The 'Big Crown' Submariner, named for its oversized 8mm winding crown. Sean Connery wore a 6538 on a nylon strap in Dr. No, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger, which is where the entire idea of the Submariner as a formal-adjacent watch begins. It is the reference that turned a piece of diving equipment into a status object.
Reference record
Production
1955–1959
Model
Submariner Big Crown
Case material
Stainless Steel
Case size
38mm
Movement
Automatic
Calibre
Cal. 1030
Dial colours
Black
Market value band
$150k – $500k
Timeline
1955Introduced with the oversized crown and 200 m rating
1962Worn by Sean Connery as James Bond in Dr. No
What the specification implies
—The defining feature is the 8mm crown; standard-crown Submariners of the era are different references.
—Four-line and two-line dial variants both exist and command very different money.
Common questions
When was the Rolex 6538 produced?
The 6538 was produced from 1955 to 1959.
What movement does the Rolex 6538 use?
The Rolex 6538 runs the Cal. 1030, an automatic movement.
How do I check a Rolex 6538 with Watch Safe?
Look up the watch's serial number in the Watch Safe registry to see whether a record exists or a theft flag is attached. A registry search identifies records for a specific serial; it does not authenticate the watch. Authentication is performed in person by an independent expert authenticator, and Watch Safe records and publishes the result.