Help Needed - Rolex Submariner 6536/1 - Unseen Service Dial?

[dannymanchester]

Hi All

First post - but need your collective experience!

I have just acquired a 1956 (Q2) Submariner 6536/1 with a 155. serial number. I asked a jeweler to open up and everything looks good. However, the service dial (based on SWISS T<25) has 2 strange issues:

1) Its a 200m = 660 ft - rather than the 100m you would expect
2) The SUBMARINER is printed above the depth rating !

I have trawled the internet for similar dials and have come up with one thread from 2013 where a gent in the US inherited his dads 5508 that had the same dial (though 100m). Apart from that there is nothing. I have asked a few people in the UK and they have never seen this and asked a few forums but no response.
I am making an assumption that if you were to fake a 6536/1 dial you would have the common sense to copy all the other dials (ie SUBMARINER below depth)!

I have noticed on the case back that there is a marking to suggest that a service took place in 08/70 - which would tie with the 2013 thread I found who discovered that this was a rare service dial from the late 60s.

Any input into this greatly appreciated. I have plenty more pictures but cant seem to upload due to size/format - happy to send direct.
Thanks

[Mike Wood]

It's a repainted dial, and is not a Rolex service replacement, hence the inaccuracies in the text.

MW

[dannymanchester]

Mike - thanks for the input.

It seems crazy that someone would take a 6536/1 (all markings are correct in the watch - between lugs, on the caseback, workings etc) and then add a repainted dial with all the wrong details!
In my research I have now found 2 others so far - both vintage subs.

Strange!
Thanks!

[Mike Wood]

Worn dials were frequently sent away for repainting during servicing by small independent watch repairers who didn't have access to replacement dials from Rolex. There were a number of dial restorers in the UK years ago, including a few in Shude Hill near you, so not uncommon.

I'm more intrigued to see the Jubilee band fitted to your watch.

MW

[springer]

Refinishing dials was, and still is, very common in the watch industry. Having a vintage watch with a dial that was refinished 40 or 50 years ago when the watch had little value was not uncommon at all

[dannymanchester]

Thanks - appreciate that.

I understand. I suppose I am struggling to fathom why someone who is obviously skilled enough (assumption!) to repaint the dial would repaint it with the Submariner and depths in the wrong order/place!

Also - I have found 2 other examples of this dial (both from same time period on Subs) - both in the US. I know this is strange but that fact that there are other examples suggests either an prolific illiterate dial re-painter or something more to it?

The 1st watch that I found with this was in a thread on reddit from 2013 - the owner suggested that he inherited the watch from his dad and ultimately found out (dont how or if true) that it was a rare Rolex service dial from the late 60s?!

[dannymanchester]

Thanks for the info.

I understand your point - I am just trying to fathom how a skilled (assumption) dial-painter could make such a mistake as putting the submariner and depth in the wrong place/order.

I have included some images of other vintage (same time period) subs that have the same dial (though 100m) - one other 5508 wont upload. If my watch was a one-off I would concur - however, the fact there are a few more (look US based) suggests that there maybe more to it - or just a prolific, illiterate dial-painter?!!

[clem2192]

Originally Posted by dannymanchester

I understand your point - I am just trying to fathom how a skilled (assumption) dial-painter could make such a mistake as putting the submariner and depth in the wrong place/order.

I have no idea but could it be to do with the watchmaker wanting to raise awareness that the dial had had some previous work done? If the watch was re-painted exactly as per the factory then there is a chance that this wouldn't get picked up later in life (a long shot I know as they were obviously not aware that the watches would rise in value so much in the ensuing years).

[dannymanchester]

So apparently these dials are quite rare - they are known as "Inverted depth" dials - and are all service dials - I have now found 5 examples - most on 5508's.