A Rare Vintage Rolex Submariner Just Hit the Market—Here’s Why It Matters

The Rolex Submariner ref. 6538 is one of the most recognizable watches in vintage Rolex collecting. It’s the “Big Crown” Sub made famous by Sean Connery as James Bond in Dr. No. But while the Bond connection cemented its place in pop culture, the example that just came to market takes things further—this one is the chronometer-certified “Four-Line” variant.

It was listed by Wind Vintage, the award-winning secondhand watch platform founded by vintage Rolex expert Eric Wind. All images in this article are courtesy of that listing, which you can view here.

What Makes the “Four-Line” So Special

Rolex produced the Submariner 6538 for only a few short years in the mid-to-late 1950s. Their own 2024 Submariner book estimates that 2,800 units were made in total. Most of those were what collectors call “two-liners,” featuring just the depth rating and the “SUBMARINER” text printed on the dial.

The “Four-Line” variant adds two additional lines of text: “Officially Certified Chronometer.” That seemingly small difference represents a lot more than just ink on the dial. It means the movement went through additional regulation at Rolex and testing by the Swiss government to meet chronometer standards—a level of precision that came at an upcharge of about 30% when new.

According to vintage expert Eric Wind, you’ll typically see ten to twenty examples of the two-liner for every one Four-Line 6538. If you take Rolex’s 2,800 unit estimate and apply that math, you’re looking at maybe 140 to 280 of these chronometer-certified versions ever produced. That’s before you factor in the watches lost to time, damage, or even worse, polishing (cue the evil music/lightning strike sound effects). In other words, finding one today—especially in excellent condition like this—is almost unheard of.

Condition That Speaks for Itself

This Four-Line 6538 is clean, honest, and impressively original. The glossy dial is beautifully preserved. The case appears unpolished according to Wind (someone who’s seen more vintage Submariners than most of us ever will), with full lug profiles and sharp chamfers. Even the crystal is believed to be original. The bezel insert, which wasn’t with the watch when it was first sourced, is a correct red triangle aluminum replacement.

The movement inside is Rolex’s caliber 1030, chronometer certified and running well. It comes on a tight “Big Logo” Rolex Oyster bracelet that dates to 1959—another period-correct detail. If you’re looking for flaws, there’s a small bit of lume missing from the minute hand and at 7 o’clock, but nothing that distracts from the overall presentation.

This is one of those watches where everything lines up. You rarely see a Four-Line 6538 in this kind of condition, and even less often with this kind of documented sourcing.

Where It Sits in the Market

Wind Vintage currently has this watch listed for $290,000. That figure might give some newcomers pause, but for collectors who follow vintage Rolex closely, it’s in the ballpark of recent comps. A Four-Line 6538 sold at Phillips in 2018 for $567,000. That same year, Sotheby’s hammered another one for £274,000—about $360,000 USD at the time. Craft + Tailored currently has a Four-Line 6538 listed at $300,000.

On the other end of the spectrum, lesser-condition 6538s (think service dials, heavily polished cases, and/or incorrect inserts) can be found in the high five-figure range in some cases. Those aren’t comparable to this example, which is exactly why it’s notable.

Why This Watch Matters

For the record, this isn’t the exact “James Bond” Submariner that appeared in Dr. No. That was a two-liner. But this Four-Line version is an even rarer and more technically advanced evolution of that same reference. It shows how Rolex continued refining its sport models in real time—dial tweaks, movement upgrades, and incremental adjustments that today form the backbone of vintage watch collecting.

This is also a great example of how condition and originality intersect with rarity. As we explored in our article “Should You Polish Your Rolex?”, watches like this one gain value not just from what they are, but from how intact they remain. When you find a rare reference in unpolished condition with all the right parts—and a clean, honest dial—you’re looking at something truly exceptional.