‘Bart Simpson’ 5512 Rolex Submariner

Much like the 6263 and 6265 are the last of the manual Daytonas, this thing is in many ways the end of an era. This is a Bart Simpson 5512, a not super sexy nickname for what is a very sexy Submariner. Thanks to Rolex putting out numbers for once, the collecting world only recently learned that there are 17,338 reference 5512 examples ever made, as opposed to 151,449 reference 5513 examples. COSC certification, though excellent, wasn’t a commercial success for Rolex. To the extent that rarity matters, which is not that much, we learned last year that the Bart 5512 is quite the uncommon bird indeed: in a 9:1 ratio compared to 5513. However, there’s no difference in the generation collectors prefer: there’s nothing like a beautifully preserved gilt dial.

These are called Bart Simpson for the unusual shape of the coronet, which on this dial is stubbier and not unlike Bart Simpson’s head. There are a few other oddities here as well, such as the spacing in the Rolex line, where the letters are a bit closer together and, in the depth rating, the crosses of the ‘f’ and ‘t’ are in-line with each other. Now many of you will be nodding off but that’s what the Bart dials are, peak Wilsdorfian detail. They’re also some of the only gilt dial Subs that usually should be found with steel hands instead of gilt, as this was the transition point. They also come from a time of transitional tritium, heavy on zinc sulfide. So, as we see here, lume often goes tan and not cream for some reason. The bulk of Bart dial production is from the 1.4-1.5M serial range, but some can be found as wide as 1.3-1.6M.

This is a near-impossible watch to explain to someone who doesn’t get Rolex. But if you do, it’s the end of gilt. And that really means something. I also am particularly fond of it because for many collectors it marks a point of no return: it’s kind of like the double black diamond warning on a ski slope. This is, very often, the first watch that an enthusiast will purchase which has a massive premium for what is ultimately a tiny detail. But that’s the way forward in Rolex, and in a lot of collecting. If you’re looking at Bart dials, if you actually understand them and care, you’re a lost cause on the path toward re-financing your home for a 6240. Bart Simpson sounds silly, but for many this is the first ‘seriously nerdy’ vintage Rolex. And for that I salute Mr. Simpson.

This example really is tip-top. The gilt has only a very light crazing but no spidering, which really is the ideal for this age. As usually is the case, the zinc sulphide tritium is incredibly warm. Its case is equally strong, full bevels and proud edges. It’s on a date matching 7206, running well. It’s the top end of 5512, and that’s a great place to be these days. It comes from a well-regarded Spanish retailer.