The Man With The Golden Sub - Hodinkee

The Nugget

A diver recounts his experience wearing a solid gold Rolex Submariner during 40 years of adventurous diving, including surviving a shark attack and setting world records.

Key quotes

"A Great White Shark is responsible for the gash in the bezel insert at the 45-minute mark."
"The watch has never failed me."
"The last offer I got was for $45,000 in January."
"I'm keeping it."
"I have no family or kids, but my intent is to leave it to a dear friend that's a diver. He’s younger and will probably outlive me… at least, that's his plan."

Bret Gilliam, a legendary figure in the diving community, shares his remarkable experiences wearing a solid gold Rolex Submariner during his extensive and adventurous diving career.
He recounts surviving a shark attack that left a noticeable mark on his watch, highlighting the resilience of both the diver and the timepiece.

Despite receiving offers from collectors, Gilliam values the symbolic and emotional significance of his watch more than any monetary value, expressing his intent to pass it on to a younger diver friend.

Gilliam's choice to wear a solid gold Submariner, typically seen as a luxury statement piece, for challenging diving tasks challenges conventional watch enthusiast norms, reinforcing the timepiece's reputation for durability and reliability even in extreme conditions.

🦈 Despite a shark encounter and surviving challenging dives, Gilliam's gold Rolex Submariner endured all without fail.
🌊 Gilliam's connection to his watch goes beyond its monetary value, representing a lifetime of diving adventures and a symbol of resilience.
💰 The emotional attachment Gilliam has for his watch surpasses offers from collectors, reinforcing the deep personal connection he holds with the timepiece.
🎁 Passing down the watch to a younger diver friend reflects Gilliam's desire to preserve the legacy and adventures associated with the watch.

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.