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Lot Essay
Few sports watches have such iconic status amongst collectors like a beautifully aged reference 6200. This example is one of the best and most original specimens ever offered at auction. It impresses with the original and unrestored "Explorer-type" dial, defined by its bold 3, 6, 9 numerals, furthermore confirming scholarship stating that the original version of reference 6200 did neither feature the Submariner designation nor the depth rating. Of great importance is the fact that the original hands are still preserved, easily identifiable by their extended length
Less than twenty reference 6200 with “Explorer” dials are known publically with only five examples being sold at Christie’s in the past decade. Unsurprisingly all have serial numbers with a very close proximity to each other, in fact the present watch no. 32’145 is only six numbers away from the other exceptional reference 6200 sold by Christie’s Geneva in May 2016, no. 32'139.
Reference 6200 is one of the rarest and most desirable Rolex Submariner models ever made. Its large case featuring the rounded case back and generously proportioned "Brevet" crown of 8 mm. lend it a very masculine and sporty look. The dials used were the same type as those of the 1953 Explorer models ref. 6298 and 6150: the triangle at the 12 o'clock position is equilateral, hence of different shape than those on ref. 6204 and 6205. Reference 6200 was the first Submariner model with so-called "Mercedes" hands as opposed to the straight "pencil" hands of its peers. Compared to later Submariner generations, these were however longer.
In the movies Dr. No and Goldfinger, Sean Connery alias James Bond is wearing a Rolex Submariner. Since then, the early Submariner models without crown guard such as the present reference 6200 as well as references 5508, 6204 and others are also known as the "James Bond" models.
Examples of reference 6200 with Explorer dial are illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 198 & 199, and in Steel Rolex by Giorgia & Guido Mondani, p. 258.
Less than twenty reference 6200 with “Explorer” dials are known publically with only five examples being sold at Christie’s in the past decade. Unsurprisingly all have serial numbers with a very close proximity to each other, in fact the present watch no. 32’145 is only six numbers away from the other exceptional reference 6200 sold by Christie’s Geneva in May 2016, no. 32'139.
Reference 6200 is one of the rarest and most desirable Rolex Submariner models ever made. Its large case featuring the rounded case back and generously proportioned "Brevet" crown of 8 mm. lend it a very masculine and sporty look. The dials used were the same type as those of the 1953 Explorer models ref. 6298 and 6150: the triangle at the 12 o'clock position is equilateral, hence of different shape than those on ref. 6204 and 6205. Reference 6200 was the first Submariner model with so-called "Mercedes" hands as opposed to the straight "pencil" hands of its peers. Compared to later Submariner generations, these were however longer.
In the movies Dr. No and Goldfinger, Sean Connery alias James Bond is wearing a Rolex Submariner. Since then, the early Submariner models without crown guard such as the present reference 6200 as well as references 5508, 6204 and others are also known as the "James Bond" models.
Examples of reference 6200 with Explorer dial are illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 198 & 199, and in Steel Rolex by Giorgia & Guido Mondani, p. 258.