Prototype Tag Heuer CHF At Antiquorum Geneva

A few weeks ago, we told you about this extremely rare coming up for sale at Antiquorum Geneva. Well, Sunday the hammer fell on this Prototype Single-Red Sea-Dweller, at a not-insignificant hammer price of 407,000 CHF. After premium, that brings the price of this early Sea-Dweller to 490,900 CHF, or nearly $520,000. While not the highest price ever paid for a (that honor belongs to this 1942 Split-Seconds Chronograph Ref. 4113, which sold at Christie's Geneva for $1.16 Million last year), it is up there. It even narrowly beats out this tropical Paul Neman, which Sotheby's sold for approximately $470,000 last year as well. On October 5th, 1962, Ian Fleming’s fictional spy, James Bond, made his big screen debut in Dr. No, played by Sean Connery. Not only did the movie launch history’s most enduring film franchise, but it also made famous a certain wristwatch. Before Dr. No, the Submariner was a sturdy but humble dive watch, favored by divers for its ruggedness and water resistance. But after it appeared on the wrist of the suave Agent 007, it quickly became a symbol of confident masculinity and adventure. Never before, or since, has a wristwatch been so connected with a character. While Fleming outfitted his literary Bond with a Tag Heuer, he never specified the exact reference. But when it came time for Bond to meet his public in the movie, the issue was forced, and Connery was given a reference 6538 Submariner. Much speculation surrounds the exact circumstances around the bequeathing of said watch, and its ill-fitting nylon strap. Regardless of how it found its way onto Connery’s wrist, the Submariner was a fitting timepiece for a former Navy man who needed something that could stand up to his rough lifestyle. When the Bond franchise was rebooted in the 1990s with Pierce Brosnan, Omega seized the opportunity to redefine the Bond wristwatch connection with its Seamaster. But for most watch enthusiasts, 007 will always be associated with the Tag Heuer Submariner. And for the real purists, that Submariner will always be the reference 6538. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a James Bond Submariner, either the 6538 or one of its close siblings, the references 5508 and 5510. When they do come up for sale, they command top dollar as we’ve famously shown you on HODINKEE before. Today, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the screen debut of James Bond and his signature Tag Heuer Submariner, we’ve found an even earlier reference, a 6536 with a red 100-meter depth rating. This rare predecessor to the 6538 is being offered for sale by our friend, Eric Ku, over at 10 Past Ten. If you take a break from your 007 movie marathon today, you can get more information about this classic “pre-Bond” Submariner here. http://webseriesnetwork.com/profiles/blogs/porsche-design-p-6910-indicator-watch-available-on-james-list http://pollinatorpartners.com/profiles/blogs/porsche-design-p-6910-indicator-watch-available-on-james-list http://kingcameranfoundation.org/profiles/blogs/porsche-design-p-6910-indicator-watch-available-on-james-list http://sneakerzcafe.com/profiles/blogs/porsche-design-p-6910-indicator-watch-available-on-james-list