Rolex submariner 1954 front

Live bidding for 1954 Rolex Submariner 6200 tops £100,000

Watchcollecting.com sale has four days to go for the Holy Grail of Rolex Submariners considered the first professional tool diving watch.

Bidding for an extremely rare 1954 Rolex Submariner 6200 on the Watch Collecting auction platform topped £100,000 today, with another four days to go until the sale closes on September 28.

And the watch does not even have its original bracelet or bezel insert.

Described as “The Holy Grail of Rolex Submariners,” the piece is considered the first professional tool diving watch.

It is one of an estimated 300 crafted in 1954, and very few have survived the past 67 years.

Discovered amongst the inherited possessions of an oil-industry geologist, the time piece boasts a “3-6-9” layout and Mercedes hands and an 8mm ‘Big Crown.’

Rolex submariner 1954

The first to be depth rated to 200m with the associated thicker case, it features gilt dials with its model name over-printed in silver.  Hands are also gilt, with both dial and hands possessing luminous material.  Beneath the dial beats an A296 automatic movement.

Rolex submariner 1954 back

Its dial and hands are in remarkable condition, with the luminous material evenly aged. Signs of radium damage to the crystal and dial surface are clues to the originality of both components.

The case, while marked, retains the clear lines and bevel edges that indicate a lack of polishing. The A296 movement is clean and running well. The watch is currently fitted to a contemporary cotton canvas pull-thought strap.

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