915
Rolex
Ref. 5512
Submariner “Pointed Crown Guards”
An extremely rare, well-preserved and attractive stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with gilt dial, pointed crown guards and bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
- Pointed Crown Guards, only existed from 1959 to mid 1960s
- Excellent condition of the dial consist of a silvery printed depth rating alongside the gilt Submariner font
In 1959, Rolex marked a significant advancement with the reference 5512, which was the first to feature crown guards. This addition provided a more robust aesthetic and enhanced protection for the crown against damage, setting the design standard for future models. Early examples of this reference displayed some intriguing variations in crown guard design.
As the crown guards evolved, different iterations acquired their own nicknames and dedicated followings. The earliest examples were square-shaped, and it is estimated that very few remain. It is believed that criticism of the bulky square crown guard led Rolex to modify existing cases, resulting in the “eagle beak” crown guard design. Eventually, Rolex produced cases with more discreet pointed crown guards (often abbreviated as PCG), as seen in the present example. These early Submariners featured stunning black glossy dials and typically displayed either two or four lines of text at 6 o'clock, with gilt printing in silver or gold (or both). By the late 1960s, the crown guards transitioned to a rounder design that continues to be used today.
The present Rolex Submariner ref. 5512 boasts a silvery printed depth rating alongside the gilt Submariner font. Featuring pointed crown guards from around 1960 and a serial number of 554’XXX, this watch is a fine example of an early ref. 5512.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.