I bought a Rolex Submariner. I had never really owned a nice

When Auston Matthews declared, “I bought a Rolex Submariner. I had never really owned a nice watch like that, and it was a big investment, so that’s my go-to. I always wear it when I travel with suits and stuff,” he spoke not merely of a timepiece, but of the eternal human desire to mark achievement, to carry with us symbols of our progress, and to honor time itself. His words, though simple, reflect the ancient truth that objects can hold meaning beyond their material—reminders of effort, discipline, and triumph.

The Rolex Submariner is no ordinary watch; it has become, in the modern age, a symbol of accomplishment and resilience. Originally created for divers, it is built to withstand the depths of the ocean and the tests of time. For Matthews, a young man who labored through years of training, sweat, and sacrifice to rise to the pinnacle of sport, such a watch is not just decoration but testament. It is an emblem that says: I have earned this, I have crossed a threshold, I have carved my place in the world.

History has shown that men and women often choose symbolic objects to commemorate victories. When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon and claimed power, he minted coins bearing his image to proclaim his new era. When Sir Edmund Hillary scaled Mount Everest, he left behind not wealth but a simple cross, marking his ascent to the roof of the world. In each case, the object—whether coin, cross, or watch—was more than metal; it was memory crystallized, a sign of achievement and of identity.

But Matthews’s words reveal something deeper still: he does not wear the Rolex every day, but makes it his “go-to” for travel and for moments of presentation. This reflects the ancient wisdom that symbols are not for vanity, but for occasions that call forth dignity and presence. Just as knights once wore armor not only for protection but as a sign of their station, so Matthews wears his watch to step into his role with confidence. It becomes part of his armor of self, his reminder of who he is and what he has achieved.

There is also humility in his admission: “I had never really owned a nice watch like that.” In this confession lies the story of many achievers: they begin with little, with empty hands, and through dedication acquire not only success but the chance to hold symbols of it. To acknowledge the investment is to remember the cost—not merely the price of the watch, but the years of discipline that made such a purchase possible. It is not indulgence, but gratitude made visible.

The lesson for us, then, is that it is good to honor milestones in life with tokens that remind us of our journey. Not for pride alone, but for remembrance. To hold a symbol of one’s effort is to be constantly reminded of what discipline and belief can achieve. Yet we must also be cautious: the object is not the goal itself, but a reflection of the deeper treasure—the growth, the skill, the resilience that made it possible.

In practical action, this means: when you achieve something meaningful, find a way to mark it. It need not be a Rolex, for wealth is not the measure; it may be a book inscribed with your thoughts, a piece of art, a ring, or even a stone carried from a place of triumph. Let that symbol accompany you in moments when you must step forward in strength. But remember always that the true treasure lies within, in the time, effort, and belief that no object can fully capture.

Thus the words of Auston Matthews remind us that even in the modern world, we still live by ancient rhythms: we strive, we sacrifice, we achieve, and we mark our journey with symbols. His Rolex Submariner is not just a watch—it is a crown of effort, a companion of travel, a reminder that time is precious and achievement worth honoring. May we, too, learn to travel through life with symbols that uplift us, without ever forgetting the deeper meaning of the time they measure.