“Hey, why are you featuring an old watch on Barn Finds?” Well, if there was ever an object that had a “Barn Find” feel, it would be this Rolex. While it wasn’t found in a barn, it was worn and enjoyed for years and shows amazing patina. You are looking at a Rolex Submariner 5512 from around 1967. It can be found here on Sotheby’s with a current bid of $9,000. The pre-auction estimate was $5,000 to $7,000, so you can tell there’s something special about this one. You won’t believe the life this watch has led, have a closer look.
The stainless steel, automatic watch was designed for diving but the overall design actually began in the 1920s. According to FHH Journal: “The Submariner was first introduced in 1954, but its history really began in 1926, when Rolex introduced the Oyster, the first watch with a hermetically sealed case. In 1931, Rolex patented the world’s first self-winding mechanism with a Perpetual rotor, thus elaborating the name to Oyster Perpetual. By the 1950s, Rolex was making watches with rotating bezels for divers, and continually improving water resistance. When the Oyster Perpetual Submariner was introduced in 1954, it represented the first commercially available timepiece capable of submerging to 100 metres.”
You can barely make out the upside-down engraving in this photo, but the back reads “I LOVE YOU MR. BOND SHARON.” I’m not sure who Sharon is, but I know she gives nice gifts! According to FHHJ: “While the Sub was always a cult favorite among professional divers, its wide-ranging popularity may have begun, or was certainly reinforced in the U.S., by James Bond. In 1962’s Dr. No, Sean Connery’s Bond began a tradition of wearing a Submariner…” I don’t think that Sharon’s “Mr. Bond” was chasing down international criminals, but was probably working just as hard or harder. The Sotheby’s ad explains a bit regarding the condition: “…was previously loved by an active painter who wore it daily without fail.”
As you can see, the case and bracelet are covered in specs of paint. Sotheby’s describes it as: “Case is worn with scuffing, scratches, and nicks consistent with daily use. Crystal glazing with heavy scuffs and scratches obscuring areas of the dial…The movement is NOT operating and will need service at the buyer’s discretion.” With the bidding already well over the high estimate, there’s no telling where this watch will end up. How high do you think it will go and will the buyer restore it?
A new Rolex like this one is $12,000. How much are you going to have in this one to refurb it ?
You can purchase a functioning perfect Submariner for $6000-7000, maybe less if you shop around….so why buy this?
Why do some people pay silly $ for cars still covered in bird poop and filled with rodent condominiums?
This is pathetic and why I will never pay to view this site.
Smart. Very smart.
You get ONE watch offered on this site and then give the excuse that it is the reason not to ever PAY to view this site? I live in UK so have a valid reason for not becoming a member but if I lived in US I would pay up in a heartbeat for sure. I just think you, and the 16 others so far, are tightwads.
@john wilson – yet you took the time to click on the article and leave a comment…
Feel free to scroll on by to other listings. Nobody is forcing you to click on, read and comment.
Come on it’s a watch, really?
C’mon, it’s a car. Really?
You need to own one to appreciate what it is. Just saying, it’s a very fine work of art. I pay for this site. It’s waaay worth it to me.
Nuts
Dang… pathetic? Not in my opinion, the unique nature of that item drew me to view the article and piqued my interest in something odd and different. I’d love to know the full back story and speak to the guy who wore it- I’m sure it would be a great story! Crazy pricing? Probably so, and not something I’d buy either- but I sure enjoyed reading about it here. Keep the occasional similar item coming- if it’s something cool, aged and something that many typical car guys could appreciate- post it! Thanks for a great site!
I agree… I like articles like this.
Watches aren’t my thing, however, it doesn’t hurt to read a short story about the history of an interesting item. As for those complaining, it takes significantly less effort to skip reading the write up than it does to click on it, then complain. Most readers know right off the bat if a particular feature is of interest. If something isn’t, why not skip it. There are new postings nearly every hour, something interesting will pop up, probably sooner than later.
Steve R
This is one version older than a watch I refurbished and sold to a good friend probably 25+ years ago. (See auction item 90)
I’m curious about the bracelet, and whether it might be original to the watch. There were several makers for bracelets over the years, and this one appears to be in good condition for having been worn every day under less than ideal conditions.
See auction item #90, the very next watch. Sent a note to my friend, he says it was 1992. My recollection of the price was $850. The auction for the model 5513 is currently at $10K.
Part of our deal was that if he sold the watch, I was first in line to buy it back, for the same price. Um, yea, I released him from that a very long time ago, when I saw where values were headed.
