This week, in a typical world of vice, graft, and general societal discombobulae, at least according to the way our media outlets present it, I took a moment of blessed solitude to sift through the goings of the watch universe. In doing so, I was pleased to see a certain story which completely transcended one very recognizable and coveted luxury watch, and struck touchingly into broader issues appreciated by humanity at large. As it turns out, Keanu Reeves had added a horological twist to his well-known generosity and humility in success, by treating the five members of his “John Wick 4” stunt team to a special and very personal gift: individually engraved stainless steel Rolex Submariner Dates, in the revised 41mm version the brand unveiled in 2020. It was his way of thanking and commemorating each of the men involved in helping the John Wick character achieve ultimate realism, and by all accounts, the gesture was received by the recipients in the way you might expect: a lot of joy, a little bit of disbelief, and most certainly, considerable gratitude for the opportunity to experience not just a phenomenal timepiece, but a sense of belonging with an exceptional team of performers engaged in a project larger than each of them. The precious and utterly unexpected gift unified the group in that satisfying moment, and the Rolex watches they all buckled on that day with Mr. Reeves will hopefully connect them in an unspoken, yet profound way for years to come, no matter where their careers and life circumstances may ultimately take them.
By all accounts, Keanu Reeves lives very modestly and humbly, despite his considerable fortune as one of the biggest earners in Hollywood; philanthropy is a passion he has spoken quietly of, although again, never in a way which aggrandizes himself. The same can be said for his generosity to others, which certainly didn’t start with these Submariner watches. One senses perhaps that Keanu the individual probably cares little what type of watch he wears, and if there are any preferences, they are his and his alone to enjoy quietly and discreetly. Yet, the well-circulated image below shows his palpable joy and satisfaction at creating–and sharing in–a communal experience with his team of close associates. It’s safe to say that the watches being sized and put on have gone far beyond being “just another” 126610 Submariner Date…as if such a thing were possible in the current days of never-ending Rolex AD wait lists, and grey market prices of astronomical height.
Many watches could have been chosen, from Rolex or other esteemed brands. But why Rolex, and why the Submariner model specifically, within the diverse Oyster range? Despite its current hype, the Submariner is one of the world’s most honest and steadfast sports watches, remaining true to the design which first saw the light of day in 1953, with only subtle evolution as the decades progressed. For many years, it has seen stalwart service on the wrists of men of action around the world, from those who needed the watch to keep them alive below the waves, to others who simply required a good tool to stay punctual to business commitments. Due to the Submariner’s much more reasonable price then–even accounting for the greater buying power of the dollar–it wasn’t just socialite bigwigs, stars, and magnates who wore them. Indeed, it and other Rolex models were available even through military retail channels, and frequently saw service on the wrists of Marines, soldiers, sailors, and others going in harm’s way. Individuals of this breed, and others like them, genuinely needed and appreciated a watch which was both accurate and tough enough to withstand the elements, and Rolex had established a reputation around those virtues that was all but ironclad; within the range of Oyster models, how could one resist the tough suaveness of the Submariner, which could just about as easily slide beneath a tailored cuff as it could below fatigues or over a wetsuit, the shrieks of sartorial harpies concerning proper dress etiquette be damned. Hell, even the archetypal James Bond, Mr. Sean Connery himself, relied on a Rolex Submariner, as did more than a few other Bonds who followed in the role of 007. If he could wear one with wetsuit or tuxedo alike, well…why can’t we? Few watches have defined versatility like the Rolex Submariner, a true companion for all seasons.
Rolex’s current iteration, now slightly enlarged to 41mm from the classic 40mm (but well balanced in that increase by a 1mm larger lug width expansion) got our attention in 2020, but the formula’s magic hadn’t changed. This newest Submariner Date which “The John Wick Five” will sport, bore all the sleek charm of its predecessors. The only difference was, now it was materially all but perfect in its shining inky black Cerachrom bezel, sleek, slimmed down lugs, a perfected Glidelock clasp for precise, incremental sizing and, of course…a state-of-the-art Rolex 3235 caliber movement ensconced securely within, offering the latest in Rolex watchmaking technology and performance. Again, as before, the icon of all icons is ready to take on the decades to come, just as the classic four, five, and early six digit models had…and often still do on the wrists of long-wearing owners worldwide.
I think we’re getting somewhere here. The Rolex Submariner perfectly reflected the qualities of these top stunt men: tough, capable, utterly reliable under pressure, yet necessarily elegant when need be. No, I don’t think Keanu could have possibly chosen a better watch for his team to commemorate the spirit of John Wick, and while I can’t divine his thought process…I’m quite certain the Submariner wasn’t chosen by accident. Wisdom lived, wisdom shared, wisdom worn. There are a lot of watches out there to buy, sell, and trade, but friendships, life milestones, and close associations? Those are much rarer, often fleeting, and truly unique. To unify both in one such moment is very cool indeed, and made me think about what keeps a watch (or watches) truly irreplaceable. The watch itself is part of it, but unless the piece is a Philippe Dufour, George Daniels, or something similarly rare or unique, there will be others out there like it–and probably more than you’d rather consider. To me, it is the context in which a certain watch came to be on your wrist, and what it symbolizes as an extension of self, that gives it lasting power in a collection…even if that “collection” happens to be a cherished only watch. At the end of the day, it is the experiences and people attached to our watches which make them vessels far beyond an overpriced conglomerate of tiny parts. Intangible experiences of life passing, achievements fulfilled, tragedies worked through and overcome, and dreams yet unrealized…all unified and connected, by the very tangible quality of a beautiful watch that stays joined to our wrists through it all. We should all be so lucky to mark our most precious asset…Time…with something like this. And to that vision of horological philosophy, I give a hearty cheers to Keanu and his team!