The Rolex Submariner (vintage)

[everose]

I have a newer "M"series" but i much prefer the matte dial finish....and i think it is much more practical as a dive watch.It causes far less reflection when submerged....particularly important as Rolex do not like to use AR coatings.

Rolex....please re-issue the matte dial sub!!!!!!...

[allenlau2000]

Dang, those are so nice.. I need to do more studying on these. I had been offered a vintage submariner (cant recall which model) for around HKD$30,000 or USD$3,850.. Didn't know what to look for and just wasn't sure about it back then.. He keeps on telling me I missed out..

Im sure the ones in the above pics should go for much higher..

There's so much info here I keep on logging in while I'm at work...

[sea-dweller]

Great info and photos here !!!

[Najdorf]

Hi,
Been reading this forum with interest. Great pictures and a wealth of info guys, however I've not seen the answer to my Rolex conundrum! I hope someone can shed some light:

I've attached a picture of my '72 (3.2m serial) red sub which is odd because it doesn't have a date bubble.

Apologies for the poor photo by the way, if there is any interest in the watch I can take a better photo.

[T5AUS]

Originally Posted by Najdorf

Hi,
Been reading this forum with interest. Great pictures and a wealth of info guys, however I've not seen the answer to my Rolex conundrum! I hope someone can shed some light:

I've attached a picture of my '72 (3.2m serial) red sub which is odd because it doesn't have a date bubble.

Apologies for the poor photo by the way, if there is any interest in the watch I can take a better photo.

Naj, I thinks it's just a question of a replaced glass but I am no expert. Try posting this question in the general vintage Rolex section, not too muny people come into this "room"

[Aitken-Smith]

Thank you for all the information gentlemen. Larry is clearly a font of knowledge and the information he provides is at the hadron collider end of the spectrum. flylsley blomshall, regards Stephen

[alby.bda]

this is my 1680 and 5513

[financeman]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

I would like to make a correction of my above statement due to new information provided by Jocke.

The alledged 9 month period of manufacture of the Ref. 168000 (deriving from this article) is more like 6 months.



Thanks for the clarification, Jocke!

I know I am bring up an ancient thread but I had a question about the 168000 that was only introduced for a few months. How can you tell you are getting one with the 904l steel. I am assuming since this was made in short supply that it may be one of the ones that are more collectible in 30 or so years. A little more info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[subtona]

Classic everything you always wanted to know........ Post

Wow what a resource thanks

[dddrees]

Old post, but enjoyable read.

Thanks Larry.

[honitel]

Wow,those are truly vintage!!

Beautiful watches. Any idea why Rolex decided to release a red version, but stopped?

I want to know this as well.

[dysondiver]

some great pics , and great reference material too , how about a trf e book. or a glossy , im sure the knowledge and pics are here to do it.

[Richard H]

RED OR WHITE 1680 ???

Is it garantied that any 1680 submariner from 1970 with a serial number from 2-3 mill is a red sub? Did they make white this year? In other words; can you tell by serial nr. FOR SURE that it is a original red or white submariner?

[Johny]

great thread.

[Pottsu6]

Amazing shots with unique information.

[MichaelB_Can]

It Lives Again !!! Here is my old 1680 from 1977 (white) and my 5513 from 1969


Mike B , Canada ⌚

[naci56]

[alonmuga]

This is the mine from my father.

[JWright]

Originally Posted by Gurmot

This came up in another thread and I posted the info below. Some members thought it should be included here for future reference so here goes...

I can't claim any credit for this info as it is something I came across a while ago and stored for future use. Apologies and thanks to the orignal source.

Following are the various Submariner vintage models (by case number):

6200 - Original Submariner
Launched in 1953. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with an 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner not printed on dial. Dial similar to Explorer style dials of same period. Non-Chronometer A296 movement with 18 Jewels. Larger case than the 6204 or 6205. Larger crown marked Brevet.
Updated in 1955. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with an 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. Included the Mercedes hands. Non-Chronometer A296 movement with 18 Jewels. Larger case than the 6536 or 6538. Larger crown marked Brevet.