I lost track of how many nice watches I bought/redid/sold over a couple of decades. It was fun. I made some good friends, and had a few who were real fans of my knowledge base and skill set. Like the guy whose President was struck/damaged by a competitor’s swing while playing raquetball.
It’s not really an “auction”. It’s available for sale, minimum purchase price: $10K, no bids.
PRA4SNW
It IS an auction. But the minimum bid is $10K, and no one has stepped up yet. Could be that the opener would buy it. We’ll see in 17+ hours.
I just glanced at the page, missed that important fact. Looks like the painted 5512 has garnered a ton more interest.
Lots of car guys are also watch aficionados. Guns too. I guess it’s the allure of mechanical things.
I think it has a lot more to do with compensating for certain “shortcomings”. You forgot to add cigars.
I’m a watch and car aficionado, but I build my own watches and work on my cars. Which “shortcomings” am I compensating for, Doctor?
I purchased a new Rolex when I was about 25 for $1000.00 I had to make payments on it like a stupid kid does. I sold it several years later for $500.00 and now it’s worth about $3000.00 I wish that I’d kept it but it never kept as good of time as my Tag Heuer I have now.
That is because the TAG has a quartz movement, instead of a mechanical one. Same as used in watches selling for likely 1/4 (or less) of the price you paid for the TH. (Sorry)
I am (or used to be, before retirement) an expert on the function of timepieces. Redoing them was what I did for income. Some were extraordinary internally, showing the highest level of mechanical engineering and production values. Others, not so much, even though the prices were high. Currently take Shinola for a prime example. $$$ for basic internal components. Sizzle, not steak.
DDB, as you know, there are lots of TAG Heuer watches with mechanical movements as well – they’re not all quartz. Personally I have an old TAG Spirotechnique automatic diver from the ’80s in my rotation.
@Ken- You continue to provide a valuable service to the BF base by reminding us we aren’t you. Thanks!
Isn’t that what this site is all about? I don’t see too many Corollas or Acuras listed here, which are arguably better cars, technically speaking, than anything you’d find in a barn. Which car turns more heads – a ’56 Caribbean or a Tesla…? Comparing a wrist computer to a classic mechanical watch really misses the point, imho.
Remember, when YOU are judged , all your assumptions and judgments about other people may be your eternal downfall !
For all you know, this watch was purchased for the reason it was made for ; its entirely possible the owner was a sea diver or was an underwater welder
I’ve always felt that jewelery was pretty superfluous, along with the people who value it.
Same can be said of classic car lovers…
It’s cool to see a watch like this worn and used instead of just sitting in a collection. Not a Rolex fan in general, but there’s no denying that the watches from Rolex continue to appreciate in value. The real gems are vintage Hamilton and Heuer watches (in my totally snobby opinion), and the occasional vintage Omega.
Ran When Parked 😂
It would be nixe and maybe a driver for the added value to know more about the engraving/personalization.
As for cars watches autographs whatever its all relative and fun to read the stories of discovery. Wish I could find a gem to treasure.
I have the same watch albeit a 1989 model . I had it serviced at the Rolex shop a couple years back and the owner offered me twice what I paid . I still have it and wear it daily , I do take it off if I use an air chisel , the cause of the last service . It is a mechanical marvel and I love it . I’d rather have a primeNew York Strip than a hamburger too .
A Rolex for sale should always have pics of the watch with the band removed so the case number and reference number can be viewed to verify its authenticity. It’s also a good idea to remove the case back so the movement can be viewed and verified.
I’m guessing Sotheby’s has done its due dilligence…
I’m a fan of Rolex watches and would rather see a watch article than a boat one, frankly…. ;-) But I respect those that want to read the boat articles, unlike some of the commenters above about this article. I started re-wearing a watch a couple of years ago and had to take my 5 to get new batteries when I did. I don’t own an Apple watch as I like to wear different watches for different occasions.
Dan D. I own about 25 watches of different brands and values, however, I realise that I am a bit different to other people in that I wear a watch on both left and right wrists at the same time. I change them on a weekly basis so that all of them get used. I might add that Diego Maradona is the only other person that I have ever seen that also wears two watches at the same time, however, his might show different time zones. Well, I did tell you that I was a bit different.
When traveling I use my phone for local time and keep my watch set to home time. Eventually I will find a vintage Glycine orange pumpkin and use that for a dual zone timekeeper.
I bought a submariner Rolex for myself as my reward for serving my 4 year enlistment in the US Navy. I found it used in a jewelry store along the coast in Carmel, CA. I paid $2400 back then which was a lot of money for me at rhe time. Last time I checked it was worth about 3.5x what I paid for it. It was certified, and every 5 years it cost close to $500 to have it serviced correctly. The man I have used owns a watch shop, and he too was in the Navy. I trust him.
