Rolex’s reference 5512 holds a special place in the history of the brand as it was the first Submariner model to feature the now ubiquitous crown guards. Released in 1959 and produced for approximately 15 years, the reference is a snap shot in time as Rolex evolved their crown guard design. Developed as a tool watch, the Submariner was marketed to commercial and recreational divers. The addition of the crown guards made the watch more robust, protecting the watch crown from unintentional damage.

The earliest and most rare examples were square-shaped, of which it is estimated very few exist, the second generation, like the present watch, featured pointed crown guards with a black glossy dial and either two or four lines with gilt printing, the next generation maintained the pointed crown guard, but only had four lines of gilt print with “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified”, and by the late 1960s the crown guards were reduced to a rounder design and the ones they continued to use.

In wonderfully original condition, this Submariner from 1961has an untouched dial with matching aged luminous hour markers and hands. The case is has strong lug bevels with nice overall proportions. Vintage Rolex watches are the king in today’s international market, and the reference 5512 is an early model that easily displays the soul of Rolex and is a necessary addition to any collection of early tool watches.