1959 Rolex Submariner ref. 5508 “Small Crown, Gilt Tropical Dial”

Up for grabs is a Rolex Submariner “Small Crown”

This watch was recently found and is fresh-to-market. When it was found, the crystal was badly crazed and scratched up, bezel insert was missing, the winding crown needed to be replaced. The watch went off to LA Watchworks, where it was cleaned (not polished), new crystal installed, a Kissing 40 insert installed. Otherwise, the watch is exactly as found. No swapping of dials, hands, etc.

Reference 5508

488,XXX serial number circa 1959 production

Excellent vintage condition case with thick and even lugs. The case is seemingly unpolished with factory chamfers. The numbers between the lugs are legible.

Dial is original, glossy with perfectly intact lume on plots and hands. There is spidering on the lacquer and the dial is clearly brown in person, though it was difficult to capture this on camera.  Very vibrant gilt colors of the print.

Hands are original, gilt with matching patina. No relume, no refinish.

Caseback is original, stamped 5508 inside and correctly III.59

The Cal. 1530 movement has the original “butterfly” rotor still.

Bezel insert is a “Kissing 40” with faded color.

Watch comes was found and comes on a Swiss rivet Rolex bracelet with 64 end-links. One of the clasp blades has been replaced before with an aftermarket one.

No box or papers. No service history. The watch shows +18 seconds with ~250 amplitude.