Rolex James Bond Submariner

While other Rolexes have earned the nickname “Bond Submariner,” including the 5508 and 6205 references, reference 6538 is the granddaddy of them all. This particular Rolex model earned its fame on the wrist of Sean Connery in Dr. No—the first-ever James Bond film from 1962. The 6538 is very rare in today’s market, and this […]

By Paige Reddinger

Paige Reddinger

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Rolex James Bond Submariner

Photo: Courtesy Christie's

Rolex Watch

Photo: Courtesy Christie's

While other Rolexes have earned the nickname “Bond Submariner,” including the 5508 and 6205 references, reference 6538 is the granddaddy of them all. This particular Rolex model earned its fame on the wrist of Sean Connery in Dr. No—the first-ever James Bond film from 1962. The 6538 is very rare in today’s market, and this one comes from the family of the original owner. But what makes this watch extremely rare is its “explorer” dial, typically only reserved for Rolex’s Explorer model, featuring Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9. It also includes a rare faded depth rating of 200/660 on the dial in red as opposed to white. These details, along with its unpolished natural case, will make this 37 mm watch with an original Nato strap (estimated at $500,000–$1,000,000) a crown jewel for serious collectors.