I think it is an awesome addition to somewhat the same boring cars. Being old I have seen and had pretty much everything already.
I have never had a Rolex and love the mystic surrounding them. I wouldn’t know the difference between a real or fake. The watch has history and from the bids it isn’t a fake. It’s a watch that has lived a full life front and center. The previous owner must have been quite the guy. Not a watch that’s lived in a case or safe deposit box its entire life. This one has had a life of it’s own.
I would be proud to have it and for the money what the hell? You only live once. Thanks for presenting it. I would love to see more
First time posting. Back in early 1974, my mother made a single, casual comment to my dad that she admired a friend’s gold Rolex. My dad, mindful of the fact that their 40th anniversary had passed in 1972 with little fanfare, quietly purchased a similar Rolex, had it inscribed, and put it away to give it to her on their 42nd anniversary in July. She died of a stroke in May. I now wear this nearly 50-year-old watch. I doubt that a Timex would still be ticking.
“Barn Find” and “Sothebys” should never be uttered in the same sentence. If they are, RUN!
I think it was about 50 years ago when I was on Guam, ha ving been medivaced off the carrier into DaNang for kidney failure and ending up at the hospital there. A Nikon FTn with the 1.2 lens was $145.00 and so was the Rolex Submariner. You could buy the Rolex President with the solid gold case and bracelet for $999 downtown. May as well have been todays prices to an E-4 Photographer’s Mate sending most of the meger paycheck back home but I fell in love with boht the camera and the watch. I eventually had all the Nikon gear up to digital but never the Rolex. Love it for what it is but do ok as an old man with my Casio stainless dual time, also good to 100 meters. Thanks for another memory.
I too enjoy a great mechanical watch. I have a friend who is sight impaired and always asks me the current time. Pushing the function button on my repeater pocket watch and listening to the separate hour, quarter and minute chimes tell the exact time is a kindness and sharing we both enjoy.
As for mechanical watches, Rolex for the rugged case dependability and average timekeeping ability. Some grades of self wind Omegas and others for time keeping accuracy when worn. I still have a split function Omega 1/100th second Olympic Chronograph I use at vintage car races. Just for nostalgic fun. And my grandsons now understand quarter past, half past and quarter to.
For perfection, look at a Patek Phillipe watch.
Next we may see Leica M2S cameras here.
Not long ago on Antiques Roadshow, a guy brought in his Rolex Submariner diving watch he had bought in the US base PX in Viet Nam. He only wore it once before putting it away in a box for safekeeping. He had all the original paperwork, even the warranty card had never been filled in and sent back to Rolex. It was about as mint as possible, and had everything in perfect order. If I remember correctly, it was appraised at about $700,000.00, and I think it sold at auction for even more.
Here’s the CMBC link to the story https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/28/rolex-bought-for-350-is-now-worth-up-to-700000-antiques-roadshow.html
It’s a Daytona chronograph and not a diver, but same principle…
That was fun to watch…the poor guy fell over when he was told what it was worth.
He also collapsed to the floor on live TV, if I recall correctly. Whether that was staged or real, it made that particular segment of A-R the most watched thing on PBS in quite a while. If it were me, I wouldn’t hesitate to part with the watch for that kind of money. Sentiment aside, he looked like he could use a boost in his wallet.
Can only imagine the stories from this watch. Would love to add to collection but… Oh well.
i love cars and watches, several rolexes (amongst other watches) in my collection and they have been great investments all of them have at least doubled in value and some x5 times what i paid for them, and i have met some great friends over the years because they spot a vintage rolex on my wrist and strike up a conversation, so i love this article, nice to mix it up once and a while and you never know you may learn something interesting.
carappraiser,
I used to wear a fairly expensive Rolex, and you are correct, I find people who actually wear REAL Rolex watches tend to be interesting people.
I also have a very impressive solid platinum case with gold dial ring, Baume & Mercier wrist watch, that also caught people’s attention. However starting a few years ago it began attracting the wrong type of people, so I stopped wearing it. My dad, upon learning what it was worth, said “Sell it!”, but it was a gift from a “Head of State”, and I better wear it if & when I go back to his country.
This is the Acrylic Crystal non-date version, which sold until the mid 80s.
I had one and like a lot of Rolex owners, I called it my time approximator.
It was great for picking up chicks, but I ended up selling it. I bought an
Omega Speedmaster automatic (chronograph) after that. It costs $550
the last time I had it cleaned and oiled. Newedless to say, I don’t wear it
muich. You really never lose money on these types of watches.
