

Designed with Bulgari’s Tubogas Montre de Marque, the Pink Gold Blue Marble Band Ring shimmers like the starry night sky. The pink gold balances the sapphire blue of the stone with an exotic blend of hues that give a glowing light of warmth. This Bulgari ring demonstrates the supremacy of a gold statement piece.

Tondo Sun Sautoir 18K Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Long Necklace

From Bulgari’s Tondo Collection, the Tondo Sun Sautoir is an immaculate, dazzling long necklace designed in 18K yellow gold with a stainless steel accent in a delicate, polished finish. With an imagined sun setting at the center of the pendant, the necklace’s wearer carries a sunbeam with her wherever she goes, be it to a late night soiree or her child’s holiday pageant. Stamped with Bulgari’s seal of approval, the Tondo Sun Sautoir necklace represents the design perfection Bulgari is so championed for today.

Rose Gold and Coated Steel Cuff Bracelet

This elegant bracelet brings poise and candor to its wearer. With its 18K rose gold and carbon coated steel, the sleek design of the bracelet is as timeless as it is trend setting. The Bulgari bracelet lends itself to the refinement and sincerity of the wearer, capturing her integrity and ingenuity.

No matter which finger you choose to don your Bulgari ring on, or which necklace you choose dazzle the evening in, you’ll have the added bonus of sending whatever message you choose to in the classic Bulgari style. Shop Bulgari rings and jewelry today with TrueFacet.

The Omega Seamaster may be most quickly recognized as the “James Bond watch,” but the watch’s history dates back to 1948 when it debuted in celebration of Omega’s 100th anniversary. The model was an immediate hit and became the brand’s best seller. Today it remains the oldest model in Omega’s current collection. We look back at the long history of this fan-favorite Omega watch.

Omega Seamaster’s Original Design
Jumping back a little bit: in 1932, Omega debuted its Marine watch which was worn by the “father of modern diving” Yves Le Prieur, a French navy officer and inventor of the modern scuba mask and tank. Later, in 1936, explorer Charles William Beebe wore the Omega Marine watch while riding in a bathysphere (which was an unpowered sea submersible that was lowered into the ocean via a cable) to a depth of 14 meters off the coast of Bermuda. So by 1948, Omega was a brand well-respected for its robust divers’ watches, and it further bolstered that reputation with the introduction of the Omega Seamaster.

The first Omega Seamaster was modeled after the waterproof wristwatches made for and worn by the British military during World War II. What distinguished the Seamaster from its diving watch predecessors was its O-ring gasket which improved its water-resistance. Previously water-resistant watches relied on lead or shellac gaskets which were easily affected by temperature changes like those a diver would experience at various depths. Omega turned to the submarines used during WWII for inspiration and included a resilient rubber gasket in the Seamaster’s final design. This new case remained intact at depths up to 60 meters and temperature ranges between -40 degrees and 50 degrees Celsius.

Omega engineers was so confident of the Seamaster’s durability, they attached one to the outside of an aircraft and flew it over the North Pole in 1956.

The Seamaster 300
In 1957, when scuba diving was the en vogue sport, Omega rolled out a trio of Master watches: the Speedmaster, the Railmaster and the Seamaster 300. Unlike its predecessor, the Seamaster 300 was designed for underwater use. Ironically, however, the Seamaster 300 could only dive to depths of 200 meters which Omega claimed was due to equipment limitations, not the watch’s limitations.

And continuing the tradition of Omega as the go-to watch for divers, famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau’s team wore Omega Seamaster 300 watches during their 1963 Conshelf II experiments in the Red Sea. Over the span of three increasingly longer dives, Cousteau aimed to prove man could live and work on the sea floor.

James Bond’s Watch
By the mid-1990s, Omega Seamaster had fallen slightly out of popularity, giving way to new iterations like the Omega Seamaster Professional, a new fan-favorite. However the Omega Seamaster 300 received a major boon when it was selected as the James Bond watch. Although James Bond’s author Ian Flemming included a Rolex watch in his novel and even wore a Rolex himself, Omega pushed Rolex out of the film as the costume designer noted Omega was more historically relevant to the British Royal Navy and, in turn, the James Bond character.

Therefore, Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond wore an Omega Quartz Seamaster Professional 300 in the film Golden Eye in 1995. For the next three Bond films, Brosnan sported the Omega Seamaster 300 Automatic Chronometer in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002).

When actor Daniel Craig was cast as the next James Bond for 2006’s Casino Royale, he wore an Omega Seamaster 300 and Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean with a rubber strap for the action scenes. Craig donned a Seamaster Planet Ocean again for Quantum of Solace (2008) and a Seamaster for Skyfall (2012). In celebration of the 24th Bond film, Spectre (2015), and a 20 year-long partnership with the Bond franchise, Omega released the special edition Seamaster 300 Spectre which harkened back to the original Bond Seamaster.

The 2012 London Olympics
In 1948, the same year as the Omega Seamaster’s debut, Omega was the official time keeper for the London Olympic Games. When the Olympics returned to London in 2012, Omega released a special edition Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial London 2012. Only 1,948 watches were produced. While the dial looks like a classic Seamaster, the back of the case is yellow gold, stamped with the jaggedly-shaped London Olympics 2012 logo.

The Omega Seamaster 300 60th Anniversary Limited Edition
At Basel in 2017, Omega debuted their 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Omega Seamaster which pays homage to the original Seamaster (Ref. CK2913) which was released in 1957. This commemorative Seamaster looks nearly identical to the original with nearly indiscernible updates to the material: markers made in SuperLuminova instead of radium and durable aluminum for the bi-directional bezel in lieu of acrylic. Internally the automatic watch relies on the advanced caliber 8806 whereas the original used caliber 501. And with a keen attention to detail, Omega gave the dial a faux-tropical finish for a rich vintage look.

With a rich history and sleek design, it’s easy to see why the Omega Seamaster continues to be a fan-favorite and holds its position as the oldest model in the brand’s current collection.

Photo Credit: wristchronology.com / scubawatch.org / bestmangear.com

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