Rolex submariner makes waves in Birmingham auction

A Rolex Submariner wristwatch has sold for almost £50,000 at a Birmingham auction house.

The rare and early Rolex fetched £48,488, including buyer’s premium at Fellows Auctioneers recently.

The gentleman’s stainless-steel Oyster Perpetual Submariner was the same as one of the first models worn by Sean Connery in the early James Bond films, such as 1962’s Dr No.

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

The 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 auction house said that excitement in the saleroom rose as the hammer price for the timepiece kept increasing as each minute went by. Phone bidders went head to head and Fellows eventually sold the Rolex Submariner for a 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.”