Another James Bond Watch – Replica Rolex Vintage Submariner 6538 – Susan Reviews on Replica Watches

The first James Bond watch I featured here was the Omega Spectre 007, which proved extremely popular and generated many orders. Indeed, the Seamaster Spectre 007 ranks among Omega’s top sellers of the past decade, thanks to its military-inspired design and inclusion of both NATO strap and steel bracelet. Today, I’m examining another iconic Bond timepiece – the Rolex Submariner Reference 6538. This vintage model is widely regarded by 007 enthusiasts as the first watch worn by Bond, sparking ongoing debate about whether Rolex or Omega deserves this distinction. In my view, the Rolex Submariner holds this historic honor.

The vintage Submariner 6538 differs significantly from modern versions. Its 38mm case features full brushing (including the sides, unlike today’s polished finishes) and sports a black bezel with all-white markers. The distinctive big crown – a hallmark of this model – displays “BREVET” rather than “ROLEX” beneath the crown logo. Like most vintage Rolexes, it uses a domed plexiglass crystal rather than modern sapphire.

The black dial features yellowish luminescent markers and text, with narrower “benz” hands than contemporary Submariners. While the original was water-resistant to 200m, this replica version tests to 30m. Both dial and bezel pearl emit strong green lume. Powering this replica big crown 6538 Submariner is an Asian ETA 2836-2 movement (modified from Sea-Gull), as genuine Swiss movements aren’t compatible with this vintage-style replica.