I wear a Tudor Black, Bay homage (among many others) which I built using nearly identical parts to the original, including the movement. Cost about $200 and is every bit as good as the original. Cost to clean and service: $150, which is what a new movement would, and will be, assuming it ever needs it…
From the internet source: luxe.digital
Here is the most current list of the top seventeen most expensive Rolex watches in the world in 2020.
Rank Model Price
17 Submariner Date from $13,337 (2020)
16 Sky-Dweller Oystersteel from 14,275 (2020)
15 Cosmograph Daytona from $16,780 (2020)
14 Datejust from $17,000 (2020)
13 Rolex Day-Date from $34,500 (2020)
12 Rolex Pearlmaster collection $87,000 (2020)
11 Steve McQueen’s Rolex Submariner (1967) $234,000 (2009)
10 Rolex Platinum Diamond Pearlmaster $277,850 (March 2011)
9 James Bond Rolex Submariner (1972) $365,000 (November 2015)
8 Rolex GMT Master II Ice $485,350 (2020)
7 Jack Nicklaus Rolex Day-Date $1,220,000 (December 2019)
6 Eric Clapton’s Rolex “Oyster Albino” Cosmograph Daytona $1.4 mil
5 Marlon Brando’s Rolex GMT-Master $1,952,000 (December 2019)
4 Antimagnetique Reference 4113 (1942) $2.5 million (May 2016)
3 Rolex Bao Dai $5.1 million (May 2017)
2 Rolex Daytona Reference 626 Unicorn (1971)$5.9 million (May 2018)
1 Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona $17.8 million (October 2017)
I wear my Dad’s 1977 Rolex everyday. It’s a tank and I love it. It’s also really comfortable, amazingly so.
That said, getting the insides “rebuilt” isn’t always a simple deal. These are mechanical devices and sometimes they simply wear out.
Also of note; If you send the watch to the Rolex company for refurbishment, they will replace parts like the dial face with brand new parts, and that can have a HUGE effect on the watch’s value. And I’ve heard the factory keeps the “old but still nice” faces to repair other watches the factory owns.
Just take it to an independent watchmaker.
A bit of a rant coming….
Qualifications:
1 Certified Master Watchmaker, 1974
2 Certified Rolex Technician 1982
Bill, Sending a watch back to Rolex can result in cosmetic improvements, unless the owner specifically requests that only the mechanical and water-sealing components are to be reconditioned.
Of bigger concern to me is that Rolex and other (mostly Swiss) luxury watch brands, barring instructions to the contrary, will at their discretion, and depending on inventory, swap out the movements for ones already factory rebuilt.
So, you take your classic car in with a bad engine, and a different factory rebuilt one is installed. Instead of the original being redone, it is swapped out with one waiting on a shelf. THAT…. I have a real problem with. The movements are serialized, but most people don’t know what theirs is. How could they?
Jesse has a good answer, BUT: There are far fewer qualified watch repairmen operating independently now, then there were when the watch featured was built. I’m thinking when I passed my American Watchmakers Institute tests, there were around 15K members. And parts for virtually all brands were widely available, through supply houses or factory direct.
NOW, the AWCI (Clockmakers added maybe 15 years ago) has fewer than 2000 members. Sad. The largest factor in the decline, and most troubling, is that the supply of genuine repair parts for the “luxury” brands has been nearly made impossible to access. Not just in the USA, worldwide. There have been lawsuits, none successful to my knowledge.
There are still some places with the knowledge, skills, equipment, and a stash of parts who can work on the high-end watches. Fewer every year. The makers are approaching complete monopolies over their product in many areas.
My attitude is: If you BUY something, you should be able to OWN it. Part of ownership of a mechanical item is service. I can buy parts for any car I have ever owned. But people who buy expensive watches cannot. Nor can their friendly local timepiece mechanic. Do they really own the watch then, or are they just leasing it, with only one source for service?
DayDreamBeliever,
That’s not a rant, it’s lots of valuable information.
Over the past few years, as I used to attend a well-known auction company here in Maryland [closed because of Covid], I have seen many huge watch part collections and tools [probably coming from watchmakers who retired or passed away] be broken up or simply trashed because no one at the auction would bid on the collections, myself included.
last year at just one auction, I saw over 10,000 watch faces and quartz glass lenses end up in a dumpster because no one bid. Each part & lens/crystal was in a paper sleeve, numbered. Like most there, I don’t have room to store such things, nor do I know of anyone who wants these watch part inventories.
Bill,
It is a bit sad to hear such stories.
