{"id":29029,"date":"2022-06-07T09:05:01","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T16:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/?p=29029"},"modified":"2025-10-27T13:12:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:12:52","slug":"history-first-submariner-reference-6204","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html","title":{"rendered":"History Lesson: The First Submariner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>All legends have a beginning, and for the <a title=\"Rolex Submariner watches\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-submariner-1.html\">Rolex Submariner<\/a>, that beginning is the reference 6204. Rolex\u2019s catalog is home to numerous horological icons; however arguably no other watch is more \u2018quintessentially Rolex\u2019 than their Submariner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly every single dive watch that exists today was (in some way or another) influenced by the Rolex Submariner \u2013 which for many, is immediately visible in their respective designs. While it holds a very special place within the history and heritage of Rolex, the Submariner is also one of a very small handful of names that belong to an elite circle of watches that have pioneered and indelibly influenced an entire genre of time-telling devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From deep below the surface of the ocean, to the wrist of James Bond on the silver screen, the Rolex Submariner has become an internationally-recognized cultural icon, and arguably one of the most important and influential timepieces ever created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a title=\"Ultimate Buying Guide on the Rolex Submariner\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex\/submariner\/buying-guide\">Click here for our Ultimate Buying Guide on the Rolex Submariner.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t<style>\n\t\t.bw-btn-container .bw-custom-button.color-dark{\n\t\t\tbackground-color: #000;\n\t\t\tpadding: 14px 100px;\n\t\t\tfont-size: 16px;\n\t\t\tcolor: #fff;\n\t\t\tfont-weight: 600;\n\t\t\tletter-spacing: 1px;\n\t\t\tmargin: 20px auto;\n\t}\n\t.bw-btn-container .bw-custom-button.color-dark:hover,\n\t.bw-btn-container .bw-custom-button.color-dark:focus,\n\t.bw-btn-container .bw-custom-button.color-dark:active{\n\t\ttext-decoration:none!important;\n\t\toutline:none!important;\n\t}\n\t.bw-btn-container{\n\t\t\tdisplay: flex;\n\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\talign-items: center;\n\t\t\tjustify-content: center;\n\t}<\/style><div class=\"bw-btn-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-submariner-1.html\" title=\"Shop Rolex Submariner Watches\" class=\"bw-custom-button color-dark\"><span>Shop Rolex Submariner Watches<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5524-Edit-5-1.jpg\" alt=\"Vintage Rolex Submariner Reference 6204\" class=\"wp-image-52710\" title=\"Rolex Submariner ref. 6204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5524-Edit-5-1.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5524-Edit-5-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5524-Edit-5-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5524-Edit-5-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5524-Edit-5-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First Rolex Submariner &#8211; Complete Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since its introduction, the Submariner has been continuously evolving; however it still very much resembles the same dive watch that first made an appearance more than sixty years ago \u2013 and whose appearance changed the wristwatch industry forever. In order to fully understand something, it is important to understand where it came from, which is why we put together a highly detailed overview of the very first Rolex Submariner that was ever released to the public: the reference 6204.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be forewarned, this detailed examination is not short; it\u2019s well over 3,000 words, and is almost certainly not something that you will be able to get through while you wait for your morning coffee. However, we are building out our Rolex resource center with high quality, in-depth content, so pour yourself a cup of something tasty, make yourself comfortable, and dive deep into a historical look at the very first Rolex dive watch: the reference 6204 Submariner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a title=\"complete historical guide to the first Rolex Submariner 6204\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/watch-resources\/rolex-submariner-ref-6204-history\">Click here for our complete historical guide to the first Rolex Submariner 6204.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5541-Edit-1.jpg\" alt=\"First Rolex Submariner 6204\" class=\"wp-image-52709\" title=\"The First Submariner: Reference 6204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5541-Edit-1.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5541-Edit-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5541-Edit-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5541-Edit-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5541-Edit-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rolex Submariner 6204 Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, for anyone looking for slightly less of a deep dive into the very first purpose-built Rolex dive watch, read on for a brief summary of the Rolex Submariner ref. 6204.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rolex released the first Submariner in 1953. While there is some debate about which reference was actually first, it is widely believed to have been ref. 6204. Three different Submariner references appeared within the first year of its existence, but most scholars and collectors believe the ref. 6204 was the very first based on the serial number engravings of surviving watches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Rolex Submariner was the brand\u2019s first foray into professional dive watches that came during a time when scuba diving was still a relatively new sport. Little did the company know that the Submariner would eventually become one of the most famous watches of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5556-Edit-1.jpg\" alt=\"Vintage Rolex First Submariner 6204 Bezel\" class=\"wp-image-52716\" title=\"Rolex Submariner ref. 6204 - Bezel\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5556-Edit-1.