Rolex - The New York Watch Auction: SEVEN New York Saturday, December 10, 2022 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1962
    Reference No: 5512; inside caseback stamped 5512 and III.62
    Movement No: 93’052
    Case No: 818’687
    Model Name: Ref. 5512 "Exclamation Mark, Pointed Crown Guards"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1530, 26 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, end links stamped 58, max length 200mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp, stamped 2.69
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Though the first Rolex Submariners were produced in 1953, and officially released after their debut at Basel in 1954 with the references 6200, 6204, and 6205 (differences in movements used and water resistance differentiated each), the 5512 was the first Submariner reference to feature the now-ubiquitous crown guards. Developed as a tool watch, the Submariner was marketed to commercial and recreational divers. The addition of the crown guards made the watch more robust, protecting the watch crown from unintentional damage.

    Like many intricacies of collecting vintage Rolex wristwatches, the various iterations of crown guards have developed their own nicknames and followings as the design evolved. The earliest were square-shaped, of which it is estimated very few exist. It is speculated that criticism of the bulky square crown guard prompted Rolex to modify the cases they had in stock, giving rise to the “eagle beak” crown guard. Finally, Rolex produced cases with unobtrusive pointed crown guards (sometimes abbreviated by collectors as PCG), as found on the present example. These early Submariners were fitted with stunning black glossy dials and featured either two or four lines of text at 6 o’clock with gilt printing in either silver or gold (or both). By the late-1960s, the crown guards were changed to a rounder design that is still in use today.

    The highlight of this example is without a doubt its stunning, nearly perfectly preserved glossy “exclamation mark” dial, featuring an incredibly smooth and shiny surface. These dials were produced only for a short period of time in around 1962 and are defined by the minuscule dot of luminous material present under the 6 o’clock hour marker. Scholars debate that this aesthetic quirk indicated a less radioactive material on the dial (the early 60s was when concerns about radioactive material in dials prompted producers to lower the radiation levels eventually switching from radium to tritium).

    Reuniting the aesthetic pleasure of watch collecting with its most intellectual aspect, the present glossy, gilt 5512 with exclamation dial and pointed crown guards is without a doubt a gem for the avid collector of fine and uncommon timepieces.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    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.

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166

Ref. 5512; inside caseback stamped 5512 and III.62
An attractive and compelling stainless steel diver's wristwatch with center seconds, glossy "exclamation mark" dial with chapter ring, pointed crown guards, and bracelet

Circa 1962
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.

Estimate
$20,000 - 40,000 
CHF19,000-38,100
€19,300-38,600
HK$156,000-313,000
S$27,400-54,900

Sold for $30,240

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros

Head of Watches, Americas

+1 (212) 940-1293

WatchesNY@Phillips.com

 

Isabella Proia

Head of Sale, New York

+1 (212) 940 1285

iproia@phillips.com

 

The New York Watch Auction: SEVEN

New York Auction 10 - 11 December 2022