As one of the leading producers of custom rubber watch straps for luxury timepieces, Rubber B strongly believes in the importance of horology education. This stance includes making sure that our valued clients are aware of what kind of luxury watches are currently available on the market, and how they may compare and contrast with one another.
Oftentimes, this will result in us undergoing a form of brand comparison, where we will take two watches from two separate brands that are comparable and looking at them from a technical and aesthetic standpoint, as well as further examining their retail price and how they retain value over time.
For this blog, we will be focusing on two timepieces from some of the most respected Swiss watchmaking companies in the world: IWC and Rolex. As their names both imply, the IWC Aquatimer and the Rolex Submariner are both diving watches and are primarily meant for use by those with an active lifestyle. However, when looked at more closely, it is clear that there are some significant differences between these two timepieces.
What Do You Need to Know About the IWC Aquatimer?
The IWC Aquatimer is IWC’s most well-known entry in their collection of dive watches, and while the design of its most current iteration was inspired by such things as the Porsche Ocean and the original Aquatimer watch, there is no denying that this watch was intended to be IWC’s answer to the Rolex Submariner, which had debuted a full decade beforehand, in 1953.
The IWC Aquatimer is encased in stainless steel and measures 42 mm in diameter. This is notable because most luxury sports watches do not exceed 41 mm in diameter, so it is interesting that IWC chose to make this model a bit larger than the industry average. However, the watch still has a very svelte appearance, and it does not wear “heavy,” making it versatile enough to be used in both the boardroom and the living room.
The IWC Aquatimer uses a 30120 Calibre, which is both automatic and self-winding and has a power reserve of 42 hours. It vibrates at a frequency of 28800.0 vph and is comprised of 163 components and 21 jewels. This timepiece is water-resistant for up to 30 bars, which makes it one of the more water-resistant timepieces currently available on the marketplace.
What Do You Need to Know About the Rolex Submariner?
Among many in the watch collecting world, the Rolex Submariner is considered to be the “gold standard” when it comes to diving watches. It is one of the most popular watches in the world, and as such, has inspired many legal homages, and illegal counterfeits, since it was initially debuted.
The Rolex Submariner measures 41 mm and is made from Rolex’s trademark Oystersteel material, which is known for its durability and elegant finish. This timepiece is powered by the 3235 calibre, which is perpetual, mechanical, and self-winding. It has a 70-hour power reserve and is waterproof for up to 1,000 feet, which makes it capable of being used in extreme diving conditions.
How Do the IWC Aquatimer and Rolex Submariner Compare in Terms of Pricing?
One of the most notable places where these two timepieces differ is in terms of their pricing. The IWC Aquatimer is priced at around $5,400, while the Rolex Submariner is priced anywhere between $7,500 and $8,550, depending on where you purchase it from. Also, in terms of retaining value over time, IWC watches fair a bit better in terms of maintaining their value than Rolex timepieces do, though this is in no way a reflection on the quality of the timepieces themselves and more a reflection of the marketplace at large.
Are You In Need of a Custom Rubber Watch Strap For Your Luxury Timepiece? Visit Rubber B Today
If you are looking for a custom rubber watch band for your IWC or Rolex timepiece, Rubber B has a plethora of different color patterns and styles to choose from. To peruse our complete product catalog, simply visit our website today for more information.
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