Vintage Rolex Submariner Reference 5508

Vintage Rolex Submariner Reference 5508

This Submariner is in good, attractive vintage condition. The case is in good condition with normal signs of wear, with some scratches and small indentaions throughout. The inner caseback is stamped: “5508” and “11.62.” The serial and reference numbers are visible between the lugs with some signs of wear. The bezel insert is in good, honest condition with wear, fading and scratches throughout; the bezel is a period correct replacement. The glossy dial is in overall good, attractive condition with some patina and marks that can be hard to notice. The dial has remained glossy. The lume on the dial has developed an even light-yellow patina and most plots show signs of degradation. The four o’clock plot has signifigant lume loss. The hands have developed patina and the lume in the hands has been color matched/ relumed to match the dial. The seconds hand appears to be a slightly earlier “lollipop” replacement. This has a stainless steel Swiss Oyster rivet bracelet with 11 links and 80 end links. The bracelet is stamped “2 61” indicating it’s from 1961. The bracelet is in overall good condition with some scratches, normal wear, and some stretch between the links. The crystal is in good condition with some wear.

The Rolex Submariner reference 5508 is a historically important model for multiple reasons, but perhaps its most notable reason is it the last reference lacking the use of crown guards to protect the crown against incidental impact. Another notable reason is the use of a smaller crown. A departure was made on the bezel from the red painted triangle for a silver triangle which surrounds the lume pip, a design which is still seen on modern Submariners to this day. We also see the use of a different luminant material using a lower amount of radium, which is represented by the small dot at the six o’clock under the lume plot but right above the minutes track. This little flourish has been given the nickname of an “exclamation point”, truly a surprising standout from most other Submariner references.

Authenticity