Reference:14060M: Difference between revisions

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Not an accident of timing. The 16610, the date Submariner sibling, had already modernized in stages:

* '''2001~~''':~~ 16610 lost its stamped end links (replaced by SEL — Super End Links)

By 2001 the 16610 had lost its stamped end links, replaced by SEL (Super End Links). In 2003 the 16610 lost its drilled lug holes.

* '''2003~~''':~~ 16610 lost its drilled lug holes

The 14060M kept all four old-line features until 2012. Collectors who want the last expression of the original Submariner specification, with modern caliber and sapphire crystal, have only one option.

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A key internal split exists within the 2-liner era: early 2-liners (before ~2003) have lug holes; later 2-liners do not. This creates a sub-hierarchy that collectors track. The earliest 14060M examples — lug holes present, 2-line dial, 93150 bracelet — sit at the top of the reference’s desirability ladder.

~~'''~~Serial band approximations for the 2-liner era~~''' (~~collector-documented, not Rolex-confirmed):

Serial band approximations for the 2-liner era are collector-documented, not Rolex-confirmed. Lug holes are present roughly from the X series through early F series (introduction ~2000 through ~2003), and removed from approximately the F series (~2003) — the same period the 16610 lost its lug holes. A 14060M with an F or later serial and lug holes present is unusual and worth verifying against the physical case. The engraved rehaut transition point is disputed: some collector sources place it at approximately the D series (~2005–2006), while Rolex Forum documentation places it at mid-Z serial (~2006–2007). Earlier 14060M examples — Y, F, and early serials — have a smooth, unengraved rehaut. The engraving appears from approximately the D-to-Z serial band onward depending on the source consulted.

* '''Lug holes present~~''': approximately~~ X series through early F series (introduction ~2000 through ~2003)

* '''Lug holes removed~~''':~~ approximately F series (~2003)~~. The lug hole removal on the 14060M tracks~~ the same period as the 16610. A 14060M with an F or later serial and lug holes present is unusual and worth verifying against the physical case.

* '''Engraved rehaut ~~introduced''': this~~ transition point is disputed~~. Some~~ collector sources place ~~the engraved rehaut~~ at approximately D series (~2005–2006), while Rolex Forum documentation places it at mid-Z serial (~2006–2007). Earlier 14060M examples — Y, F, and early serials — have a smooth, unengraved rehaut. The engraving appears from approximately the D-to-Z serial band onward depending on the source consulted.

These serial band ranges are collector approximations. Rolex produced movements in batches; individual watches near any transition may not fit the expected specification.

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From mid-2007, Rolex submitted the 3130 for COSC certification. The dial gained two extra lines: SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER and OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED. The inner rehaut received the repeating ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX engraving with the serial number at 6 o’clock. The bracelet had by now upgraded to the 93250 with solid end links (SEL) and an Oysterlock clasp.

~~'''Serial band~~ for the COSC 4-liner~~'''~~ (~~collector-approximated,~~ not Rolex-confirmed): COSC certification was added to 14060M dials from approximately mid-2007. Multiple sources place this in the M serial range. Rolex Forum documentation places the 2-liner to 4-liner transition at the Z serial range (~2006–2007), earlier than the M-serial estimate found in other collector literature. Both positions are documented — the discrepancy likely reflects Rolex’s batch production practices, where individual transition points vary by example. A 14060M with a serial in the M band or later (M, N, V series — 2007 onward) is almost certainly a 4-liner COSC example. Earlier serials — Y, F, D — are almost certainly 2-liners. Serials in the Z band fall near the transition and could be either. When in doubt, read the dial directly. The 4-liner is unambiguous.

Collector-approximated serial bands for the COSC 4-liner (not Rolex-confirmed): COSC certification was added to 14060M dials from approximately mid-2007. Multiple sources place this in the M serial range. Rolex Forum documentation places the 2-liner to 4-liner transition at the Z serial range (~2006–2007), earlier than the M-serial estimate found in other collector literature. Both positions are documented — the discrepancy likely reflects Rolex’s batch production practices, where individual transition points vary by example. A 14060M with a serial in the M band or later (M, N, V series — 2007 onward) is almost certainly a 4-liner COSC example. Earlier serials — Y, F, D — are almost certainly 2-liners. Serials in the Z band fall near the transition and could be either. When in doubt, read the dial directly. The 4-liner is unambiguous.

The 4-liner still retains the aluminum bezel and the non-Maxi case profile — two of the four defining old-line characteristics. It offers modern anti-counterfeiting features (engraved rehaut, laser-etched crystal crown) alongside the last aluminum-bezel no-date Submariner specification.

