The Infamous Rolex Submariner Anchors
By: John B. Holbrook, II
September 21st, 2005

Sometime in 2005, a long standing Rolex tradition came to an end: Rolex stopped shipping the famous Rolex Anchor with the Submariner and its variants. For many years, Rolex included a small key-ring like, miniature anchor with every Submariner. Much has been written about these anchors over the years - no one is sure exactly what these little trinkets included with the Submariner are good for. Some collectors use them as Christmas tree ornaments, while others hang them from necklaces or car rear view mirrors. They don't seem to serve any useful purpose, which is perhaps why Rolex after decades is no longer producing them. Who knows? Maybe in the next 10-20 years they'll be a coveted Rolex collectors item. Here's a guide to the anchors which were last produced by Rolex:

The standard Submariner anchor: The silver anchor below is the most common, as it was included with the stainless steel and two tone Submariner variants - note the water resistance rating. The rating is shown in meters on one side, and in feet on the other.

Now here's the anchor which was included with the Sea-Dweller. It's identical to the one above, with the exception of the water resistance rating displayed - it matches the higher depth rating of the Sea-Dweller.

Now here we have the final anchor variant - it's gold plated (painted?) and is included only with the all gold Submariner models. Note the water resistance rating is consistent with the Submariner at 300 meters.

One of the biggest questions for Rolex collectors at this point is, "how do I know if my watch should or should not have an anchor included?" Unfortunately, there's no easy answer. The transition seems to have taken place mid-way through the F series production, and perhaps coincided with the introduction of the new Rolex box and packaging released around the same time. A good, general rule of thumb is, if your Rolex Submariner or Sea-Dweller has the new style packaging, then it probably won't have the anchor.

It should be noted that vintage Submariners with a water resistance rating of only 200 meters came with anchors that had "200 meters water resistant" printed on them.

However you choose to buy your nautical jewelry, you will be pleased if you buy quality. Selections include bracelets and earrings, and can be combined with promise rings to create a complete set.