Mann About Time
ROLEX Submariner Small Crown Ref. 5508 Gilt Exclamation Point Dial Box, Guarantee and Service Papers (1959)
ROLEX Submariner Small Crown Ref. 5508 Gilt Exclamation Point Dial Box, Guarantee and Service Papers (1959)
Couldn't load pickup availability
Manufacturer - Rolex
Year - 1959
Reference - 5008 Small Crown Submariner
Movement - 1530 Automatic
Case Serial - 490131
Material - Stainless Steel - 37 mm not including crown
Case, movement, and dial signed
13 link 7206 Rivet Bracelet with 82 endlinks - later clasp stamped 4th quarter of 69
Long 5 Bezel Insert
Geiger Counter reads as it should for a radium dial, showing over 200 CPM - lume plots and hands react the same under UV and fall off quickly as they should
The lume has aged to a warm creamy hue which is puffy as it should be for the age, with just a small amount of loss on the 10 and 11 plots - the hands have been relumed and colour matched to the dial
Flawless Mirror Gloss Chapter Ring dial which is turning tropical on the upper portion
The case is thick and displays prominent bevels - some surface scratches but otherwise excellent for its age
The superlative overall condition of the watch is perhaps supported by the presence of its original box, guarantee, and an array of service paperwork from the 60s through to the 80s
Here then, is an extraordinary example of one of the earliest iterations of perhaps the most iconic watch ever made
Strictly speaking the 5508 is not a "James Bond Submariner" as so many claim (Sean Connery wore a Big Crown Ref. 6538) - however there is no denying this is from the same epoch of highly prized and collectible watches from the Golden Era - a rare opportunity to own a near complete set early Sub!
Share

What is everyone saying?
I recently had the pleasure of buying a watch from Robin, a vintage watch dealer who truly stands out amongst the crowd. His exceptional communication and genuine passion for watches made the entire experience delightful from start to finish. Robin is not only incredibly knowledgeable but also a wonderful person to chat with, and was very much willing to go the extra mile at all times. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a trustworthy and enjoyable watch-buying experience - I'll certainly be back again in the future...!
I had a great experience buying a watch from Robin @ Mann about time.
Robin really facilitated my purchase journey, and created a climate of trust with his great knowledge of watches, in particular Rolex and Guilt GMT, but also with his high level of professionalism.
I would buy another watch from him with confidence.
Robin Mann … how to make this brief: First, an experienced and discriminating curator with a superb eye for quality, condition, character, artfulness and fine detail. Next, an absolute pleasure to communicate with. Then, presentation, packaging, and professionalism makes his entire exchange process simply … perfect.
Robin has created the standard for the vintage watch experience ….. cannot wait for the next one. Oh, and last, but not least … a really nice guy.
Thank you, Robin.
Ive known Robin for many years now , from when he was an art dealer, and when he told me that he’s started selling vintage watches, I knew I was in biiiiiiiig trouble. A vintage watch dealer that you can trust could only mean 1 thing: my bank balance would start dwindling and I was about to embark on an exhilarating ride collecting some of the most iconic vintage timepieces- His taste for chronographs is impeccable , his eye for discovering authentic pieces is truly astouding and his prices are more than fair : Within 2 years Robin’s managed to source 3 grail watches for me; a vintage sub, Pepsi gmt, and a 1016 explorer. He’s the best vintage watch dealer in the game and I cant recommend him highly enough!