Reference:6205 - Revision history

Admin: Rule 5: strip remaining dealer name (Bulang & Sons) from the case-band paragraph — the 988,xxx example and the ~810 production figure preserved

2026-08-08T18:07:08Z

Rule 5: strip remaining dealer name (Bulang & Sons) from the case-band paragraph — the 988,xxx example and the ~810 production figure preserved

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:07, 8 August 2026
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	The 6205 sits between the 6204 and the 5508 on the small-crown branch. The 6204 (1953–54) and the 6205 (1954–55) share the no-crown-guard case and the A260 movement; the 6205 introduces Mercedes hands and is the last Submariner to launch before the line splits cleanly into the small-crown 5508 and the big-crown 5510 in 1958. On the big-crown branch the 6200 ran concurrently with the 6205 in 1954, and the 6538 followed.		The 6205 sits between the 6204 and the 5508 on the small-crown branch. The 6204 (1953–54) and the 6205 (1954–55) share the no-crown-guard case and the A260 movement; the 6205 introduces Mercedes hands and is the last Submariner to launch before the line splits cleanly into the small-crown 5508 and the big-crown 5510 in 1958. On the big-crown branch the 6200 ran concurrently with the 6205 in 1954, and the 6538 followed.

	Two case-number bands document the production. Earliest examples sit in the 21,3xx–21,6xx range — Phillips lot 54 carries case 21,354, Sotheby's 2022 lot 13 carries 21,442, and Antiquorum's 2025 Geneva lot 377 carries 21,644. A second band runs 85,9xx–86,0xx (Sotheby's 2019 lot 178 at 85,972; Sotheby's 2025 lot 336 at 86,033), with ~~Bulang documenting an~~ 988,xxx pre-reset 1955 example outside both bands. Rolex's 1954 serial reset from 999,999 back to 10,000 explains the apparent gap between bands. ~~Bulang~~ is the only source to publish a hard production figure — about 810 examples — and that ~~single-source~~ estimate has not been corroborated by the auction houses or by Foulkes (2024), which gives 2,881 for the 6204 but does not break the 6205 out separately.		Two case-number bands document the production. Earliest examples sit in the 21,3xx–21,6xx range — Phillips lot 54 carries case 21,354, Sotheby's 2022 lot 13 carries 21,442, and Antiquorum's 2025 Geneva lot 377 carries 21,644. A second band runs 85,9xx–86,0xx (Sotheby's 2019 lot 178 at 85,972; Sotheby's 2025 lot 336 at 86,033), with a dealer-documented 988,xxx pre-reset 1955 example outside both bands. Rolex's 1954 serial reset from 999,999 back to 10,000 explains the apparent gap between bands. A single dealer listing is the only source to publish a hard production figure — about 810 examples — and that estimate has not been corroborated by the auction houses or by Foulkes (2024), which gives 2,881 for the 6204 but does not break the 6205 out separately.

	<span id="production-outline"></span>		<span id="production-outline"></span>

Admin: Rule 5: strip dealer names from prose and Core-facts values (Hairspring, Wind Vintage, HQ Milton) — re-attributed to author/non-dealer sources; dealer links retained in Sources

2026-08-08T17:59:41Z

Rule 5: strip dealer names from prose and Core-facts values (Hairspring, Wind Vintage, HQ Milton) — re-attributed to author/non-dealer sources; dealer links retained in Sources

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:59, 8 August 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| production		\| production
	\| 1954–1955 (Sotheby's, Phillips, Antiquorum, Monochrome~~, Hairspring, Wind Vintage~~, Le Monde Edmond consensus); Rolex Passion Report extends to 1953–56; Wikipedia gives 1953–57		\| 1954–1955 (Sotheby's, Phillips, Antiquorum, Monochrome, Le Monde Edmond consensus); Rolex Passion Report extends to 1953–56; Wikipedia gives 1953–57
	\|-		\|-
	\| total produced		\| total produced
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	\|-		\|-
	\| crown		\| crown
	\| 6mm (~~Hairspring,~~ Mulraney/Monochrome late-series); 5.3mm ; the 6mm and 5.3mm figures coexist in the literature		\| 6mm (Mulraney/Monochrome late-series); 5.3mm; the 6mm and 5.3mm figures coexist in the literature
	\|-		\|-
	\| crown markings		\| crown markings
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	The 6205 ran for approximately one year. Editorial and major-house consensus places production at 1954–55. Rolex Passion Report (Philipp Stahl, 2017) extends the window to 1953–56; Wikipedia gives 1953–57 — the latter is an outlier that does not appear in major-house lots or specialist-dealer listings. Nicholas Foulkes's ''Oyster Perpetual Submariner'' (Wallpaper / ACC Art Books, 2024) argues the 6204, 6200, and 6205 all hit the market around Basel 1954, with the 6204 first.		The 6205 ran for approximately one year. Editorial and major-house consensus places production at 1954–55. Rolex Passion Report (Philipp Stahl, 2017) extends the window to 1953–56; Wikipedia gives 1953–57 — the latter is an outlier that does not appear in major-house lots or specialist-dealer listings. Nicholas Foulkes's ''Oyster Perpetual Submariner'' (Wallpaper / ACC Art Books, 2024) argues the 6204, 6200, and 6205 all hit the market around Basel 1954, with the 6204 first.

