Crown guards were absent from Rolex sports watches for the better part of a decade. Rolex debuted a new generation of Submariner watches in 1959, the reference 5512. Crown guards were used for the first time on a Rolex watch. A glossy black dial and sturdy crown guards with square ends in profile are included. These crown guards have seen several alterations and advances throughout the years, ultimately settling on a final design in the form of a rounded shape. Prior to that, crown guards were pointed, which were only produced for a brief period and are now highly sought after by collectors. "Cornino" is the nickname given by said collectors for submariners with pointy crown guards. The most difficult to find are versions with square crown guards from the initial batch, which date from 1959. Interestingly, these highly rare timepieces all have serial numbers in the low 478000 serial range, and these samples are to be found all within a 20-number serial.

The current timepiece is a beautiful and well preserved example of this extremely hard to find limited series, with the accurate case back date code III.59. It has an eye-catching black gloss dial with "gilt printing." Furthermore, the depth rating is shown in silver. The retailer signature of Serpico y Laino, a major Rolex retailer in Caracas, Venezuela, is very intriguing. The retailers signature (S&L ACERO) can also be discovered outside the case back, much to the satisfaction of the discerning collector, proving that the dial and case were actually born together.

The current Rolex Submariner ref. 5512, which dates from around 1959 and features a "glossy" black "2-Liner-S&L" dial with chapter ring and square crown guards, is exceptionally uncommon. The value of the current timepiece is increased by the presence of a well-preserved casing and a dial that corresponds to the historical period. The bezel insert has a wonderful aged look to it, with a greyish tinge that has formed through time with the red triangle and pearl intact. This current lot is a find that will pique the curiosity of collectors of notable rare and sporty watches due to its mix of rarity, historical significance, and condition.