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Flat sapphire crystal, no Cyclops. Triplock screw-down crown with three sealed zones for 300m water resistance.

The rehaut divides the reference into two visible generations:

The rehaut divides the reference into two visible generations. 2-liner examples (2000 through mid-2007) carry a plain, smooth inner rehaut. 4-liner examples (mid-2007 through 2012) are engraved with repeating ROLEX text and a serial number at 6 o’clock.

* 2-liner (~~2000–mid~~-2007): plain, smooth inner rehaut

* 4-liner (mid-~~2007–2012~~): engraved with repeating ROLEX text and serial number at 6 o’clock

The case back is solid steel with fluted edges and no engravings — a feature Fratello specifically noted as vault-like in the original review.

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== Secondary market notes ==

Fratello’s 2016 review placed the 14060M at approximately ~~'''~~$5,000 to over $7,000~~'''~~ at that time. A historical data point from December 2016, not current market conditions — but it establishes the reference’s accessible pricing at its own moment. Higher-end examples were often NOS (new old stock) held by speculators toward the end of production.

Fratello’s 2016 review placed the 14060M at approximately $5,000 to over $7,000 at that time. A historical data point from December 2016, not current market conditions — but it establishes the reference’s accessible pricing at its own moment. Higher-end examples were often NOS (new old stock) held by speculators toward the end of production.

~~The market splits along the 2-liner / 4-liner divide:~~

# The ~~'''~~2-liner~~'''~~ trades at a premium, driven by collectors who want the last clean-dial, plain-rehaut Submariner~~. Early~~ examples with lug holes carry the highest premium within this group.

The market splits along the 2-liner / 4-liner divide. The 2-liner trades at a premium, driven by collectors who want the last clean-dial, plain-rehaut Submariner — early examples with lug holes carry the highest premium within this group. The 4-liner trades at a discount relative to the 2-liner but offers modern anti-counterfeiting features, COSC certification on the dial, and solid end links.

# The ~~'''~~4-liner~~'''~~ trades at a discount relative to the 2-liner but offers modern anti-counterfeiting features, COSC certification on the dial, and solid end links.

Both versions trade below the 114060, which has the ceramic bezel and Glidelock bracelet. The 14060M is often described as the last Submariner that wears like a tool watch rather than a luxury piece — aluminum bezel, slim case, and (on early examples) lug holes and stamped bracelet hardware.

