Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 14, 2017

LOT 139

ROLEX REF. 5512 SQUARE CROWN GUARDS SUBMARINER STEEL Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Submariner, 660ft = 200m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified," No. 478040, Ref. 5512. Made circa 1959. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch.

CHF 8,000 - 14,000

HKD 64,000 - 112,000 / USD 8,000 - 14,000

Sold: CHF 11,250

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: AA

Very good
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-53-02

Good

Reprinted

HANDS Service hands

Notes

Dial, case, and movement signed. DIAM. 40 mm. THICKNESS 14 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 50 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.