Though I now have more questions than ever about this clock, the big questions that linger are: why the Submariner, and why develop a Secular Calendar clock of all things? I suppose it would be easy to just dismiss both curiosities by saying it’s just Rolex being Rolex, but I actually think these two elements of this new clock kind of contradict each other. On one hand, making an analog-digital secular quartz mechanism just to make the date window of a Submariner accurate on a clock without monthly adjustment does seem like an incredibly Rolex sort of move.
But, on the other hand, choosing the iconic dive watch as the design basis, without having its associated water resistance or functioning unidirectional dive bezel, does stand out as purely form over function for a design straight out of the Professional lineup. I would have thought the brand would have designed a desk clock around one of the more elegant silhouettes to feel more at home — can you imagine a secular calendar Day-Date, or a time-only 1908?
As this is Rolex’s first execution of such an intense take on a desk clock, I’d very safely assume we might see more variations down the line. I’m just praying we’ll get to see the Sky-Dweller and its annual calendar GMT dial display get its time in the spotlight.