8022
Rolex
Ref. 5508
Submariner
A rare and attractive stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, black lacquered exclamation dial and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$150,000 - 250,000€18,800 - 31,300$19,200 - 32,100
HK$215,900
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1961
- Reference No
- 5508
- Movement No
- 85’165
- Case No
- 763’059; repeated inside caseback stamped “II.62”
- Model Name
- Submariner
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1530, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster riveted bracelet, endlinks stamped “58”, max length 195mm
- Dimensions
- 37mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
- Reference 5508, the 'small crown' Submariner, was introduced in 1958 and phased out in 1962 for the next generation ref. 5513. This reference was the last model to feature the 100m depth rating and no crown guards.
- Hailing from 1961, this rare example also features the exclamation mark dial identified by the dot below the indexes at 6 o’clock. A design nuance that appeared for a brief period between 1961 until 1962 to signify its lower radium count as radium was a health hazard.
- Boasting a strong case with thick lugs and sharp edges, the present example features a beautiful black glossy lacquer dial with gilt chapter ring, Mercedes hands, and aged luminous that makes it a desirable example for collectors.
- Hailing from 1961, this rare example also features the exclamation mark dial identified by the dot below the indexes at 6 o’clock. A design nuance that appeared for a brief period between 1961 until 1962 to signify its lower radium count as radium was a health hazard.
- Boasting a strong case with thick lugs and sharp edges, the present example features a beautiful black glossy lacquer dial with gilt chapter ring, Mercedes hands, and aged luminous that makes it a desirable example for collectors.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
Browse Maker