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5556-Edit-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5556-Edit-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5556-Edit-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5556-Edit-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Submariner 6204 Bezel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Features of this early model Submariner include a black rotating bezel topped with a 60-minute scale developed to help the wearer time various underwater events, such as decompression stops and bottom time. On the ref. 6204 it is produced in a brass alloy and then plated to match the rest of the case. Original bezels have a lower profile than service replacement bezels and even sometimes feature brass where the original plating has worn off. Depending on when the bezel was produced, it may or may not have minute hashes. \u201cNo Hash\u201d bezels are the earliest and rarest variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reference 6204 Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By the time the Submariner hit the market, Rolex\u2019s famous waterproof Oyster case had already made quite the name for itself alongside the Rolex Oyster, the world\u2019s first waterproof wristwatch. The Oyster case on the Submariner 6204 features a \u201cBubble Back\u201d case to accommodate the self-winding movement and a \u201csmall crown\u201d screw-down crown, which granted it a water-resistance rating of 100 meters (the Submariner was the first watch to achieve a 100-meter depth rating). As a vintage model, ref. 6204 also features a thicker acrylic crystal with a distinctive domed shape.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5549-Edit-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"Vintage Rolex First Submariner 6204 Winding Crown Screw-Down\" class=\"wp-image-52711\" title=\"Rolex Submariner ref. 6204 - Crown\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5549-Edit-3-1.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5549-Edit-3-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5549-Edit-3-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5549-Edit-3-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5549-Edit-3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Submariner 6204 Dial<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where things get really interesting. Ref. 6204 features what is commonly referred to as a \u201cGilt\u201d dial, featuring gold text and a glossy black surface. The dial itself is actually the gold color, which is then painted over with black and treated with a glossy finish. Rolex achieves the gilt text by inversely printing it under the black layer. The glossy finish on many of the earliest examples of ref. 6204 has long since faded over time to more of a matte finish. However, if the watch received a service replacement dial sometime during the late 50s or early 60s, it may display a slightly different surface finish. Ref. 6204 dials are also slightly curved to accommodate the movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Split-Logo Dial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of the fun of collecting vintage Rolex watches is the seemingly countless variations that some models and references have. The first Submariner is no different. Depending on when the specific watch was produced, there are several variations of the dial. One of the rarest is the \u201cSplit Logo\u201d dial, which features the logo printed just above and on either side of the centrally mounted hands. Two of the main variations of the Split Logo dial include either smooth or \u201choneycomb\u201d or \u201cwaffle\u201d textured dials. Additionally, some \u201cSplit Logo\u201d dials have the distinction \u201cOfficially Certified Chronometer\u201d at the bottom of the dial, while others don\u2019t, and this variation only adds fuel to the excitement for collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5570-Edit-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"Vintage Rolex First Submariner 6204 Gilt Dial and Pencil Hands \" class=\"wp-image-52713\" title=\"Rolex Submariner ref. 6204 - Dial &amp; Hands\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5570-Edit-3-1.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5570-Edit-3-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5570-Edit-3-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5570-Edit-3-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5570-Edit-3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rolex Submariner 6204 Hands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rolex also produced several styles of hands for the reference 6204. Early examples featured the Pencil style hands with a lollipop seconds hand. Depending on the specific example, the tiny circle on the seconds hand will either be at the tip of the hand or further down towards the base of the hand. From there, the actual size of the circle will vary, with some featuring \u201cBig Bubble\u201d seconds hands with larger circles. There are, of course, also some examples of the ref. 6204 that feature classic Mercedes-style hands. These are often paired with Big Bubble seconds hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surprisingly, Rolex only produced the Submariner 6204 for one year, making it one of the rarest and hardest to find vintage Rolex Submariner watches available. It&#8217;s exceedingly uncommon to come across one, and examples trade hands for massive sums on the secondary market. Add its unique place in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex\/submariner\/history\" title=\"Rolex Submariner history\">Rolex Submariner history<\/a> as the first Submariner on top of that, and you\u2019ve got yourself one exceptional dive watch.