1968 Rolex Submariner "If you were looking for lost empires..." Advertisement

1968 Rolex Submariner "If you were looking for lost empires..." Advertisement

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1968 Rolex Submariner "If you were looking for lost empires..." Advertisement

1968 Rolex Submariner "If you were looking for lost empires..." Advertisement

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
56 Reviews
Regular price $145
Regular price Sale price $145
Framing Options: No Frame

Page Dimensions

Approx. 8" x 11" (20cm x 28cm)

Story and Details

Just as the Submariner is arguably the quintessential dive watch, this particular advertisement could be considered the ideal Submariner advertisement to own... It’s not the first Submariner ad. It's certainly not rare. Rather, it’s a pearl among the plethora of Submariner ads for another reason: its straightforwardness depicting the essence of the timepiece - just a dive watch and a scuba diver. In this case, divers in the Yucatan risking their lives in search of archaeological treasures relying on their, “big, tough, working watch.”

The “If you were…” advertising campaign from the late 1960s produced some of the most iconic Rolex advertisements of all time, with headlines that have made an indelible impression on watch collectors. And "looking for lost empires" is certainly up there with the likes of “If you were flying the Concorde” showing the GMT Master and “If you were taming oil well fires” calling on the unusual choice of a solid gold Day-Date to do that dangerous job. 

Back to this 1968 advertisement... The Submariner shown is likely a Ref. 5513 with a "meters first" matte dial. It's from a moment in time just before the Ref. 1680 was introduced. A change that would alter the look of the Submariner (by adding a date window and "Cyclops" lens). The Submariner being offered with a date would also alter how future Submariner advertisements would look... From mid-1970 until around 2020 a dateless Submariner wouldn't be featured in a Rolex print advertisement. That's 50 years of no magazine ads showing a No-Date Sub! That makes this 1968 ad one of the last few to picture a No-Date Sub.

So if you're looking for an ad to go with your Ref. 14060, Ref. 114060, or the latest Ref. 124060, this is as a great option. One day it'll hang permanently in our home, as it's the very-first Rolex ad I fondly remember finding in a local antique store. It reminds me of the days when I started collecting vintage Rolex ads, which I didn't realize at the time would become a true passion of mine and help me find my calling.  

Pre-owned original magazine advertisement. Image shown is exactly the ad that you'll be receiving.

Framing is handcrafted in Chicago, IL, using acid-free materials for art preservation. The UV-protected, anti-reflective glass ensures optimal viewing. Frames are solid wood featuring a wire for easy hanging and felt pads for wall protection.

Free Shipping for all continental US orders.

Unframed orders ship by the next business day. You’ll receive an email with tracking info!

Framing is custom. Please allow me up to 2 weeks to finish your framing project. Before I start, I’ll email you to confirm the design and provide an estimated completion and shipping date.

Returns are accepted for unframed ads, if they are in new condition as you received it, within 30 days of purchase.

As all of my ads are highly curated, individually custom framed, and personalized, all sales for framed ads are final.

Learn more about our Return Policy.

Please contact me if you need additional photos or have any questions!

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All advertisements and images are original – directly from magazines and other types of publications. These are vintage, pre-owned, original pages, so the paper quality and condition varies... I try to show accurate photos of the exact ad/image you'll be receiving.

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framing

Framing is custom-designed and done by hand in Chicago, IL. Acid-free materials are used to preserve your art. Glass offers UV-protection and is anti-reflective for best viewing. Frames are solid wood with wire on back for easy hanging and felt pads to protect wall. 

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I love my business and what I do!
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or special requests... About pricing, condition, framing - ads or magazines you have to sell... I'll get back to you within 48 hours (usually much sooner!). Looking forward to chatting! 

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5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 56 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 56 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
100%would recommend these products
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56 reviews
  • Philip S.
    Reviewing
    1976 Rolex GMT Master Ref. 1675 "If you hunted big game..." Advertisement
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    9 hours ago
    Top-Notch Experience

    This is the third time I’ve acquired collectible ads from Nick over the past five years, and once again the experience was flawless. The service, support, and the ads themselves are all 10/10.

    Nick is a genuinely enthusiastic person who clearly loves what he does. His unique selection, outstanding quality, and deep expertise make him truly one of a kind.

    I’ll definitely continue growing my collection with Nick’s help!

    *attached a picture of a prior purchase - the new ones will be framed next weekend

  • Alex a. E. G. (. a. E.
    Verified Reviewer
    Reviewing
    1968 Rolex Datejust Ref. 1603 "If you were racing" Advertisement
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    5 days ago
    Great Gift

    Nick helped source this ad for a friend. It was a great experience and a well received gift.

  • Kaleb D.
    Verified Reviewer
    Reviewing
    1967 Rolex Daytona "isn't for timing 3-minute eggs." Advertisement
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    Could not be happier with my piece

    I’ve followed Nick’s Instagram for years and have exchanged a few casual messages with him along the way. I’ve always admired his work, and finally decided it was time to make a purchase. The whole process was incredibly fun, collaborative, and easy. We went back and forth on ideas, he created detailed renderings, and ultimately helped bring my vision to life. I couldn’t be happier with the final result and will definitely be ordering more in the future—especially as gifts for friends and family. To top it off, we even grabbed a beer when he was in New York the following week, which was awesome.

  • TP
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    1994 Rolex Datejust and Day Date "Champagne and Oysters" Advertisement
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    Tremendous as always

    You cannot be in better hands than with Nick at Ad Petina! He’s lovely to deal with and shipping is extremely fast.

    The ads themselves were in such great condition and packaged to perfection.

    Do not hesitate! Buy as soon as you can!

  • Jonathan W.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    2013 Rolex Deepsea Sea Dweller feat. James Cameron Advertisement
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    Ad Patina has the best watch ads around

    I have been dealing with Nick and Ad Patina for several years. Nick has the best selection of watch ads available. He is meticulous about how the ads are shipped, taking great care to insure that they arrive in perfect condition.