Rolex

Manufactured over a two-year run between approximately 1956 to 1958, reference 6536 marked the golden age of submariners to not feature crown guards together with its sister reference 6538, incorporating a number of design features which defined the chapter of early Rolex submariners. Along with the lack of crown guards, the 6536 employed the thin 37 mm Oyster case, and is considered one of the ‘James Bond’ submariners, as the famous spy prominently sported a no-crown guard submariner on the silver screen. 

The reference 6536 is where the submariner finally settled on all of the traits that are still present on the new models. This watch was the first to include all the key design features of the iconic Submariner lineage including the Mercedes hand, a rotating outer bezel graduated to 15 minutes, and a black dial with triangle at 12 o’clock. This reference is decidedly more elegant and less “tool-watch like” than the purpose-built crown-guarded subs. The present watch comes fitted with a ‘ghost’ bezel, where the paint has aged from the original black colour to a light grey, making this watch one-of-a-kind in its appearance, as every bezel fades in unique ways. The lacquer dial has aged consistently due to wear during its long lifespan, but remains glossy and unstained with ‘swiss’ designation at 6 o’clock.

The present watch marks a compelling buy for any discerning collector who wishes to acquire a submariner that is both instantly recognizable and easier to wear due to the smaller and thinner case in comparison to its modern contemporaries.