Understanding The Rolex Submariner

A silly question that we get asked quite a bit here at HODINKEE is, "What is the best watch?" Sure, I get why people ask it and what they're getting at, but it's impossible to say anything is "the best" when you're dealing with something as subjective and personal as wristwatches. What you like aesthetically, the history that's meaningful to you personally, and the idiosyncrasies of how you live your life all impact that answer of that question. However, there's a similar question that we also get asked a lot, for which I do think there are a few good answers: "What is the most important watch of all time?" The Rolex Submariner is a pretty darn good answer. It's not the only answer, but it's one that I find tough to argue with.