Rolex
Submariner no date 2 Lines - Paper Set

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner reference 14060M, 2002 Y-series example supplied with its original Rolex papers, 40 mm stainless-steel Oyster case, black no-date dial with luminous hour markers and Mercedes hands, so-called “2-line” configuration carrying the SUBMARINER and 1000 ft = 300 m inscriptions, central seconds, unidirectional rotating bezel with black aluminium 60-minute insert, sapphire crystal, screw-down Triplock crown protected by crown guards, screw-down Oyster caseback, original water resistance rated to 300 metres, stainless-steel Oyster bracelet with Fliplock clasp and diving extension, Rolex calibre 3130 automatic mechanical movement, frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, 31 jewels, approximately 48-hour power reserve after full winding, reference produced from 1999 to 2012, watch inspected and authenticated by the Mostra workshop, accompanied by a Mostra Certificate of Authenticity and covered by Mostra’s 3-year warranty.

“Some watches become more complicated as history accumulates around them. The no-date Submariner follows the opposite path: the more one knows its history, the more justified its simplicity appears. A bezel, three hands, a black dial, no date and an Oyster case capable of going underwater. From the first Submariners of the 1950s to this 2002 14060M, almost everything evolved, yet the essential idea remained intact: build a watch that is legible, robust and balanced enough to become as naturally a diving instrument as an everyday watch.”

The 2002 Rolex Submariner 14060M Y-series belongs to one of the most appealing generations of five-digit Rolex watches because it sits exactly between the historic Submariner and the modern watch. Its 40 mm case, aluminium bezel insert, relatively light Oyster bracelet and black no-date dial preserve the presence of the great twentieth-century Submariners, while sapphire crystal, 300-metre water resistance and especially the calibre 3130 provide thoroughly modern mechanical architecture. The Y-series belongs to the beginning of the 2000s and the original papers of this example firmly place it in 2002, when the 14060M still retained its so-called “2-line” dial, without the chronometer wording added later. That restraint is now one of the main attractions of the reference.

The story begins in the early 1950s, when Rolex transformed the Oyster case into a genuine underwater instrument. References 6204, 6205 and 6200 established the foundations: black dial, large luminous markers, rotating bezel and screw-down crown. The 6538 and 5510 continued the evolution, then the 5512 and 5513 permanently established crown guards and the classic silhouette of the no-date Submariner. At the end of the 1980s, the 14060 succeeded the 5513 with sapphire crystal and water resistance increased to 300 metres without disturbing the design. The 14060M, introduced in 1999, then adopted calibre 3130: it became the direct heir to the purest Submariners while mechanically entering the twenty-first century.

This lineage is explored in the major Mostra Magazine feature devoted to the history of the Rolex Submariner, from the earliest 1953-1954 references to the current generations. The 14060M represents the final major five-digit no-date Submariner, with its classic 40 mm case and aluminium insert, before the Cerachrom-bezel 114060 and then the contemporary 124060. It also naturally belongs within Mostra’s “Legendary Watches” editorial universe: few references illustrate the continuity of Rolex design so clearly. The feature also examines dials, calibres, reference variations and authenticity criteria: https://www.mostra-store.com/en/magazine/rolex-submariner

The black no-date dial lies at the heart of this identity. On this 2002 example, the “2-line” presentation leaves generous space beneath the hands: only SUBMARINER and 1000 ft = 300 m, without the two “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” lines that appeared on the final 14060M watches from 2007 onwards. This difference profoundly changes the balance of the dial and explains the particular appeal of the early 14060M. Luminous hour markers, Mercedes hands and the absence of a date window create perfect symmetry; the absence of a Cyclops magnifier leaves the sapphire completely clear and strengthens peripheral readability. Underwater or in everyday life, nothing distracts from the hours, minutes and bezel: the Submariner returns to its most functional expression.

The unidirectional rotating bezel still carries a black aluminium insert, now inseparable from the charm of neo-vintage Rolex watches. Visually finer than modern ceramic, aluminium can also evolve over time and acquire a tone unique to each example. Its 60-minute scale measures elapsed time and its one-way rotation follows the safety principle of diving watches. The 40 mm Oyster case, Triplock crown and screw-down caseback contribute to an original water-resistance rating of 300 metres. On a watch from 2002, any present-day immersion should naturally depend upon a recent pressure test; yet this architecture explains why the 14060M remains so easy to live with, having been designed to withstand far more than an ordinary day will usually demand.

The stainless-steel Oyster bracelet continues that sensation. Lighter and more flexible than the bracelet of contemporary Submariners, it uses a Fliplock clasp and a diving extension originally intended for wear over a wetsuit. This lightness, sometimes surprising after a six-digit Rolex, is now part of the appeal of five-digit references: the watch slips beneath a cuff, remains comfortable all day and works as naturally with denim as with a shirt or jacket. The 14060M possesses the rare quality of a genuine tool watch that became a classic without losing its original function: one can know its history in detail and still end up choosing it simply because it is extraordinarily easy to wear.

Inside is the Rolex calibre 3130, a decisive evolution from the calibre 3000 used in the previous 14060. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4 Hz, contains 31 jewels and provides approximately 48 hours of power reserve after full winding. Automatic winding maintains energy through wrist movement and hacking seconds allow precise time setting. On early 14060M watches such as this Y-series example, the dial does not yet display chronometer certification; the characteristic four lines only appeared from 2007 onwards. This “2-line” period therefore combines the best of both worlds: calibre 3130 is already present while the dial retains the restraint of earlier Submariners. Modern mechanics behind a face that remained faithful to the great historic references.

The presence of the original Rolex papers significantly strengthens the interest of this example. More than twenty years after its first sale, they maintain a direct link with the watch’s original life and provide valuable traceability on a five-digit Submariner. They do not make the watch a Full Set if the box and all period accessories are not present, but they are a genuine collector element. A 14060M should always be assessed as a complete object: case and lug geometry, dial and hands, bezel insert, bracelet, possible service components, quality of previous interventions and documentation. On these references now entering neo-vintage territory, the coherence of the individual watch often matters as much as its serial number. Choosing this 2002 Rolex Submariner 14060M Y-series from Mostra means benefiting from more than forty years of experience in collectible watches, our highly regarded integrated watchmaking workshop in Aix-en-Provence and one of the largest selections of high-end pre-owned watches in the South of France. Our workshop examines the case, lugs, bezel and insert, “2-line” dial, hands, sapphire crystal, Triplock crown, Oyster bracelet, original papers and overall coherence; calibre 3130 is checked for rate, amplitude, automatic winding, hacking seconds and power reserve. Mostra’s verified customer reviews carry a 5-star rating, and this Submariner is supplied with its original Rolex papers, a Mostra Certificate of Authenticity and our 3-year warranty. The 2002 14060M ultimately captures the same story told in Mostra Magazine’s Submariner feature: a watch born as a diving instrument, transformed into a legendary watch without ever needing to add anything beyond the essentials — three hands, a black bezel, forty millimetres of steel and the freedom to wear it almost anywhere.