Explorer Dial, Red Depth Rating
Submariner James Bond 6538 — Explorer Dial, Red Depth Rating
c. 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.
About 2,800 made over four years, per one auction house.
No verified image of this watch yet
Identifying details
- Explorer dial
Arabic 3, 6 and 9 hour markers.
- Red depth rating
Depth rating printed in red.
- Big crown (8 mm Brevet)
8 mm winding crown with “Brevet” on the outside.
Variants of 6538
Reference overview →| Variant | Production |
|---|---|
| Four Line | 1956–1959 |
| Four Line · One-Colour Print | 1956 |
| Four Line · Two-Colour Print | Undated |
| Two Line | 1956–1959 |
Case & movement
- Reference
- 6538
- Production
- c. 1956
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case diameter
- 38 mm
- Crown
- 8 mm
- Crown guards
- None
- Water resistance
- 200 m
- Crystal
- Acrylic
More specifications (2)
- Chronometer
- Yes
- Date
- No
Dial, bezel & hands
- Text at 6
- Red depth rating, white OCC
Read more
- Reference Points: Understanding The Rolex SubmarinerRead more at HODINKEE (opens in a new tab)
- The Rolex Submariner Collectors StoryRead more at Rolex Passion Report (opens in a new tab)
- The History of the Rolex Small & Big Crown James Bond SubmarinerRead more at Rolex Passion Report (opens in a new tab)