Debuting in 1953 and released to the public the following year, the Rolex Submariner has undoubtedly become one of the most iconic timepieces of all time thanks to its legendary status as Rolex's flagship dive watch. Used extensively by the British Royal Navy and professional diving operations like COMEX, the Submariner set the bar for all dive watches to follow. Featuring a genuinely timeless design that has remained relatively unchanged throughout its history, the Rolex has become the archetypal sports watch. With very few large-scale aesthetic upgrades made to it over the years except for timely advancements like introducing a date function to the collection in the late '60s, and its modern cerachrom bezels, the Submariner is seen as the prototypical dive watch thanks to its consistency. The Submariner has earned its status as a legendary watch, with it today remaining as one of the most sought-after timepieces around.

Released in 2012 and discontinued in 2020, the Rolex ref. 114060 introduced three new design elements to the Submariner's pure and heritage-consistent "No-Date" collection in the way of its Maxi-Case, Maxi-Dial and cerachrom bezel. While retaining the 40mm case design of its predecessor, the ref. 14060, the ref. 114060's lugs were thicker and as such its case was substantially beefed up in accordance with contemporary tastes. Furthermore, its Maxi-dial featured larger hands and hour markers that filled its dial better than the smaller plots used for the ref. 14060 and provided increased legibility. Finally, the ref. 114060 also introduced the virtually-unscratchable cerachom bezel insert to the Submariner "No Date" collection following two years of its exclusive use in the Submariner Date collection. All larger steps to modernize the Submariner, the ref. 114060 marks a turning point in the Submariner's lineage whereby Rolex has made steps to appeal to modern and contemporary tastes in a heritage-focused collection.