ROLEX 5512, SUPER RARE 1959 SUBMARINER, SERIAL # 478,118 CALIBER 1530, STUNNING!

SERIAL # 478,118!!

Here is one of the 1st Rolex 5512's EVER MADE!!  This is a SUPER RARE Rolex 5512 Ultra Sharp Pointy crown guard Submariner Serial# 478,118 Case back stamped III 59, 25 jewels, caliber 1530.  Yes, that's serial# 478,118. This is a very important serial# in the history of Rolex Watches.  The Case # 5512 is perfectly legible and is at the top position inside the lugs.  The Serial# is perfectly legible.  The Pointed Crown Guards are ULTRA SHARP and have never been polished.  This watch has never been polished.  The ridges on the bezel are sharp.  Very Rare red triangle on bezel.  This is a very rare TROPICAL 2 LINE SILVER & COPPER TONE GILT DIAL AND CHAPTER RING.  The silver & copper print is sharp and clear.  The word SUBMARINER is wider than the depth, and the word SWISS is FULLY VISIBLE at the 6 o'clock position.

In Italy the watch is referred to as the "Cornini Corti," for the special batch of 5512's from III 59 with a serial# of 478xxx.  

This dial is RARE because it is also only seen on some of the Rarest Submariners of them all, the 5510!  Look closely at the Copper tones of the Rolex logo and Crown, Submariner, and chapter ring.  This copper color gilt only comes from this era. 

Here is a story from a Rolex Blog explaining this...

http://100percent-rolex.blogspot.com/2010/12/5510-seems-to-be-hot.html

"The 5510 is a strange reference. Very rare. Experts say the number produced is about 300-600 pieces. Less than the Milsubs or even 5514.
Only 1 year in production (1958) as intermediate between the 6538 and 5512.
Same case then the 6538. But different movement. Using caliber 1530 instead of 1030.
The 5510 is seen in a couple of dial versions. All gilt and silver/gilt, 2 and 4-lines and 3-6-9 dial (ultra rare).
Sometimes we see them fitted with early 5512 dials. You can spot that by the gap between case and dial. The 5510 dials are bigger then the 5512 dials. On the 5510 dials we often see a copper kind of colour of the gilt printing. Only model I have seen that so often."

Below is an example of a 5510 with the exact same dial that you can bid on right now. This watch was auctioned off at Antiquorum on 4/17/2008.

http://images.antiquorum.com/204/full/163.jpg

The History & Facts which are available on the Internet

1959 was a transitional year for the Submariner. The 6538 and 5510 were still being produced in the early months of '59, but towards the end of the year, Rolex debuted its new Submariner with crown-guards. The very first 5512 had square guards. These square guards were almost immediately replaced with the first version of the pointed guard. These pointed guards found only on case numbers 478,XXX with III.59 in the back are ultra sharp and almost resemble an eagle's beak.   5512's from 1959 are extremely rare. 

This is from a notable Rolex Forum...

First generation 5512's with extra small pointed crownguards, also having the red triangle, where made at almost the exact time as the very rare 5512 that had experimental square crownguards in 478.xxx serial / III'59 caseback. Dial fits better in the case but it's a very small detail not always visible with the first maybe 2-300 examples that where based on the 5510, also using the 25 jewels 1530 caliber. Looks like the short PCG and the square crownguard where made to test the market and see what is better to do after the non crownguard period.

This was taken off Antiquorum's website from the auction of a 5512 square crown guard stamped III 59 that was auctioned March 3, 2011

The serial # of that watch was 478,019 (square crown guard) - Keep in mind that watch didn't have its original bezel, The dial had its luminous material reapplied, the word and the hands weren't original.

Again, Rolex produced approx 100 square crown guards and they were deemed too uncomfortable for professional divers to use.  

It is believed the RARITY of this watch can also be narrowed down even further...It's all conjecture at this point, but there are enthusiasts out there that have written the following....

The Pointy crown guards (PCG) started with serial# 478,101

I came across this on an Italian Rolex Forum, Here is the link, 4th paragraph down..

http://www.vetroplastica.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5388

and here what it is translated in English

are more than convinced (given the same profile of the case), that the "short shoulders" was produced by changing the square boxes so ... hence the possibility that all of the 5512 serial 478.XXX (ie, the very first production) were originally square and then largely have become pointed court. Also on this nat tudor ..... soon as I know we will clarify this doubt other serial ... for now I only 478.101 - 478,210 to 478,215,and horns are all short, but since the pictures are always of 478.XXX serial, unless they have made ​​less than one hundred, it is clear the co-existence, and if anything changes!

Also stated again in this Post.

http://www.vetroplastica.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9527   

The heading on top of the 7th color picture down translates states these prototype crown guards started production with Serial# 478,101.      

FROM THE OWNER OF THE WATCH:

This watch has never been auctioned anywhere, displayed on a website, it was privately held for 50 years.  The is your first and maybe only chance to own a watch like this.  The RAREST Submariner is the 5510.  Approx 300-600 were ever made, some say definitely less than 1,000.   THE 5512 REPLACED THE 5510.  Through my research THE VERY EARLIEST 5512's HAVE THE SAME EXACT GILT DIAL as some of the RARE 5510 models.

This watch is gorgeous, don't let any of the scratches on the original crystal throw you off.  The dial is GORGEOUS.  Most of the dials I see on 5512's have the word SWISS not fully legible.  Does anyone out there know of another 5512 PCG with a lower serial??  This watch is 100% original and has never been polished!   It is unclear how many remain? One fact is certain, experts say in order for this watch to be an extremely rare ultra sharp pointy crown guard Rolex 5512, the serial # has to be without a doubt 478xxx ONLY.  This one is!!

The Rolex 5512 is the watch for the most "refined collectors" because there is so much you need to know.  There is a lot of history behind this watch.

Good luck and I hope this is the one watch someone needs to finish off their Submariner collection.

PLEASE SEE BOB METHENY, CW-21, AND CURRENT ROLEX SPARE PARTS ACCOUNT MEMBER'S DESCRIPTION OF THIS ULTRA RARE TIMEPIECE IN THE PICTURES SECTION!

NO INTERNATIONAL BIDDING WHATSOEVER!!

I WILL CANCEL YOUR BID!!

PAYMENT IS EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF AUCTION CLOSE!!

NO EXCEPTIONS!!

THE WATCH WILL BE SHIPPED VIA USPS OVERNIGHT SHIPPING AND FULLY INSURED FOR THE SELLING PRICE!!

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY IMPECCABLE FEEDBACK AND BID WITH ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE!!

"IF YOU OWN IT RIGHT, YOU CAN SELL IT RIGHT!!"

Just so everyone is clear, as I've received an overwhelming response regarding this timepiece...This Rolex is NOT going to be pulled off of Ebay, and the auction will run it's course!! BID NOW AND BID OFTEN!!