Lot 241
Lot 241
ROLEX, HIGHLY COVETED STAINLESS STEEL 'SUBMARINER', WITH 'METERS FIRST' MATTE DIAL, REF. 5512

Price Realised USD 15,120
Estimate
USD 12,000 - USD 18,000
Loading details
ROLEX, HIGHLY COVETED STAINLESS STEEL 'SUBMARINER', WITH 'METERS FIRST' MATTE DIAL, REF. 5512

Price Realised USD 15,120
Price Realised USD 15,120
Details
CIRCA: 1968
CASE NO: 1'799'941
CASE MATERIAL: Stainless steel
CASE DIAMETER: 40 mm.
BRACELET MATERIAL: Stainless steel
BRACELET SIZE: Approx. 205 mm. overall length
DIAL: Black, matte 'meters first'
MOVEMENT: Automatic
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
REMARK: "Meter first" matte dial with Zinc Sulfide lume
Brought to you by
Remi GuilleminHead of Watches, Europe and Americas
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

Lot Essay

Offered in very good condition, the present Rolex Submariner reference 5512 features a very rare combination of a matte "meters first" dial with puffy zinc sulfide lume.

The "meters first" matte dial was produced for approximately the first 2 years of production before Rolex switched to "feet first" dial making it very rare. Furthermore, it contains zinc sulfide lume, a very collectible and rare material in Rolex watches meaning that the lume still fluoresces to this day under UV light. Additionally the watch has its period correct and coveted 'long 5' bezel. The movement is also stamped 'ROW', meaning this watch was destined for American market. Having all of these features in this watch makes is a highly prized timepiece amongst vintage watch aficionados.

The Submariner reference 5512
Manufactured for approximately 20 years beginning in 1959, the reference 5512 Submariner has was a chronometer certified timepiece and produced in much smaller numbers when compared to the non-chronometer 5513 mass-market sibling model. According to Rolex, only 17,338 examples were manufactured versus the 5513s production of 151,449 examples, meaning only 1 in roughly 10 "no date" 4-digit Submariners were a reference 5512.

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