When I was in full swing in the 80’s, I would visit flea markets, gun shows, some antique shops, and be trolling for watches or gemstones. Some really interesting and great finds. Many fruitless days troo.
At auctions, there were some old watch parts collections, and I bought a few. At one, there was a really nice large oak cabinet, with lots of shallow drawers, each subdivided and filled with mostly crystals for really old pocket watches. I bid for a bit, but stopped when I recognized one of the bidders raising his hand as an antique furniture dealer. He wound up the winner, and I bought the entire contents of all of the drawers from him, for $20. He only wanted the cabinet, was going to dump the contents.
The stash you mention may well have found a home on eBay, if you had decided to pick it up. Amazes me what some parts and tools sell for there, and non-running, not particularly interesting watches, too.
And, about the replacement parts situation for higher end watches… I wanted that to be a rant, as the companies have managed to nearly destroy a thriving part of the watch business. Repair schools students basically are trained to go work for the companies now, not own their own business.
I too was surprised at this, but we can work with it. After 42 years in the old car hobby, looks like it’s “time” to find another hobby.( rim shot) Never wore a watch, even in my trucking years, there were enough clocks in the world, I didn’t need one on my wrist. Had a pocket watch for a spell, looked classy, but for the most part, I didn’t care what time it was.
As far as you folks that won’t help out this site, based solely on this post, Jesse, for obvious reasons, is much more cordial than this old grumbly trucker, but adios, who needs ya’? I’m a member because it helps pay the writers salary, and I’ve yet to come across a more friendly, interactive car site. with people who, for whatever reason, know a lot about a lot of subjects. It’s why I’m here. Now, let’s forget all that, sit back, and enjoy a classic tune from my era,,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FzCWLOHUes
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Well played, Howard.
Time for the ‘complainee’ (JW) above to get a life !!
DayDreamBeliever said;
Does anybody really know what time it is?
My reply; Does anybody really care?
If so, I can’t imagine why…..
I think it served its purpose. Just a barometer to get an idea of how many people are reading this site
I enjoyed this side trip, once in a while something different is good for the soul.
It helps that I like wrist watches and have a small collection of 8. I swore I’d stop at 6….my thing is inexpensive watches that look like they should cost lots more. Its fun, its inexpensive and if I screw one of them up I’m not out any real money.
Cars and watches go together nicely. So do boats, cigars, fine whisky and root beer. :)
ESSENTIAL GUY STUFF. Don’t forget a leggy lady to step out of your ride when you go into the steakhouse for a fine filet mignon and glass of vintage grape. Like Rob, I’ve only owned one that my Dad left in his jewelry box most of the time. But like Kelly, mine was a time approximator so was sold to pay some bills during a tough time in my life.
Hammered for $12,600
The Model 5513 apparently got no bids….
All I can say is, who, in their right mind, paints with a Rolex on their wrist?
Patina, my butt. That’s not patina. It’s paint…….
My first job was at a Dairy Queen, late 60’s. The owner wore a watch all day long, with hands in machinery, in and out of freezers, steam from cooking, etc.
He ruined a couple, then bought a Rolex. I would occasionally find it sitting in a pot of water in a kitchen area, being washed because he had spilled something on it….
Lex may have started my curiosity about watches….
This story reminds me of the days when people drove cars like Mopar Hemis, Cobras, etc as daily drivers because they were “just a car”.
Not that a Rolex could have ever been considered “just a watch”, but you know that there are some owners of things that just enjoy using things, which is their right.
Earlier on there were a couple of commenters complaining that this was an “old car” site and watches were not supposed to be part of it. Well, so far there have been 67 comments from “old car” lovers so it looks like it was a VERY good idea. Thanks Montana.
I’m loving reading about this, and the fact that there are watch experts comments that are educating us.
Who doesn’t want to learn something new?
Have an open mind.
PRA4SNW,
Absolutely correct. While most readers here would agree the majority of the “finds” should be older vehicles of all kinds, it’s nice to read about INTERESTING alternative items, be they watches, boats, aircraft, or even perhaps “automobilia”.
For example, with an interesting story included, I found an original celluloid negative from 1908. The subject? a 1907 Thomas Flyer. The location: Near Nagoya, Japan. The event: The 1908 New York to Paris automobile race.
Yes, this is a genuine negative taken by the New York Times photographer riding in the Thomas Flyer [the winning car], documenting the greatest race ever accomplished. I’ve thought about sending this in to Barn finds, along with the story of how I found it, but have hesitated because, let’s face it, it’s just a celluloid negative, not a vehicle.
Send it in! Yeah, there will be negative, narrow-minded comments, but I appreciate every chance I get to expand my horizons.