6204 - Launched in two versions
Launched in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. Dial revised from 6200. Used the upgraded non-chronometer A260 movement with 18 Jewels. Smaller than the 6200.
Updated in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name "blacked-out." Non-Chronometer A260 movement with 18 Jewels. Smaller than the 6200

6205 - Launched in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name not present on dial. Dial revised from

6200 - Used the upgraded A260 movement. Same size as the 6204. Smaller than the 6200
Updated in 1955. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with 6mm crown. No crown guard however depth rating now printed on dial (white). Model name present on dial. A260 movement. Smaller than the 6200

6536 - Launched in 1955. Upgrade of the 6205 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. First time use of the Mercedes hands. Movement upgraded to the non-chronometer 1030 with 25 Jewels. Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 8mm crown. No crown guard however depth rating now printed on dial (white). Submariner also printed on dial. Non-Chronometer 1030 movement. First time Bezel contained markers for first 15 minutes.

6536/1 - Launched in 1956. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. Chronometer 1030 movement with 25 Jewels. Bezel with markers for first 15 minutes. Triangle on Bezel painted red.

6538 - James Bond Submariner (Dr. No)
Launched in 1955. Upgrade of the 6204 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with the 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name present on dial. Used the upgraded A260 movement.
Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. Upgraded to the 1030 movement. Case upgraded to same size as the
6200 (larger). Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. 'Officially Certified Chronometer' now painted on dial. 1030 movement.

5508 - Launched in 1958. Upgrade to the 6536/1 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with 6mm crown. No crown guard and depth rating on always printed on dial. Model name printed on dial. Upgraded to the new Chronometer 1530 movement. Updated in 1964. Luminous markers not enclosed by circular border.

5510 - Launched in 1958. Upgrade to the 6200 model. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard and depth rating printed on dial. Submariner printed on dial. New Chronometer 1530 movement.
Updated in 1964. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Printing on dial changed to white.

5512 - Launched in 1959. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. 'Officially Certified Chronometer' printed on dial. Submariner printed on dial. New 1560 Chronometer movement. Updated in 1965. Depth rating to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Superlative added to printing on dial.

5513 - James Bond Submariner (Live and Let Die)
Launched in 1962. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Non-Chronometer. 1530 movement. Dial marked with Swiss. Updated in 1963. Depth rating to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Non-Chronometer 1520 movement. Swiss T<25 printed on dial.
Navy model launched in 1968. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Soldered strap bars. Large hour and minute hands. Large T printed above depth rating to indicate luminous material as tritium.

5517 - Launched in 1971 for the British Marines. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Bezel with 60 minute markers. Soldered strap bars. Large hour and minute hands. Large T printed above depth rating to indicate luminous material as tritium.

1680 - Launched in 1966. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. New 1575 Chronometer movement with Date. Raised and flat crystal. Submariner printed in red. Updated in 1972. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. 1575 Chronometer movement with Date. Raised and flat crystal. All dial lettering printed in white.

16800 - Launched in 1982. Depth rated to 1000 ft (300m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. New 3035 Chronometer movement with Date. Low-profile sapphire crystal. All dial lettering printed in white.

I'm totally confused...

I have an older Rolex 5513. I've been trying to determine the date of manufacture based on the serial number. A number of on-line references are telling me the serial number falls into the range for watches manufactured in 1955 but other references say my watch is from 1964 (which would make more sense given what I know about the history of the watch.)

Can someone clarify this for me? The serial is 1068XXX...

thanks

[TimeToGo]

Originally Posted by JWright

I'm totally confused...

I have an older Rolex 5513. I've been trying to determine the date of manufacture based on the serial number. A number of on-line references are telling me the serial number falls into the range for watches manufactured in 1955 but other references say my watch is from 1964 (which would make more sense given what I know about the history of the watch.)

