Rolex Submariner 6536
Like the GMT-Master, the Rolex Submariner was a direct evolution of the Turn-O-Graph 6202, which donated its rotating bezel and Oyster case to the very first Submariner, the 6200, released in 1953. At first the Submariner did not have the Mercedes hands or the triangle, rectangle and circle markers; instead it had straight hands and an Explorer dial, as per the Rolex Explorer of the 1950’s.
It wasn’t until the mid-1950’s when the new Submariner 6536 was released that the famous Mercedes hands first made an appearance, however, quite confusingly several iterations of Submariner were still available at the same time which did not have them, the 6200, the 6204 and the 6538. The 6536 also had the dial numeral markers that are now standard fare on many modern Rolex’s, although it wasn’t the first Submariner to do so.
The 6536 had several variations throughout its half-decade lifespan, including the re-introduction of a feature first seen on the donor Turn-O-Graph; the red bezel triangle. This made an appearance on a few variations of the Submariner in the mid to late 50’s, including the 6536/1. Other detail changes found on 6536 variants included the addition of a depth rating in white and in red, minute graduations to the fifteen minute marker on the bezel, and also a white seconds hand with a larger luminous dot that had moved from the end inwards. The red triangle and white seconds hand went for the final iteration of the 6536, replaced by the gilt seconds hand and the silver bezel triangle, but the white depth rating remained.
The 6536 is an excellent example of how the very first Submariners were in the 1950’s, and the gilt dial and no crown guards look is one that can’t be matched by any modern replacement. Did Rolex know at the time that they were engineering a masterpiece?
Rolex Submariner
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- Manufacturer: Rolex
- Range: Submariner
- Model: 6536
- Age: approximately 55 years old
- Gender: Gents
- Case: Steel
- Bracelet: Leather - Black
- Size (MM): 36
- Dial: Black Baton