	The reference subdivides into two series. Series 1 (early 1954) carries a clean dial without "Submariner" text, pencil hands, and a lollipop seconds hand inherited from the 6204. Series 2 (still 1954, into 1955) brings "Submariner" back to the dial and introduces Mercedes hands paired with the same lollipop seconds. Monochrome's 2020 Submariner history (referencing Eric Wind) makes the Series 1 / Series 2 framing explicit; Gustafson ~~(Hairspring,~~ 2018) and Le Monde Edmond (2014) corroborate that pencil-hand examples exist but are rare. Logan Baker's 2024 Phillips article complicates the Mercedes-hand claim by crediting both the 6200 and the 6205 with the introduction; reading those sources together, the cleanest framing is that 6200 and 6205 ran concurrently in 1954 and both adopted Mercedes hands, with the 6205 sometimes treated as first, sometimes joint-first.		The reference subdivides into two series. Series 1 (early 1954) carries a clean dial without "Submariner" text, pencil hands, and a lollipop seconds hand inherited from the 6204. Series 2 (still 1954, into 1955) brings "Submariner" back to the dial and introduces Mercedes hands paired with the same lollipop seconds. Monochrome's 2020 Submariner history (referencing Eric Wind) makes the Series 1 / Series 2 framing explicit; Erik Gustafson's 2018 survey and Le Monde Edmond (2014) corroborate that pencil-hand examples exist but are rare. Logan Baker's 2024 Phillips article complicates the Mercedes-hand claim by crediting both the 6200 and the 6205 with the introduction; reading those sources together, the cleanest framing is that 6200 and 6205 ran concurrently in 1954 and both adopted Mercedes hands, with the 6205 sometimes treated as first, sometimes joint-first.

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
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	The crown reads 6mm in dealer and editorial documentation (Mulraney's late-series figure) and 5.3mm in others. Both figures appear consistently across reputable sources without resolution. The crown carries the Rolex coronet with the "+" Swiss-made sub-mark beneath. The caseback signs "Brevet +" with the octopus symbol and does not carry the "R" or "Patented" wording that surfaces on later references. The caseback wears smooth without a date stamp on the exterior; the interior carries the reference and case number.		The crown reads 6mm in dealer and editorial documentation (Mulraney's late-series figure) and 5.3mm in others. Both figures appear consistently across reputable sources without resolution. The crown carries the Rolex coronet with the "+" Swiss-made sub-mark beneath. The caseback signs "Brevet +" with the octopus symbol and does not carry the "R" or "Patented" wording that surfaces on later references. The caseback wears smooth without a date stamp on the exterior; the interior carries the reference and case number.

	A small group of 6205 cases carry a "stainless steel" engraving between the lugs at the 12 o'clock position. ~~HQ Milton's inv.~~ #5080 is the canonical ~~documented example~~. The engraving is uncommon and does not represent a standard 6205 feature.		A small group of 6205 cases carry a "stainless steel" engraving between the lugs at the 12 o'clock position. A single catalogued example, inventory #5080, is the canonical published record. The engraving is uncommon and does not represent a standard 6205 feature.

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>

Admin: Fix fabricated citation title: Phillips article 144608770 is "In-Depth: A Review of Vintage Rolex Submariners with 'Explorer' Dials" (Logan Baker, Phillips 2024), not "The First Mercedes Hands"; restore full URL. Convert literal Markdown italics to wikitext for the Foulkes title.

