DESCRIPTION:
WW - Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner "Square Crown Guard," ref 5512, circa 1959, 42mm including crown guards x 47mm to lug tips, 20mm lug width, original stainless steel screw back Oyster case with unimaginably rare square crown guards and later replacement 1960s vintage bi-directional timing bezel with a MK3 bezel insert, tan strap, original black gilt glossy chapter ring "No Chronometer" dial with silver meters first depth rating, 17J cal 1530 with butterfly rotor, s#477998, triple signed. This example is fresh to market having not been seen by prying eyes for many decades. Thought by some to be a prototype by Rolex with fewer than 100 pieces believed to have been produced, "rare" is a word that truly doesn't do this watch justice. For the passionate lifelong Rolex collector only one term applies: "The Holy Grail." With extensive research done by this cataloger to find earlier serialized watches, only one could be found making this possibly the second earliest Rolex Submariner with crown guards in existence.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide, light spotting on plate as well as tarnished and discolored rotor, broken rotor axle; fine-plus dial with circular hand scrape from 2 to 6 as well as light crazing and several other fine scratches; fine hands, have lost most of the luminous material from the minute hand and some from the hour hand; polished case shows light wear, lug chamfers are still crisp and visible, light ding on case side at 9 as well as on the backs of the lugs from being worn on a bracelet; original Rolex crown shows little wear, good threads; good crystal; resealed for auction.
ESTIMATE:
$40000
-
$70000
"
"
"
"
"
"
"