Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 15, 2016

LOT 122

ROLEX REF. 5512 SUBMARINER SQUARE CROWN GUARDS STEEL Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, 660 ft/200 m, Submariner", case No. 477967, Ref. 5512. Made in 1959. Fine and very rare, early, center seconds, self-winding, water resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with a stainless steel Rolex Ref. 7836 bracelet. Accompanied by a Rolex box

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

HKD 80,000 - 120,000 / USD 10,500 - 16,000

Sold: CHF 32,500

Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed- down case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, winding-crown protected by the crown guard. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute track. Luminous steel skeleton hands. Cal. 1560, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight- line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self compensating Breguet balance spring, index regulator.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-22-04

Very good

Later original

HANDS Later

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 40 mm. THICKNESS 14 mm. Approx overall length 165 mm. ROLEX introduced reference 5512 in 1959 to substitute for Ref. 5510 and 6538, starting with a 478.xxx serial number. The most important features of the new reference were a new wide graduated revolving bezel for the decompression times, a smaller winding crown (from 8 to 7 mm.) and a protected winding crown called the "crown guard". The earliest models featured square type guards; approximately 100 examples of Ref. 5512 were tested by professional divers. It came out that this type of crown guard was not easy to use while wearing professional diver's gloves and Rolex stopped production. To the best of our knowledge, a few hundred Ref. 5512 with square guards were made, starting with serial number 477.9xx, and only in 1959. Only a few examples have appeared on the market. Due to its rarity this model is much sought-after by Rolex collectors.