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The Index — Vintage watches, decoded.References, dials and variants up to 2000

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Rolex Submariner James Bond 6538 · The Index

Brands
Rolex
Submariner
6538

Submariner James Bond 6538

1956–19597 variants

Big-crown reference made alongside the small-crown 6536. Sean Connery wears a two-line example with a no-hash bezel as James Bond in Dr. No (1962).

About 2,800 made over four years, per one auction house.

Variants over time

Explore by production yearAll recorded years

19551959

19551960

Faded ends mark approximate or unknown dates. Years are as stated by the cited sources.

Variants

Four Line1956–1959

Reference specifications

Brand: Rolex
Model: Submariner
Reference: 6538
Category: Diver
Production: 1956–1959
Case material: Stainless steel
Case diameter: 38 mm
Crown: 8 mm

More specifications (5)

Crown guards: None
Water resistance: 200 m
Date: No
Crystal: Acrylic

Read more

The History of the Rolex Small & Big Crown James Bond SubmarinerRead more at Rolex Passion Report (opens in a new tab)
Reference Points: Understanding The Rolex SubmarinerRead more at HODINKEE (opens in a new tab)

First Submariner with chronometer certification on the dial. Model branding printed in gold, other text in white/silver.

Four-line dialClosed chapter ringBig crown (8 mm Brevet)

2 sub-variants:One-Colour Print Two-Colour Print

Two Line1956–1959

Non-chronometer version with a simpler, more open dial. The Dr. No watch is a two-liner with a no-hash bezel.

Two-line dialBig crown (8 mm Brevet)

Explorer Dial, Red Depth Ratingc. 1956

The rarest big-crown dial configuration; very few known. An example without bezel sold for over $1 million in June 2018. One example with the OCC text was found with its original owner in South America.

Explorer dialRed depth ratingBig crown (8 mm Brevet)

Tiffany & Co. SignedUndated

Dial signed by the retailer Tiffany & Co., known both alongside the Rolex signature (double name) and, per one collector, as the only name.

Tiffany & Co. double signatureRetailer-signed dialBig crown (8 mm Brevet)

Double Name, Serpico y LainoUndated

Dial co-signed by the Venezuelan retailer Serpico y Laino.

Retailer-signed dialBig crown (8 mm Brevet)

Calibers

1030

Specs shared by all variants. Variant pages show where a variant differs.

All Submariner references

Previous reference6536/1

Next reference5508