Important Collector's Watches, Pocket...
Geneva, Nov 11, 2007
LOT 168
Ref. 5508 British Royal Navy Issue ?Exclamation Dial? Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, 100m = 330ft, Submariner", case No. illegible, Ref. 5508. Made in 1962. Fine and very rare, tonneau-shaped, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant to 100m/330ft, stainless steel wristwatch with black bezel and a stainless steel riveted expanding Rolex Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp.
CHF 48,000 - 58,000
EUR 30,000 - 35,000 / USD 40,000 - 50,000
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, the back engraved ?R. G. Holloway P/064195?, graduated revolving black bezel for the decompression times. D. Black ?exclamation?, with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions. Luminous stainless steel "skeleton" hands. M. Cal. 1530, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, Microstella regulating screws, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38.5 mm. Thickness 13 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-6-02 |
Good Slightly oxidized HANDS Service hands |
Notes
The ?exclamation? dial is so called because beneath the luminous baton index at 6 o?clock there is an additional luminous dot, reminiscent of an exclamation mark. This type of dial is extremely rare.
This watch, one of the series of references referred to as ?James Bond?, was issued in 1962, the year that the film ?Dr. No? was released.
In the Ian Fleming books, James Bond is described as simply wearing a steel Rolex; in the film, however, Commander Bond (Sean Connery) sported a Submariner without Crown Guard, similar to the present watch. The present watch thus shows how the film was acurate at the time, a Commander in the British Royal Navy would have been issued just such a watch.