Can someone clarify this for me? The serial is 1068XXX...

thanks

Welcome to the Forum!

1964-65 ish

Which reference are you using telling you 1955?

[strafer_kid]

Great thread with some excellent photos!

[renenpaz]

Hello everyone, Nice forum and information
This is my first post. My name is Rene and I live in La Havana.

I have an older Rolex Submariner but I have a doubt about if all its parts are original. Was a two successive gifts until arrive to me in 1980, and I don’t know its previous history. Is not working for about 30 years, sleeping on a drawer, it has some damages inside and outside. Iam valuating if repair it or sell in its actual state.

I send all information that I can read in it.

Dial

ROLEX
OYSTER PERPETUAL
660ft=200m
SUBMARINER
Swiss - T < 25

Back Cover

MONTRES ROLEX SA
GENEVA
SWITZERLAND
PATENTED
STAINLESS STEEL
5510
1 1958

Machine

MONTRES ROLEX SA GENEVA
TWENTY SIX 26 JEWELS SWISS
ADJUSTED 5 POSITION AND TEMPERATURE
1556

The crown is 8mm.

It seems to me, that some parts number are contradictory, but really I don’t know nothing about watches. I need if you can help me checking the parts related here to see if all are in correspondence to the same model.

I attach two pictures, but the quality is very bad. Sorry.

Also sorry my bad English is not my native idiom.

Thanks in advance for all your help

Regards

Rene

[JWright]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

Welcome to the Forum!

1964-65 ish

Which reference are you using telling you 1955?

I don't remember. Something I found in an online search.

1964-65 makes a lot more sense. The watch originally belonged to my ex-wife's father. The information I have is that he purchased it new in Saigon somewhere around 1964 or 65.

[jatco]

...Great information... - Guess I'll never find a BY (birth year) Sub.

[Foxy1]

I am sorry to interrupt the thread but could someone tell me was the 168000 (triple Zero) a matte dial ?

[shou.biao.kuang]

Originally Posted by naci56

A rare piece of Mil Sub indeed!

[inspires]

Originally Posted by Foxy1

I am sorry to interrupt the thread but could someone tell me was the 168000 (triple Zero) a matte dial ?

168000 never came in matte dial, you would need to look for a 16800 if you wanted the matte dial configuration.

[SOG DIVER]

An excellent source.
The 5512 Submariner had its entrance about 1959, and was seen with COSC
chronometer certification after the 5513 was issued. Many 5512 case backs are stamped 5513. Many parts were interchangeable on the two references.
Reference Points: the Submariner by Hodinkee and Eric Wind point out many of these subtle differences. But, as with all things Rolex-there are exceptions.

[50L]

These golden lumes are amazing. Thats why I also love and have the tudor bb58

[SOG DIVER]

Originally Posted by SOG DIVER

An excellent source.
The 5512 Submariner had its entrance about 1959, and was seen with COSC
chronometer certification after the 5513 was issued. Many 5512 case backs are stamped 5513. Many parts were interchangeable on the two references.
Reference Points: the Submariner by Hodinkee and Eric Wind point out many of these subtle differences. But, as with all things Rolex-there are exceptions.

The 1959-- 5512 Submariner was the first to feature crown guards- initially
in blocked ends, then pointed (PCG) form, finally closely shaped in the crown guard style we see today. The 5512 reference initially appeared from 1959-through roughly 1963 with gilt dial and minute track or chapter ring. That minute track/chapter ring was discontinued during the mid-1960s. The non-date 5512 with chapter ring/gilt dial and COSC chronometer certification is unique watch, especially with the caliber 1560 movement and gilt dial.
1959-1979: Twenty years of the 5512 Submariner.

Having owned a 1969 red 1680 Submariner along with this same 1960
5512 Submariner: I have been fortunate indeed to discover both of these iconic watches and to own them.

{For an in-depth look at dials,crown guards, hands, and inserts of early Submariners...see the site : RolexHaven }