Rolex Oyster Perpetual 'James Bond' Submariner -Tropical Dial - Reference 5508 - Gilt Writing and Chapter Ring Dial - c. 1958

c.1958, Vintage Rolex, Reference 5508, Oyster Perpetual Submariner ‘James Bond’ Wrist Watch with Small Crown  

A rare and highly-prized piece of watchmaking history, this vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner wristwatch (Rolex reference 5508) dates all the way back to 1958! 

Four years later, Sean Connery would wear a close sibling of this Submariner (ref. 6538) as James Bond in ‘Dr. No’ - the very first Bond film ever made. This earned the watch its ‘James Bond’ nickname and Connery was also seen wearing a Submariner in subsequent installments (including ‘Thunderball’ and ‘From Russia with Love,’) forever linking the model with the iconic British spy.

A much desired and sought-after collectible, the watch has a serial number of 400xxx, dating it to 1958, and is a small crown version of the Submariner (a larger crown version was also produced).

The watch is sold with its original gilt chapter ring dial in black with gold hands, markers, and writing - an original, unusual, and highly prized example of the model, very much in demand by vintage watch collectors and Rolex enthusiasts around the world. The watch also features ‘Mercedes’ style hands and the dial has started to fade to a beautiful tropical patina with flashes of chocolate brown. 

Powered by a Rolex 1530 caliber movement with 25 jewels, the watch is sold on a period-correct and mint (1963) stainless steel bracelet, which perfectly complements the sublime and unpolished stainless steel case. An absolute delight!

What’s On Offer 

This rare and much sought-after vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner has been recently serviced by a London-based vintage Rolex specialist and is in full working order. 

The piece is in excellent and original overall condition for its age, with its black dial beginning to age to a beautiful chocolate brown, giving it a lovely tropical-looking patina. Along with the expected microscopic signs of wear, commensurate with age, the bezel insert has marked slightly between the 12 and 5 markers but in the flesh, this only adds to its looks and overall story and originality and we hope you will agree. Photos do not do this watch justice in many ways. Picking this watch up in the flesh is when we first fell in love with it, and we can only assure you that it looks more stunning on the wrist than in the photo booth. 

This watch will be supplied with a period-correct and very rare in itself, vintage Rolex box. 

Additional information

Made from

Case: Stainless steel

Dial: Tropical patina, Gilt writing, and chapter ring

Crystal: Plexiglas

Bracelet: Period correct (1963) Rolex steel linked bracelet and 64 end pieces

Technical specifications

Winding: Automatic/Manual wind

Movement Type: Automatic

Caliber: 1530

Jewels: 25j

Waterproof: When New

Purchase details

Condition: Recently serviced by a London-based Rolex specialist, in full working order and good overall condition for age.

Model Reference Number: 5508

Date of issue: 1958

Guarantee

Supplied with a 12-month Vintage Watch Specialist guarantee 

Dimensions

Width: 38mm