This was my son’s birth-year watch—and the one that taught me it’s okay to let go.

What It Means to Pass Something Down

The Submariner—a watch I never thought I’d own. That is, until I had a son.

Something shifts when you become a parent. You start thinking about legacy. Not just the intangible stuff—values, character, memories—but the tangible things that can carry a story forward.

When my son was born in 2019, I wasn’t deep into watch collecting yet. But a few years later, once the itch fully set in, I found myself drawn to the idea of a birth-year watch—something timeless that could be his one day.

I didn’t go hunting for it right away. I just kept noticing the same watch showing up in my mind: the Rolex Submariner.

The Watch That Kept Finding Me

I was no longer the carefree, spend-money-on-experiences, live-with-no-regrets kind of guy.
Well—I still am, in some ways. But a few weeks after he was born, I started feeling something new.
A sense of mortality.

I assume that’s a common reaction. But in the back of my mind, I knew I needed to start building some kind of legacy. And sure, 90% of that is about integrity, personality, character. But I also felt this small pull toward something material. A token. A future heirloom.

I wasn’t really into collecting watches when he was born in 2019. But not long after, I had the resources—and the itch—to start. I didn’t go hunting for a birth year watch. I just started looking for watches that resonated with me.

And honestly, I still think that’s the best way to build a collection.
You need to feel something when you look at the watch. When you wear it.
You need to connect.

I’ve bought and sold plenty of watches without that connection. This one was different.

The Watch That Kept Showing Up

Throughout my journey as a watch enthusiast, dive watches have always made up the bulk of my interest—and my collection. But I started to notice a pattern: every dive watch I bought, I compared to the Submariner. Either I was justifying why I chose it instead of the Submariner, or I was quietly proud that I hadn’t gone with the obvious choice.

“I don’t need a Sub—I’ve got a Sea-Dweller.”

And honestly? I still think the Sea-Dweller is the raddest dive watch Rolex makes.

But somewhere along the way, that resistance started to fade.
Not because the Submariner changed—but because I did.

I wasn’t chasing the edgiest diver or the deepest spec sheet anymore.
I was looking for something timeless. Something versatile.
Something I could picture my son wearing years from now—without needing to explain why it was special.
It just was.

That’s when the Submariner started to make sense.

Choosing the 114060

I believed this was the perfect birth year watch for my son—something that would stand the test of time. A true GADA watch. One I could wear, build memories in, and eventually pass down to him.

I quickly refreshed my memory on the reference for the 2019 no-date Submariner and began the hunt. Like most good watch hunts, it wasn’t linear. It was a mix of research, second-guessing, comparison tabs, and a few “is this the right one?” moments.

Buying from a Stranger, Trusting the Seller

I found Todd through the Rolex Forums. He had his 2019 114060 listed for sale, and I reached out.

I’ve got a lot of respect for the Rolex Forums. I’ve met some great sellers there. But if you’re not on it regularly—or don’t know who the trusted names are—it can feel a little intimidating. It takes time to learn how to navigate the feedback threads, verify sellers, and figure out who’s legit.

Todd was kind enough to jump on a FaceTime call, and within the first few minutes, I knew I could trust him. That’s one of the best parts of this hobby—when you find good people behind the watches.

The Rush of the Unboxing

For someone with an addictive personality, the amount of dopamine that drops when a watch gets delivered is… dangerous. There’s just nothing like it—getting the box, opening it up, seeing the watch for the first time.

But when I opened this one, I felt an immediate connection.
It checked every box I wished my other dive watches had—but didn’t.

The jet-black dial. The ceramic bezel. That perfect bezel action. The fit? Incredible.

Side by side with my Sea-Dweller, the 114060 definitely looked bigger—especially in the case shape and lugs. The square profile was noticeable, and I’ll admit, I had a flicker of doubt.

Maybe the proportions aren’t quite right.
Maybe I should’ve gone with the current model instead.
Maybe I just made a mistake.

But I still loved the watch. And I told myself I’d give it time.

Living with the Submariner 114060

After wearing the watch for a few months, my perception has shifted.

To me, this might be the most unapologetically toolish Submariner Rolex has ever made. And as a tool watch guy at heart, I love that. There are echoes of the Sea-Dweller and even the Tudor Pelagos in here. It’s 40mm—but it wears bigger. It feels planted, serious, capable.

I loved my Pelagos FXD because it was a purpose-built tool watch through and through. And while comparing titanium to steel is apples to oranges, the Sub brings a different kind of energy. It’s got shine. It’s got presence. And that added refinement makes it feel just as at home in a nicer environment—which makes it more versatile in a real-world, everyday kind of way.

Are there Submariners with “better” proportions? Sure.
Are these dimensions polarizing? Definitely.
But in 2019, this was the Submariner—part of an era where Rolex was leaning into more robust, masculine design language. And I think there’s something really cool about that aligning with the year my son was born.

But Then Something Shifted

As much as I respected the watch, I couldn’t ignore one thing: it just wore big on me.

The case continued to feel broad, the lugs squared, the proportions slightly off for my wrist. And while that’s part of what drew me to this reference it ultimately was the driving force that kept me unsettled. I kept telling myself I’d adjust, but deep down I knew I was romanticizing it—the idea of the Submariner being the perfect dive watch, however the 114060 was not perfect for me.

Letting Go

Selling a watch tied to my son’s birth year wasn’t easy.
I wrestled with it for weeks. But I also knew the story doesn’t disappear when you sell the watch—it just changes form.

That Submariner taught me that legacy isn’t about ownership; it’s about intention. It helped clarify what kind of collector—and father—I want to be. Someone who values meaning over status, curiosity over perfection, and connection over convention.

And maybe one day, when my son’s old enough, I’ll tell him about the perfect watch I bought the year he was born—and why I let it go.

Because sometimes the things we pass down aren’t objects.
They’re lessons.

Specs

Brand: Rolex
Model: Submariner 114060
Year: 2019
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Rolex Cal. 3130 automatic
Bezel: Black ceramic, unidirectional
Crystal: Sapphire
Bracelet: Oyster with Glidelock
Water Resistance: 300 meters