Rare 1950s Rolex SOLD for £48,488 at auction in Birmingham

A rare, early Rolex Submariner has sold for £48,488 including buyer’s premium at Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham. The gentleman’s stainless-steel Oyster Perpetual Submariner was sold at approximately 1:50pm on Tuesday 28^th August at Fellows. The fascinating timepiece, reference 6538, was one of the first models worn by Sean Connery’s 007 in early James Bond films, such as Dr. No*.

This particular Submariner was introduced in 1958, and it comes with original box and papers, which is unusual for a vintage watch.

The beautiful timepiece has a black dial with luminous hour markers, and an outer minute track. It is fitted to a signed stainless-steel Oyster bracelet with Oysterclasp and features the original Rolex Submariner dial. The case measures 37mm.

The tension could be felt across the saleroom as the hammer price for the timepiece kept increasing as each minute went by. Phone bidders went head to head and Fellows were eventually delighted to sell the Rolex Submariner for a whopping hammer price of £38,000, which including all fees brings the total sale of the Rolex to a total of £48,488.

Laura Bishop, watch manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “We are delighted to have sold such a fascinating and rare item. These 6538 models do not come up for sale often so we are thrilled and over the moon with the result. This watch has got some service replacement parts but this does not detract from the true nature of the watch. It is always a privilege to see amazing watches such as this one go under the hammer.”

*Price including buyer’s premium.

**Please note this watch is not the same timepiece worn by Sean Connery, but the equivalent model.

Fellows hold eight high value Watch Sales per year, and the next in-demand Watch Sale will take place on Tuesday 30^th October 2018. A Watches & Watch Parts sale will take place on Monday 24^th September, comprising of items ranging from boxes, watch bracelets and parts to entry level watches by well-known makers.

For additional information about Fellows Auctioneers, please view the ‘About’ section of our website here.