Rolex Submariner 5508 "James Bond" Tropical, 1962 Men's Vintage Watch

An extremely rare Rolex Submariner reference 5508 aka "James Bond" with a stunning gilt tropical dial and "exclamation point" lume dot at 6 o'clock. The Rolex Submariner 5508 is an important reference in the history of the Rolex Submariner line, marking the move towards standardisation of the model.

Produced between the late 1950's and early 1960's, the Rolex reference 5508 introduced the 55XX reference format that persisted until the 1990's. It was also the first to use dials with only dial markers (compared to some earlier Submariner's that featured Explorer-style dials with 3, 6, and 9 indicators). Furthermore it was also the first to add 15 minute markers to the bezel. 

Our favourite feature (or lack thereof) is the clean lines of the case owing to the lack of crown guards that would become standard additions for later references. 

Condition:

• Case: Excellent condition for its age. Unpolished (at least in recent years which is incredibly rare for these pieces). Engraved with the previous owner's name;
• Dial & Hands: Stunning original gilt dial with "exclamation point" at the 6 o'clock marker. Hands in good condition with intact lume;
• Bezel & Insert: Fitted with a NOS "kissing 40" bezel. Original bezel (minus insert) is included also as is a spare 3rd party red triangle insert;  
• Movement: Rolex calibre 1530 automatic movement recently cleaned and serviced in excellent condition
• Strap: Currently fitted to a gorgeous leather strap. We can change this for another of your preference if required.

An excellent opportunity to own a piece of Rolex history with a beautifully aged example of the Rolex Submariner 5508 "James Bond"!

Shipping:

For orders placed before 2pm orders will be shipped the same day.

Your watch will be carefully packaged and shipped fully insured with leading global courier companies.

Delivery Prices:

Delivery within the UK is Free. Delivery within Europe is £30. Delivery for the Rest of the World is £50.

Returns:

Don't like it or change your mind? Return it for a full refund with our 14 day, no hassle returns on all sales. See the full conditions here.

The Watches

Are all watches authenticated?

All our watches pass through a double authentication process to insure their authenticity. We also provide detailed photos of the watch from all angles to allow you to undertake your own anlysis. Finally as with everything, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our friendly team

What if something goes wrong with the watch

Whilst all our watches are fully serviced before sale, if something does go wrong, we'll repair it for free as part of our 1 year warranty

Do watches come with original box and papers?

It depends on the individual watch. You can see details under "The Basics" heading on this page. For the majority of vintage watches their original box and papers have been lost to time. Whilst they are nice to have, it’s important to note that “box and papers” DO NOT authenticate a watch despite what many in our trade say. It’s also important to realise alot of sellers (including some of the most well known in the UK) put together full sets of box, papers, hang tags etc by buying blank paperwork and boxes in the secondary market. This is a very regrettable, but unfortunately common occurrence in the trade but something we will never do!

How do I know it will fit?

For metal bracelets we provide the size it will currently fit in the description section of this page. If this measurement is too large or too small we are able to assist in either adding or removing links. We also offer this service, post service on a at-cost basis (i.e. we don't add a margin).

Can you change the strap?

Absolutely! If you don't like the current strap, let us know and we'll change it for free! We maintain a broad selection of styles and can also source straps to your specification free of charge.

Can you source something similar?

Absolutely! If its not quite what you’re looking for just get in touch and we can source one with our Free, No Obligation sourcing service. You can contact us on phone, live chat or simply submit the details of what you’re looking for on our “Find a Watch” page.

Payment

What payment options do you offer?

We accept payment by all leading credit and debit cards, ApplePay as well as bank transfer.

Do you offer financing?

Currently we don't offer financing but it’s something we're exploring.

Shipping & Returns

Can you ship an order to arrive on a certain day?

We can certainly try! We can request with our shipment partners for delivery on a certain day but ultimately the exact delivery date is subject to a number of factors outside our control.

How do I return a watch?

Simply let us know you want to send the watch back within the 14 return period and return it to us via Royal Mail Special Delivery. We’ll process your refund the same day we receive the watch back.

Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

You can find our full terms and conditions here.