@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 Not an accident of timing. The 16610, the date Submariner sibling, had already modernized in stages:
-* '''2001''': 16610 lost its stamped end links (replaced by SEL — Super End Links)
+By 2001 the 16610 had lost its stamped end links, replaced by SEL (Super End Links). In 2003 the 16610 lost its drilled lug holes.
-* '''2003''': 16610 lost its drilled lug holes
 The 14060M kept all four old-line features until 2012. Collectors who want the last expression of the original Submariner specification, with modern caliber and sapphire crystal, have only one option.
@@ Line 117: / Line 116: @@
 A key internal split exists within the 2-liner era: early 2-liners (before ~2003) have lug holes; later 2-liners do not. This creates a sub-hierarchy that collectors track. The earliest 14060M examples — lug holes present, 2-line dial, 93150 bracelet — sit at the top of the reference’s desirability ladder.
-'''Serial band approximations for the 2-liner era''' (collector-documented, not Rolex-confirmed):
+Serial band approximations for the 2-liner era are collector-documented, not Rolex-confirmed. Lug holes are present roughly from the X series through early F series (introduction ~2000 through ~2003), and removed from approximately the F series (~2003) — the same period the 16610 lost its lug holes. A 14060M with an F or later serial and lug holes present is unusual and worth verifying against the physical case. The engraved rehaut transition point is disputed: some collector sources place it at approximately the D series (~2005–2006), while Rolex Forum documentation places it at mid-Z serial (~2006–2007). Earlier 14060M examples — Y, F, and early serials — have a smooth, unengraved rehaut. The engraving appears from approximately the D-to-Z serial band onward depending on the source consulted.
-* '''Lug holes present''': approximately X series through early F series (introduction ~2000 through ~2003)
-* '''Lug holes removed''': approximately F series (~2003). The lug hole removal on the 14060M tracks the same period as the 16610. A 14060M with an F or later serial and lug holes present is unusual and worth verifying against the physical case.
-* '''Engraved rehaut introduced''': this transition point is disputed. Some collector sources place the engraved rehaut at approximately D series (~2005–2006), while Rolex Forum documentation places it at mid-Z serial (~2006–2007). Earlier 14060M examples — Y, F, and early serials — have a smooth, unengraved rehaut. The engraving appears from approximately the D-to-Z serial band onward depending on the source consulted.
 These serial band ranges are collector approximations. Rolex produced movements in batches; individual watches near any transition may not fit the expected specification.
@@ Line 130: / Line 125: @@
 From mid-2007, Rolex submitted the 3130 for COSC certification. The dial gained two extra lines: SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER and OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED. The inner rehaut received the repeating ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX engraving with the serial number at 6 o’clock. The bracelet had by now upgraded to the 93250 with solid end links (SEL) and an Oysterlock clasp.
-'''Serial band for the COSC 4-liner''' (collector-approximated, not Rolex-confirmed): COSC certification was added to 14060M dials from approximately mid-2007. Multiple sources place this in the M serial range. Rolex Forum documentation places the 2-liner to 4-liner transition at the Z serial range (~2006–2007), earlier than the M-serial estimate found in other collector literature. Both positions are documented — the discrepancy likely reflects Rolex’s batch production practices, where individual transition points vary by example. A 14060M with a serial in the M band or later (M, N, V series — 2007 onward) is almost certainly a 4-liner COSC example. Earlier serials — Y, F, D — are almost certainly 2-liners. Serials in the Z band fall near the transition and could be either. When in doubt, read the dial directly. The 4-liner is unambiguous.
+Collector-approximated serial bands for the COSC 4-liner (not Rolex-confirmed): COSC certification was added to 14060M dials from approximately mid-2007. Multiple sources place this in the M serial range. Rolex Forum documentation places the 2-liner to 4-liner transition at the Z serial range (~2006–2007), earlier than the M-serial estimate found in other collector literature. Both positions are documented — the discrepancy likely reflects Rolex’s batch production practices, where individual transition points vary by example. A 14060M with a serial in the M band or later (M, N, V series — 2007 onward) is almost certainly a 4-liner COSC example. Earlier serials — Y, F, D — are almost certainly 2-liners. Serials in the Z band fall near the transition and could be either. When in doubt, read the dial directly. The 4-liner is unambiguous.
 The 4-liner still retains the aluminum bezel and the non-Maxi case profile — two of the four defining old-line characteristics. It offers modern anti-counterfeiting features (engraved rehaut, laser-etched crystal crown) alongside the last aluminum-bezel no-date Submariner specification.
@@ Line 187: / Line 182: @@
 Flat sapphire crystal, no Cyclops. Triplock screw-down crown with three sealed zones for 300m water resistance.
-The rehaut divides the reference into two visible generations:
+The rehaut divides the reference into two visible generations. 2-liner examples (2000 through mid-2007) carry a plain, smooth inner rehaut. 4-liner examples (mid-2007 through 2012) are engraved with repeating ROLEX text and a serial number at 6 o’clock.
-* 2-liner (2000–mid-2007): plain, smooth inner rehaut
-* 4-liner (mid-2007–2012): engraved with repeating ROLEX text and serial number at 6 o’clock
 The case back is solid steel with fluted edges and no engravings — a feature Fratello specifically noted as vault-like in the original review.
@@ Line 224: / Line 216: @@
 == Secondary market notes ==
-Fratello’s 2016 review placed the 14060M at approximately '''$5,000 to over $7,000''' at that time. A historical data point from December 2016, not current market conditions — but it establishes the reference’s accessible pricing at its own moment. Higher-end examples were often NOS (new old stock) held by speculators toward the end of production.
+Fratello’s 2016 review placed the 14060M at approximately $5,000 to over $7,000 at that time. A historical data point from December 2016, not current market conditions — but it establishes the reference’s accessible pricing at its own moment. Higher-end examples were often NOS (new old stock) held by speculators toward the end of production.
-The market splits along the 2-liner / 4-liner divide:
-# The '''2-liner''' trades at a premium, driven by collectors who want the last clean-dial, plain-rehaut Submariner. Early examples with lug holes carry the highest premium within this group.
+The market splits along the 2-liner / 4-liner divide. The 2-liner trades at a premium, driven by collectors who want the last clean-dial, plain-rehaut Submariner — early examples with lug holes carry the highest premium within this group. The 4-liner trades at a discount relative to the 2-liner but offers modern anti-counterfeiting features, COSC certification on the dial, and solid end links.
-# The '''4-liner''' trades at a discount relative to the 2-liner but offers modern anti-counterfeiting features, COSC certification on the dial, and solid end links.
 Both versions trade below the 114060, which has the ceramic bezel and Glidelock bracelet. The 14060M is often described as the last Submariner that wears like a tool watch rather than a luxury piece — aluminum bezel, slim case, and (on early examples) lug holes and stamped bracelet hardware.