The Rolex he protected even during a robbery in Italy. Looking back on his encounter and memories

FEATURES Other Information

2024.12.05

Rolex

Soichiro Matsuzaki, publisher of the watch magazine Chronos Japan, looks back on a watch he has a special attachment to. That watch is a Rolex. What is the one watch that he kept even after being robbed in Italy and having his underwear exposed?

Photos and text by Soichiro Matsuzaki
Photographs & Text by Soichiro Matsuzaki
[Article published on January 3, 2024]

My Encounter with Rolex

　The first Rolex I bought was a Submariner Ref. 16610LV. It was the first model with a green bezel, released at Baselworld in 2003 to commemorate the Submariner's 50th anniversary, and cost less than 60 yen. I had been covering the Basel Fair (later Baselworld) since 1995, but for a long time, the Rolex booth was off-limits to anyone except for a select few media outlets, so I was thrilled when I was finally allowed in. Until then, I had only ever looked at the new models on display in the booth's showcase until I was about to burst a hole in my eye.

This was the first Rolex I ever bought, the Submariner Ref. 16610LV. The dial may look green, but it's actually black. I bought it 21 years ago and have used it quite a bit, so there are scratches on the case and some looseness in the bracelet. The unidirectional rotating bezel rotates every 120 clicks, but it's quite heavy, likely due to lack of maintenance. Automatic movement (Cal. 3135). 31 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 48 hours. Stainless steel case (40mm diameter). Water resistant to 300m. Discontinued.

　At the time, I was working for a small publishing company that published magazines such as Esquire Japan, and although the pressure of being appointed as an executive at age 34 and as president at age 42 was immense, I remember that the company was doing relatively well, as I managed to repay several hundred million yen in debt (which I hadn't borrowed myself). I worked myself to death, but money was all I could think about, so during the Heisei era, I was nicknamed "Zenimeter."

The bracelet is particularly prone to scratches. With scratches this small, it might be a good idea to polish it, but the brick-like clasp design of this era is no longer found on current models, so I hesitate to polish it.

With memories of being robbed in Italy

　After leaving Esquire in 2004, he traveled to Germany several times for a contract to publish the Japanese edition of Chronos (Editor's note: Matsuzaki originally started publishing in Japan in partnership with the German magazine Chronos (now WatchTime)), and he also traveled to Italy and the Netherlands for fun.

　It was during this time in Naples, Italy, that I encountered my first watch robbery. The target was the aforementioned Ref. 16610LV. When I got off the express train in summer Naples, the tourists were staring at me with a stubborn gaze. The cheap hotels had no air conditioning, and the city was charming but dangerous. I wandered into a forbidden Spanish district hoping to take some photos, and was attacked by a robber on the day I arrived in Naples.

　In a scuffle, I fell to the ground, and the neighborhood wives screamed and cried out in delight as the robber quickly fled. Luckily, I managed to keep my Submariner on my wrist. Panicked, I took off my watch and put it in my front trouser pocket, and just as I was about to leave the Spanish quarter, the same robber attacked me again. There was another scuffle, several bicycles fell over, and the neighborhood wives screamed and cried out in delight. I thought they'd taken my watch in the second attack, but it had gotten stuck deep in my pocket and was safe. However, in the scuffle, my trousers were ripped to shreds, and I was left completely exposed in Naples.

Rolex Submariner 16610LV

Rolex's Glidelock extension system was introduced with the DeepC-Blue in 2008, but it wasn't available when I first bought the 16610LV. Now that I'm in my 60s and my wrists have gotten thinner, I'm not happy with the loose fit, but I'm not sure if simply removing one link would improve the situation, or if there are half links like in the Nautilus.

　On the express train back to Florence from Naples, where I had just had such a terrible experience, the husband of the Italian couple sitting in front of me kept staring at my Submariner. He must have been staring for about 30 minutes. Unable to bear it any longer, he asked, "Where did you buy that watch and how much did it cost?" This question made me realize once again that Italians love Rolex.

　Later, I started a company to publish the Japanese edition of Chronos, but I didn't have enough money so I sold my watches. I kept the Submariner that hadn't been stolen, though. I still have it today.

My current favorite Rolex

My current favorite is the current Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date, Ref. 126619LB. The unidirectional rotating bezel rotates at 120 clicks. It moves with a much lighter touch than the "Green Sub," so it can sometimes slip out of place. The "Green Sub" has an aluminum bezel insert, while this one is ceramic. While the colors are different, the color reproduction is noticeably improved. I also like the blue hue, which is difficult to achieve with fabrics or accessories, for its slightly chemically unpleasant quality. With global warming in Tokyo, the blue bezel stands out even more, making it a great choice. Automatic movement (Cal. 3235). 31 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve: approximately 70 hours. 18K white gold case (41mm diameter). Water resistant to 300m.

　I've bought many more watches since then, including a few Rolexes. My current favorite is the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date, Ref. 126619LB. It's heavy because it's white gold, but the Glidelock extension system is incredibly convenient, allowing me to adjust it to the perfect fit even if my wrist is slightly swollen. The blue Chromalight (Super-LumiNova) glows differently from other companies' green luminous paints, giving me a little satisfaction for the few seconds it takes to light up when I get home. Best of all, it looks just like stainless steel. Only one person in the watch industry has ever pointed out that it was gold, so I'm confident I'd be fine wearing it to Naples again. Incidentally, I keep my collection in a bank safe deposit box.

It's only been about two months since I bought it, but wearing it every day has caused it to pick up quite a few small scratches. The inner links of the bracelet are polished, so the scratches are quite noticeable.

As a watch magazine, it also mentions specifications.

The movement used in the "Green Sub," the Cal. 3135, was a classic that was produced for around 27 years from around 1988. However, in 2015 it was replaced with the new Cal. 3235, which extended the power reserve from approximately 48 hours to approximately 70 hours. The date can now also be changed at any time of day. Whether you're in Japan, on a plane over the Pacific Ocean, or in the middle of the night or early morning, you no longer have to worry about the time when changing the date.

　The accuracy is advertised as -2 to +2 seconds per day when shipped from Switzerland, and having worn it every day for the past month, I have experienced its truly amazing accuracy. The escape wheel is manufactured using the latest "LIGA" technology, and magnetic resistance has also been improved. Rolex has continued to lead other companies in basic performance. However, Omega's recent pursuit seems impossible to ignore, and I am thinking of buying something from Omega.

Rolex Submariner 126613LB

I love the Glidelock extension system so much that I wish it was installed not only on all Rolex models, but also on all sports watches from other manufacturers. It was originally developed to allow for length adjustment up to 2cm in 2mm increments so that it could be worn over a diving suit. The Deepsea's version is even more amazing, as it is made using cutting technology with incredible precision and zero error.