Hypophyse's Meters First Submariner [Reference 5512]

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Hypophyse's Meters First Submariner

[Reference 5512]

Rolex Lume Shot Of The Day Hypophyse Submariner: Reference 5512

...Rolex Lume Shot Of The Day...

Hypophyse' Submariner
Reference 5512

1958 Rolex Submariner Brochure

1958 Rolex Submariner Brochure

This is such a cool find! I originally discovered this fascinating 1958 Rolex Submariner brochure back in June of 2019 which features the Reference 6536 and 6538, but the most exciting detail may be on the back page as seen in the last image in this story.

I say it may be on the last page because after careful reading I discovered a fascinating discovery! Notice at the end of the last paragraph in the section on the left with white background the second to last words says:

     "The SUBMARINER is a strong and reliable wrist-watch the importance of which has already been recognized by those concerned in sea-going or sub-marine activities." 

What is significant about sub-marine'? There has always been a debate about whether Submariner was pronounced Submeriner, or Sub-mariner? My take is that according to this brochure that back in 1958 it was pronounced Sub-Marine-ER. Also, on the cover of the brochure, as seen above it says "A watch specially designed for all SUBMARINE and aquatic activities." This would ad further support to the fact the proper name is pronounced Rolex Sub-marine-er, not Sub-marin-er!!!

(Update: Nick Gould sent me a message and pointed out: "Did you notice the brochure shows a 6536 with no depth rating? Also, the brochure says the 6538 was the more heavy duty version. Makes sense as the 6538 has a big crown.")

In 2013 I discovered and published this same letter, which proves that Jacques Yves-Cousteau was testing Rolex Submariner watch prototypes in 1953, but I have never seen it printed on the back of a Rolex Submariner brochure as we see below!!! To learn much more about Jacques Cousteau and Rolex's conquest of the Ocean, be sure to check out my story on the Three Generations of Cousteau's!!!

Rolex Wrist Shot of the Day: Bernhard's 5513 Maxi Dial on an Orange NATO...

...Rolex Wrist Shot Of The Day...

Bernhard's Rolex Maxi 
Reference 5512 on a Safety Orange NATO

This is a super-cool look. The safety-orange colored NATO gives this watch an aquatic vibe and the simplicity of the Maxi Marker dial is awesome!!!

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day Francesco's 5512 Submariner On A Nato

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day

Francesco's 5512 Submariner On A Nato

Wrist Shot of the Day: Superdome Submariner...

Superdome Submariner

Alejandro took this great shot of his Rolex Submariner [Reference 5513] with the Superdome acrylic crystal. I have to say that one of the most intriguing and confusing vintage Rolex watches for me to understand are the Rolex Submariner 5512, 5513, 5514 and 5517, particularly when it comes to the acrylic crystals.

The Dividing Line Of Distinction

Between a vintage Rolex and a modern Rolex

Many would argue the dividing line between a vintage Rolex and modern Rolex is whether the crystal is Acrylic (Vintage) or Synthetic Sapphire (Modern). One thing is for certain, and that is the acrylic crystal Rolex watches have a definite and distinctly different aesthetic and vintage vibe.

For almost 25 years, I disliked the vintage acrylic crystal Rolex watches, but I must admit they have really grown on me and I really like them now. I have said many times, that often I have to hate something before I can love it. I don't know why life is that way, but that seems to be the way it works ;-)

The 551x series was the first model line of Rolex Submariner watches that were the larger 40mm. All the Submariner watches before the 551x series, like the Reference 6200, 6204, 6205, 6536, 6538, had no crown guards and were 37mm. In 1958 Rolex introduced the 5508 and 5510 that grew 1mm to 38mm, but still lacked crown guards.

To the best of my understanding, Rolex began making the 5512 in 1959, but it did not have the COSC designation on the dial for the first few years. Rolex made the 5512 until 1966, and then replaced it with the Reference 1680 in 1966, which ran until 1981. The key difference between the 5512 and 1680 was that the 1680 was the first Rolex Submariner that had a date–and the only Submariner to have a RED Submariner designation on the dial. The RED designation on the dial was rare and most were white and that is what makes the RED designation Reference 1680 rare.

Rolex started making the 5513, which never had a COSC designation, from 1962 to 1989. The difference between the 5513 and 5512 is that the 5512 was a Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer (COSC) and the 5513 was not. Externally they looked almost identical with the exception of the third and fourth line COSC designation on the 5512, but on the inside the movements were different. The 5513 (Non COSC) has one of those old-fashioned, adjustable on the movement levers, for fine-tuning the "+" and "–" of the speed at which the movement ran.

The 5512 (COSC) had the adjustable weights on the balance wheel to fine tune the precision of the accuracy of the timing. Sorry if your head is spinning, mine is to!!!

Back to the Crystals, I am confused because I have seen three different crystals on the 5512 and 5513. I have seen a flat raised one, a domed one that is also raised and the rarest which is called a Superdome. I believe the Superdome is pictured above. If anybody wants to help clarify this, please send me an email to RolexBlog@Gmail.com or post in the comment section of this story.

BTW, A 5514 is a 5512 Submariner with a helium release valve and they are very rare. The 5517 Submariner was a Military Submariner made only for the British Royal Navy and to confuse things even further, Rolex also made a 5513 Milsub.

The other interesting fact is that Rolex started selling the first Rolex Submariner with a date and synthetic sapphire crystal in 1981 which replaced the 1680, but they sold the 5513 as the non-date Submariner alongside it until 1989. I remember when I bought my first Rolex Submariner [Reference 16800] in 1982 with the synthetic sapphire crystal, thinking it looked so much more refined than the 5513. Now I like simplicity of the 5513 better in many ways.

One of these days, I will write a definitive story with photos showing the evolution of the Rolex Submariner, model by model, as well as for the GMT, Daytona, Explorer, Datejust, Day-Date and Milgauss.

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Vintage Rolex Submariner 5512 from 1966

Vintage Rolex Submariner

[Reference 5512 from 1966]

Photo Credit: David D

Philipp's Reference 5512 Submariner on a NATO...

Skunk Stripe NATO

Philipp mixes it up with his incredible Rolex collection like a great D.J. mixing records. His mixes are literally a work of art. Here he has a Rolex Submariner [Reference 5512] on a skunk stripe strap. Notice the unusually beak shaped crown guards.