Rolex Submariner ref. 5508 Never Polished

When it comes to vintage Rolexes, it is the small, almost imperceptible differences that represent thousands, even tens of thousands of Euros in value. Rolex introduced the Submariner in 1953, so all early models from the 1950s are rare and valuable.
The Submariner ref. 5508 that debuted in 1958 was by no means the first Submariner, but rather represents a crossroads in watch history and the conclusion of a particular style for Rolex’s now famous dive watch. An evolution of the species…
5 Submariner references within five years of the launch of the Submariner model is hard to imagine today since we are used to Rolex producing the same reference for at least a decade. So these watches were truly a continuous laboratory of ideas. The early Submariner models of the 1950s varied in terms of water resistance, dial configuration, and crown size.

Before 5508 there was some experimentation among Submariner dials. Some had hour markers similar to contemporary Sub’s, others were Explorer style with 3, 6 and 9 at the cardinal markers, depths in red, in silver, etc. All made with a galvanic (gilt) process that gives them that black mirrored color. Many collectors simplify the subject by dividing these vintage 1950s Sub into the “Big Crown” and “Small Crown” groups.
Like all earlier Submariners, the Submariner 5508 features a 38 mm steel case, a black aluminum rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale, and a black dial with Mercedes hands to indicate hours, minutes, and seconds. For the Submariner 5508, Rolex opted for a dial with a mix of round and rectangular hour markers, along with an inverted triangle at 12 o’clock. This layout has since become the standard for SUBMARINER.

The 5508 was the last Submariner to have a water resistance rating of 100 meters as later references featured depth ratings of 200 meters or more.
The 5508’s movement is the nickel-finished Caliber 1530 automatic caliber, equipped with 25 jewels and a monometallic compensating balance. Both this movement and its predecessor (Caliber 1030) feature a winding rotor referred to as a “butterfly” because of its particular shape. The caliber 1530 is one of the most reliable Rolex movements ever produced.
In conclusion, there is no vintage Rolex watch more iconic than the Submariner. Its versatile style, timeless design and professional watch roots make it a natural choice for vintage watch lovers.
This watch is a marvel, the untouched original condition makes it one of the best Rolex 5508s available on the market.