As July comes to a close, so does our exclusive Dive Watches Summer Auction, an online event hosted by Bob’s Watches featuring a fascinating collection of history-rich vintage Tudor and Rolex dive watches. A blue Tudor Submariner ref. 94110, “Double Red” Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 1665, Rolex Submariner Date ref. 1680, and “Meters First” Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 were all up for grabs as bidding commenced on July 26th. Demand for these remarkable timepieces was high as 461 people from 27 different countries around the world registered for a chance to add a piece of dive watch history to their collections. Get all the details on the outcome in this quick auction recap.
Event Details
- Start Date: July 26, 2024
- End Date: July 30, 2024
Featured Watches:
- Vintage Rolex Submariner “Meter’s First” Ref. 5513 (click here to see the watch)
- Vintage Tudor Submariner Ref. 94110 (click here to see the watch)
- Vintage Rolex Sea-Dweller “Double Red Sea-Dweller” Ref. 1665 (click here to see the watch)
- Vintage Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 (click here to see the watch)
Vintage Rolex Submariner “Meter’s First” Ref. 5513
Rolex produced two no-date Submariners during the same era. The Rolex 5512 came first in the late 1950s and was the first Submariner to sport crown guards. Ref. 5513 came to market a few years later and was essentially the non-chronometer version of the ref. 5512, hence the two lines of text on the dial instead of four. It was one of the Crown’s longest continually produced references. Rolex 5513 was outfitted with a glossy dial before Rolex switched to matte dials. Furthermore, the matte dials featured “meters first” text before ultimately switching to “feet first” text in the early 1970s. The auction ref. 5513 features a remarkable matte-meter first dial.
Auction Stats:
Bids: 12
Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000
Starting Bid: $12,000
Sold: $13,300
Vintage Tudor Submariner Ref. 94110
Tudor Ref. 94110 was released in the 1970s and helped usher in a new generation of ETA movements, complete with hacking seconds for more accurate timekeeping. It was among the last of the Tudor Submariners to feature the iconic Snowflake hands and dial and was available in black or blue, like the watch featured in the Dive Watches Summer Auction. Rolex founded Tudor, so it isn’t uncommon to see vintage models like this one outfitted with Rolex parts, such as the Rolex Oyster case, screw-down crown, and Oyster bracelet.
Auction Stats:
Bids: 2
Estimate: $10,000 – $12,000
Starting Bid: $10,000
Sold: $10,200
Vintage Rolex Sea-Dweller “Double Red Sea-Dweller” Ref. 1665
The Rolex Sea-Dweller’s history is a fascinating journey that any double red sea dweller review should explore. It began in the 1960s with Rolex 1665, the inaugural model. Early versions featured a single line of red text on the dial, earning the moniker “Single Red” Sea-Dweller. Rolex then introduced the “Double Red Sea-Dweller” (DRSD), displaying both “Sea-Dweller” and “Submariner 2000” in red text. This version is often a central focus in Double Red Sea Dweller reviews due to its historical significance and collector appeal. In the 1970s, Rolex switched to all-white text for the 1665 model, which collectors nicknamed the “Great White” Sea-Dweller. The model featured in the summer 2024 auction features a desirable Mark IV DRSD dial, the last version of the DRSD.
Vintage Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680
Released in the late 1960s, Rolex 1680 was the first Submariner in Rolex history to sport a date display on the dial, even featuring the now-iconic Rolex Cyclops magnifier. The model represented a significant shift in the Submariner’s design ethos at the time from solely a professional’s tool watch to more of a statement piece and status symbol. Interestingly, Rolex produced ref. 1680 alongside references 5512 and 5513, two no-date models with a nearly identical design set. Rolex made many variations of the ref. 1680, including those with red or all-white text on the dial. Each is categorized by different “Marks” that can differ in the text’s order, color, and even typography. The watch featured in this auction is a “White Submariner” without any red text.
Auction Stats:
Bids: 6
Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000
Starting Bid: $10,000
Sold: $11,500
That’s a wrap on the vintage Dive Watches Summer 2024 Auction. Stay tuned for more private auctions hosted by Bob’s Watches.
