$131,400
Ref. 6200, Submariner, Explorer Dial Rolex, “Oyster Perpetual”, Ref. 6200. Made circa 1953. Fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver's wristwatch with bi-directional revolving black bezel and large 8 mm winding crown. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, bi-directional revolving graduated black bezel without minute/second graduation from zero point to 15. Black with luminous Arabic numerals and baton indexes, outer minute/seconds track. Steel skeleton hands. Cal. A 296, rhodium-plated, 19 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm. Thickness 13 mm Notes It is assumed that the official 1954 launch in Basel proves that Ref. 6204 was the first Submariner model. However, it appears likely that Ref. 6200 was in fact the first Submariner produced. Rolex used chronological numbering for its watch models. Thus, Ref. 6200 was probably produced before Ref. 6204. Further, the A260 movement fitted to the 6204 followed and improved upon the A296 movement fitted to the 6200 (unlike watch model numbers, movement numbers were not always chronological). Finally, the early versions of the 6200 had the same type of dial used in 1953 on the Explorer models (the now highly collectible 3-6-9 dial with an equilateral triangle at 12). It is thought that for commercial reasons Rolex held back the
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-04-17
