Lot 215

Rolex "Oyster Perpetual 200m=660ft Submariner", Case No. 661995, Ref. 5512, Cal. 1530, 39 mm, circa 1960
A diver's rare automatic wristwatch with pointed crown guards and gilt dial in the rare Tulip version
Case: steel, screw back ref. 5512 I/61, turnable black bezel, screwed "Triplock" winding crown, pointed crown guards, riveted steel "Oyster" bracelet ref. 7206, stamped 3/62. Dial: black, gilt dial, rare Tulip version. Movm.: rotorwind movement, Glucydur screw balance.
The rare Tulip version together with the gilt dial was only produced in a very small serial number range and it is extremely difficult to find in good condition.
The Rolex "point guards" edition was considerably smaller in numbers than the "square guards" series, because the watches were originally designed to have square guards and then modified later. Keen to develop and test features intended to improve and perfect the Rolex diver’s watches, the company only produced a small number of models to test the engineering and rise to the challenge of improved crown guards. Today this watch is one of the most highly desired models among the collectors of fine Rolex time pieces.
Launched in 1959 reference 5512 was produced until the late 1970's, this reference can be considered the first modern Submariner with introduction of the crown guard and a new type of bezel, wider than the case, to allow a better grip while wearing diving gloves.

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