This exceptional 1959 James Bond ref. 5508 has everything collectors wish for in a vintage Sub.

The glossy black gilt dial remains remarkably well-preserved, displaying beautifully aged luminous plots that have developed a rich creamy patina. The original Mercedes hands complement the dial perfectly, while the gilt depth rating of 100m = 330ft serves as a reminder of the pioneering era of recreational diving from which this watch emerged.

Under UV light, the period-correct radium lume still exhibits the unmistakable character expected, adding yet another layer to an already stunning example. Framing the dial is the original black bi-directional rotating bezel, complete with its highly desirable red triangle and surviving luminous pearl at twelve o'clock, details that are so often lost to time.

The 37mm stainless steel case remains wonderfully sharp. The slim profile, absence of crown guards and lightly domed acrylic crystal combine to make the 5508 so wearable today. Further enhancing its period appeal, it is fitted to its correct riveted Oyster bracelet, complete with Rolex signed clasp.

Often referred to by collectors as the "Small Crown Submariner", the reference 5508 represents the bridge between Rolex's earliest professional diving watches and the icons that followed. Rarely found in such honest, unspoiled condition, this 1959 example captures the essence of vintage Rolex collecting.

For those looking for one of the most important and wearable vintage Submariners ever produced, this rare ref. 5508 is a watch we will probably never see again.

It occupies a unique position in the history of the world's most famous dive watch. Produced during the late 1950s and early 1960s, it was the final Submariner to retain the slimmer proportions and understated charm of the earliest references before the model evolved into the larger crown-guard designs that would define the decades to come.