2026-08-08T17:25:13Z

Fix fabricated citation title: Phillips article 144608770 is "In-Depth: A Review of Vintage Rolex Submariners with 'Explorer' Dials" (Logan Baker, Phillips 2024), not "The First Mercedes Hands"; restore full URL. Convert literal Markdown italics to wikitext for the Foulkes title.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:25, 8 August 2026
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	== Production outline ==		== Production outline ==

	The 6205 ran for approximately one year. Editorial and major-house consensus places production at 1954–55. Rolex Passion Report (Philipp Stahl, 2017) extends the window to 1953–56; Wikipedia gives 1953–57 — the latter is an outlier that does not appear in major-house lots or specialist-dealer listings. Foulkes's 2024 Oyster Perpetual Submariner, ~~read through Goldammer (~~2024), argues the 6204, 6200, and 6205 all hit the market around Basel 1954, with the 6204 first.		The 6205 ran for approximately one year. Editorial and major-house consensus places production at 1954–55. Rolex Passion Report (Philipp Stahl, 2017) extends the window to 1953–56; Wikipedia gives 1953–57 — the latter is an outlier that does not appear in major-house lots or specialist-dealer listings. Nicholas Foulkes's ''Oyster Perpetual Submariner'' (Wallpaper / ACC Art Books, 2024) argues the 6204, 6200, and 6205 all hit the market around Basel 1954, with the 6204 first.

	The reference subdivides into two series. Series 1 (early 1954) carries a clean dial without "Submariner" text, pencil hands, and a lollipop seconds hand inherited from the 6204. Series 2 (still 1954, into 1955) brings "Submariner" back to the dial and introduces Mercedes hands paired with the same lollipop seconds. Monochrome's 2020 Submariner history (referencing Eric Wind) makes the Series 1 / Series 2 framing explicit; Gustafson (Hairspring, 2018) and Le Monde Edmond (2014) corroborate that pencil-hand examples exist but are rare. Logan Baker's 2024 Phillips article complicates the Mercedes-hand claim by crediting both the 6200 and the 6205 with the introduction; reading those sources together, the cleanest framing is that 6200 and 6205 ran concurrently in 1954 and both adopted Mercedes hands, with the 6205 sometimes treated as first, sometimes joint-first.		The reference subdivides into two series. Series 1 (early 1954) carries a clean dial without "Submariner" text, pencil hands, and a lollipop seconds hand inherited from the 6204. Series 2 (still 1954, into 1955) brings "Submariner" back to the dial and introduces Mercedes hands paired with the same lollipop seconds. Monochrome's 2020 Submariner history (referencing Eric Wind) makes the Series 1 / Series 2 framing explicit; Gustafson (Hairspring, 2018) and Le Monde Edmond (2014) corroborate that pencil-hand examples exist but are rare. Logan Baker's 2024 Phillips article complicates the Mercedes-hand claim by crediting both the 6200 and the 6205 with the introduction; reading those sources together, the cleanest framing is that 6200 and 6205 ran concurrently in 1954 and both adopted Mercedes hands, with the 6205 sometimes treated as first, sometimes joint-first.
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	* [https://obwcollection.com/products/rolex-6205-submariner Rolex 6205 Submariner — earliest configuration] (OBW Collection)		* [https://obwcollection.com/products/rolex-6205-submariner Rolex 6205 Submariner — earliest configuration] (OBW Collection)
	* [https://rolexhaven.com/6205-submariner--54.html Submariner 6205 from 1954] (RolexHaven)		* [https://rolexhaven.com/6205-submariner--54.html Submariner 6205 from 1954] (RolexHaven)
	* [https://www.phillips.com/article/144608770/ ~~The First Mercedes Hands~~] — Logan Baker (Phillips, 2024)		* [https://www.phillips.com/article/144608770/rolex-submariner-explorer-dial-6200-big-crown-5512-vintage-auction In-Depth: A Review of Vintage Rolex Submariners with 'Explorer' Dials] — Logan Baker (Phillips, 2024)
	* [https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/rolex-finally-releases-insights-quantifying-the-early-rolex-submariner Quantifying the Early Rolex Submariner] (Goldammer, 2024)		* [https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/rolex-finally-releases-insights-quantifying-the-early-rolex-submariner Quantifying the Early Rolex Submariner] (Goldammer, 2024)
	* ''Oyster Perpetual Submariner: The Watch That Unlocked the Deep'' — Nicholas Foulkes (Wallpaper / ACC Art Books, 2024)		* ''Oyster Perpetual Submariner: The Watch That Unlocked the Deep'' — Nicholas Foulkes (Wallpaper / ACC Art Books, 2024)

