Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1956 Reference No: 6536/1 inside case back stamped II.56 Case No: 155'142 Model Name: Submariner Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1030, 25 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel riveted Oyster bracelet reference 7206, endlinks stamped 56, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped 3.69 Dimensions: 37mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
The Rolex Submariner, especially the earlier versions, are gaining incredible popularity with collectors.
Introduced in 1955, reference 6536/1 replaced reference 6536 and remained in production until 1959. Today, it is one of the most sought-after vintage Submariner references due to its design and modern proportions.
The present example is stunningly preserved with thick lugs, large crisp bevels and strong proportions. The dial is in equally impressive condition with its strong gilt print. The luminous marker at 6 o'clock is most notably much brighter than the other lume plots. This feature allowed divers to orient themselves in the dark.
The connoisseur will notice a small - yet very rare – detail on the lower part of the dial, the depth rating indicates the numbers without depth script. Commonly this reference will feature a rating of 100m/300ft whereas here m(eters) and f(eet) are not mentioned leaving just 100/300 making the present 6536/1 one of the rarest examples with this dial combination.
Its overall rarity and impeccable condition make the present Submariner a trophy for the connoisseur of rare timepieces.
Founded 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.