A Submariner is a foundational piece in any vintage Rolex collection — arguably the brand’s most iconic creation, endlessly imitated but never truly matched. And within that lineage, a gilt-dial Submariner stands as an absolute essential for the serious collector, widely regarded as the most visually captivating era of the model.

When Rolex introduced crown-guards in 1959, the reference 5512 became the defining Submariner of the early 1960s. Yet within that reference, the landscape splits: the more common non-chronometer (2-line) versions versus the far rarer chronometer-certified (4-line) dials. In vintage Rolex, “more lines” often means more significance — and the 4-line gilt 5512 sits firmly in that upper tier of desirability.

This circa-1962 Submariner is a 5512 4-line chapter-ring exclamation dial, fresh to market from the son of the original owner in Colombia. There’s a magic to encountering a completely untouched, unrestored watch after more than six decades — and this example has it in abundance. 

The 869xxx pointed crown-guard case is exceptional: sharp, unpolished, with its broad chamfers fully intact — exactly how a PCG case should look leaving the factory in 1962. The rare 4-line chapter-ring dial is beautifully preserved, with vivid gilt text and a deep mirror gloss showing only the slightest of natural aging. The original hands match perfectly, and the watch retains its original, wonderfully crazed crystal — an authentic testament to its untouched state. Powering the watch is the Caliber 1560 movement, paired with its original 7206/80 bracelet dated ’62. 

I’ve handled many 5512s over the years, but this is genuinely one of the most honest, charming, and character-rich examples to surface in recent memory. In a world increasingly filled with artificial masking and attempts to manufacture “authenticity,” it’s refreshing to encounter a watch whose beauty comes entirely from its natural history. True originality can never be replicated — this Submariner is proof.

(Item: INVDBV_70)