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-08-04T00:22:11Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:22, 4 August 2026
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	\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z		\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z
	\|modified_time=2026-07-~~18T12~~:39:~~49Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:13:41Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-08-04T00:13:41Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:13, 4 August 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 6205 Submariner}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 6205 Submariner}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Submariner 6205 (1953–1957) — Production & Dial Guide \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Submariner 6205 (1953–1957) — Production & Dial Guide \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 6205 is the second small-crown Submariner and the first reference where Mercedes hands appear. Two series within a 1954–55 production run; pencil and Mercedes configurations both documented within the reference.		\|description=The 6205 is the second small-crown Submariner and the first reference where Mercedes hands appear. Two series within a 1954–55 production run; pencil and Mercedes configurations both documented within the reference.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 6205, Submariner, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 6205, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z		\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~29T01~~:21:~~00Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-07-18T12:39:49Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Klaudiusz: Internal linking: related references + component links

2026-07-18T12:39:49Z

Internal linking: related references + component links

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:39, 18 July 2026
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	The 6205 trades on the Series 1 / Series 2 split. Phillips's pencil-hand 21,354 example anchors the upper end of the unmolested-original market at USD 162,500. Restored or reprinted-dial examples sit at the lower end — Antiquorum's 2025 Geneva lot 377 cleared at CHF 16,250 against a 5,000–10,000 estimate. The 6205 is where the modern Submariner silhouette starts; the Mercedes hand introduction here defines the line through the 5508, the 5512, and the 5513 and forward.		The 6205 trades on the Series 1 / Series 2 split. Phillips's pencil-hand 21,354 example anchors the upper end of the unmolested-original market at USD 162,500. Restored or reprinted-dial examples sit at the lower end — Antiquorum's 2025 Geneva lot 377 cleared at CHF 16,250 against a 5,000–10,000 estimate. The 6205 is where the modern Submariner silhouette starts; the Mercedes hand introduction here defines the line through the 5508, the 5512, and the 5513 and forward.


			== Related references ==

			* [[Reference:6200\|Submariner 6200]] — "King Sub", Big Crown (1953–1956)
			* [[Reference:6204\|Submariner 6204]] — 1953–1954
			* [[Reference:6536\|Submariner 6536]] — Early Gilt No-Crown-Guard (1955–1958)
			* [[Reference:5510\|Submariner 5510]] — Big Crown, Cal 1530 (1957–1958)
			* [[Reference:6538\|Submariner 6538]] — "Big Crown", James Bond (1956–1959)
			* [[Reference:5508\|Submariner 5508]] — 1957–1961

			See also the [[Reference:submariner\|Submariner family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-06-29T01:22:22Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:22, 29 June 2026
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z		\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~04T04~~:41:~~34Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-06-29T01:21:00Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-06-29T01:21:00Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 29 June 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 6205 Submariner}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 6205 Submariner}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 6205 ~~Submariner~~ — Production, Dial ~~Variants, Serial Ranges~~ \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Submariner 6205 (1953–1957) — Production & Dial Guide \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 6205 is the second small-crown Submariner and the first reference where Mercedes hands appear. Two series within a 1954–55 production run; pencil and Mercedes configurations both documented within the reference.		\|description=The 6205 is the second small-crown Submariner and the first reference where Mercedes hands appear. Two series within a 1954–55 production run; pencil and Mercedes configurations both documented within the reference.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 6205, Submariner, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 6205, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z		\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-~~29T03~~:50:~~00Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-06-04T04:41:34Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: capitalize schema.org @type to "Article" for rich-result eligibility

2026-06-04T04:41:34Z

SEO: capitalize schema.org @type to "Article" for rich-result eligibility

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:41, 4 June 2026
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	\|image=Ref 6205 hero.webp		\|image=Ref 6205 hero.webp
	\|image_alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 6205		\|image_alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 6205
	\|type=~~article~~		\|type=Article
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z		\|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:30Z

Admin: Remove Category:Working Draft — published pre-2020 in-scope reference

2026-05-31T02:07:53Z

Remove Category:Working Draft — published pre-2020 in-scope reference

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:07, 31 May 2026
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	[[Category:Submariner]]		[[Category:Submariner]]
	~~[[Category:Working Draft]]~~