Help Identifying my 1950s Submariner

[southtexas]

^^good point.


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[1950sRolex]

I wonder if the BREVET above the model number has something to do with it.

Thanks again for all the help. I just want to learn as much about it as I can. Watches are a minor passion of mine.

[1950sRolex]

That is the same bezel insert that was on the watch when we took it in to get serviced. I have seen the same insert on pictures of 1957 6538 model watches. Could it be possible that the watch was repaired/serviced around that time. I'll ask my dad again when he got the watch. When he got it, a few of the gears from the auto wind had been removed and were in a plastic bag. I guess the watch shop that removed the gears could have replaced the insert at that time. When we got the watch repaired, all the original gears went back in except for the pictured gear above.

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by 1950sRolex

That is the same bezel insert that was on the watch when we took it in to get serviced. I have seen the same insert on pictures of 1957 6538 model watches.

Not with a luminova pearl I'm afraid, as it looks from your pic.

Originally Posted by 1950sRolex

I guess the watch shop that removed the gears could have replaced the insert at that time. When we got the watch repaired, all the original gears went back in except for the pictured gear above.

Looks like it, unfortunately.

[1950sRolex]

Originally Posted by fmc000

Not with a luminova pearl I'm afraid, as it looks from your pic.

Thanks, this is the info I am looking for.

So how do I go about determining what it's worth in its current condition?

[JJL]

Wow! I keep wishing someone related to me hands me something like this at some point in my life, not going to happe though.

Congrats and cheers!!

[g-boac]

The bezel installed looks like one from a mid-1980s 5513. Reference the nice picture posted by verticalflight for what an original bezel and insert should look like.

Still, this is a nice find.

An original bezel is one part of the valuation; the biggest, by far, is the dial. Given that the lume has been altered, this is probably the biggest single hit to value the watch could have taken; you can expect this watch to price in the lower to mid range of comparable pieces. Certainly more than the $6K offered, but not Corvette money either.

However, this would be a wonderful watch to wear, daily, and hand down in your family - it's one that you can wear without fearing that if some inadvertent damage were to come to it...you would be damaging an irreplaceable museum piece in unsold NOS condition. Enjoy and thanks for sharing!!

[1950sRolex]

Originally Posted by g-boac

Given that the lume has been altered, this is probably the biggest single hit to value the watch could have taken;

What makes you think the lume was altered? I can see that a few of the hour markers are missing lume, but the ones with lume just look aged. (Keep in mind, I know the ownership history of the watch, but my Great Uncle is dead so I can't ask any repair history questions. I'm learning as I go.)

Thanks again for all the help, I'm trying to learn as much as I can.

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by 1950sRolex

Thanks, this is the info I am looking for.



So how do I go about determining what it's worth in its current condition?

It's not just the pearl that makes the insert incorrect, it's the font, minute marks etc. If you had the wrong pearl with the right insert, you'd be fine. Compare the pic of verticalflight to yours, the differences will jump out at you.

Are you trying to obtain value for insurance, or to sell?


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[1950sRolex]

Here are some close up shots of the lume. What does touched up lume look like? (I have to say, the Samsung Note 5 phone takes some great pictures.)