Rolex Submariner 6538

The case measures 37mm across, with a 20mm lug width. Case material: Stainless steel. Case size alone is a poor guide to how a watch wears; lug-to-lug length and how the bracelet drops off the case matter more, which is why we suggest trying one on before you commit.

Automatic, Caliber 1030.

It is rated to 200 meters, about 656 feet. That is a diving rating: it is built for scuba use, not just for getting wet. One caution that applies to every watch on this page: a water resistance figure describes a new watch with fresh gaskets. On a piece that is years past its last service, treat the rating as unknown until it has been pressure tested.

Rolex produced this reference from 1954 to 1959. Production years matter when you are valuing one, because dial, bezel and bracelet details often changed inside a single reference run.

6538 is the large-crown Submariner, fitted with an oversized 8mm crown to allow underwater winding. Black dial, acrylic crystal, no date, no cyclops. Featured prominently in early James Bond films.. Reading the reference is the fastest way to confirm that a watch is what the seller says it is, before you get anywhere near the movement.

"Big Crown" Submariner; the James Bond Sub. Collector nicknames are not official Rolex names, but they are what people actually search for and what they are called across a showroom.

Yes. We buy this reference outright, and we lend against it if you would rather keep it. We are a family-owned San Diego buyer established in 2006, our appraisers are GIA-trained, and the appraisal is complimentary with no obligation to sell. You can bring it to our Gaslamp showroom at 907 Sixth Ave or start online. If you are looking to buy this reference instead, tell us and we will let you know when one comes in.