UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AN EXTREMELY RARE SUBMARINER 6538 FROM THE LAST 1959 SERIES AND IN AN AMAZING FULL SET !

The vintage Rolex Submariner 6538 has a special place in Rolex history as the original “Bond Submariner” watch. Though several other Submariner versions, including references 5508 and 6205, have also received the nickname, ref 6538 is the original Submariner to be featured in James Bond/007 films. Produced between 1954 and 1959, ref 6538 has appeared in several Bond films, including Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball. In each film actor Sean Connery wears ref 6538 with several different strap combinations and utilizes it to achieve his mission. Perhaps the most iconic shot of Connery wearing the Rolex dive watch is in the film Goldfinger where he illuminates the watch’s dial with his lighter.

One of the most prominent and recognizable features of Submariner 6538 is its over-sized crown and lack of crown guards. This “big crown” certainly distinguishes this reference from others in the Submariner family and is a feature collectors look for. Ref 6538 utilizes a caliber 1030 nickel-finished lever 25 jewels movement. The brown “tropical” gloss dial (originally black) prominently features luminous dot, baton and dagger markers as well as luminous “Mercedes” hands and sweep center seconds. The dial and case are topped with a revolving black bezel calibrated for 60 units. Despite ref 6538 being designated as the “Bond Submariner,” it is more than a movie prop. Rather, it was made in the spirit of the Submariner family and with divers or other water adventurers in mind. The 38 mm tonneau shaped Oyster case features a screw back and large screw down crown, giving it the ability to resist water pressure up to 200 meters or 660 feet.

• Brand: Rolex
• Model: Submariner “James Bond”, Red Triangle, Big Crown
• Reference: 6538 (clearly visible on the inside case back, with “11.1959” underneath, meaning that the watch was produced in November 1959). This same reference number is also slightly visible between the lugs at 12 o’clock.
• Full maintenance service made in September 2016 at Rolex (through Bucherer)
• Movement number: N836392 (clearly engraved on one of the movement bridges)
• Case number: 449013 (appearing on the inside case back and slightly visible between the lugs at 6 o’clock)
• Production date: 11.1959 (according to case number and original guarantee leaflet)
• The watch was sold on December 25th. 1959 by Roy & Molin Jewellers (Portland, Oregon, USA)
• Movement: cal. 1030, automatic, chronometer certified, central sweep-second hand
• Case: stainless steel, 38mm diameter (without crown)
• Dial: 100% original tropical brown gloss dial with nice patina on the radium dots and “Mercedes” hands. There are some cracks on the dial (specially on the right side of the dial) which produce a great « spider » look. This is not unusual on tropical dials from this period. Regarding radioactivity, please read our important note at the end of the listing!
• Bracelet: original stainless steel Rolex USA bracelet with extensible riveted links and deployant buckle. No links seem to be missing and the watch fits perfectly an average size wrist
• Condition: see pictures, very good for its age, perfect working condition, doesn’t need any maintenance service at this time…
• Accessories: original Rolex box with outerbox, original guarantee leaflet with serial number, dated and stamped, original Submariner anchor, original Submariner catalogue (dated 1958), original Bucherer 2016 service document (in German) and corresponding service card
• Warranty: private, 1 year, movement only (under usual restrictions from the Swiss Watch Industry)
• Shipping: because of the high value of the watch, we will prefer a personal pick-up in Switzerland or an appointment in another country provided that the watch is fully paid before

IMPORTANT NOTE: between 1957-1960 Rolex started to lower radiation on most of its watches and enhanced the dial lacquer of its 6538 to a more glossy variant. The radioactivity of Rolex Submariners 6538 was dramatically reduced from the middle of 1958. Until 1958, it was possible to measure up to around 17 microsieverts per hour on the dial. The risk for customers, or even watchmakers when servicing such watches, was too great to be exposed to this radioactivity. It was exactly the same story with all other references such as 6536, 6536/1, 5508, etc. From 1959 onwards, there was no more radioactivity higher than 0.xx mSv/hr. Our piece being one of the last produced Subs 6538 (11.1959), there’s no significant radiation when measured with a Geiger counter and its luminous intensity disappears quickly after being exposed to UV lighting. This is perfectly normal and protects your health as well!