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5548-Edit-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Vintage Rolex First Dive Watch Submariner 6204 Original\" class=\"wp-image-52715\" title=\"Rolex Submariner ref. 6204 - The Very First Rolex Dive Watch\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5548-Edit-2-1.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5548-Edit-2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5548-Edit-2-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5548-Edit-2-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VintageSub_6204_5D3_5548-Edit-2-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All legends have a beginning, and for the Rolex Submariner, that beginning is the reference 6204. Rolex\u2019s catalog is home [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1630],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2286],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>History Lesson: The First Submariner - Bob&#039;s Watches<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"All legends have a beginning, and for the Rolex Submariner, that beginning is the reference 6204. Let&#039;s take a long and detailed look at the very first Sub.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"History Lesson: The First Submariner - Bob&#039;s Watches\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"All legends have a beginning, and for the Rolex Submariner, that beginning is the reference 6204. Let&#039;s take a long and detailed look at the very first Sub.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bob&#039;s Watches\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bobswatches\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-06-07T16:05:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-27T20:12:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1616\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1077\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Paul Altieri\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@bobswatches\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@bobswatches\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Paul Altieri\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Paul Altieri\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/22b37643d599dce1a5947061baa91033\"},\"headline\":\"History Lesson: The First Submariner\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-06-07T16:05:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-27T20:12:52+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html\"},\"wordCount\":1095,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Resources\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html\",\"name\":\"History Lesson: The First Submariner - Bob&#039;s Watches\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-06-07T16:05:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-27T20:12:52+00:00\",\"description\":\"All legends have a beginning, and for the Rolex Submariner, that beginning is the reference 6204. Let's take a long and detailed look at the very first Sub.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg\",\"width\":1616,\"height\":1077},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Bob's Watches\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Resources\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"History Lesson: The First Submariner\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/\",\"name\":\"Bob&#039;s Watches\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Bob's Watches\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/bobs-watches-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/bobs-watches-logo.png\",\"width\":600,\"height\":138,\"caption\":\"Bob's Watches\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bobswatches\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/bobswatches\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bobswatches\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/bobs-watches\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/BobsWatches\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/bobswatches\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/22b37643d599dce1a5947061baa91033\",\"name\":\"Paul Altieri\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/10eb2a1135c1c05aef56a51714e68e06\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3e540a744096739cccba1e3bb39245b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3e540a744096739cccba1e3bb39245b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Paul Altieri\"},\"description\":\"Paul Altieri is a vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com. - the largest and most trusted name in luxury watches. He is widely considered a pioneer in the industry for bringing transparency and innovation to a once-considered stagnant industry. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. Paul is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the watch industry and e-commerce, and regularly engages with other professionals in the industry. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. Alongside running the premier retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, Paul is a prominent Rolex watch collector himself amassing one of the largest private collections of rare timepieces. In an interview with the WSJ lifestyle\/fashion editor Christina Binkley, Paul opened his vault to display his extensive collection of vintage Rolex Submariners and Daytonas. Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\",\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bobs_Watches\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"History Lesson: The First Submariner - Bob&#039;s Watches","description":"All legends have a beginning, and for the Rolex Submariner, that beginning is the reference 6204. Let's take a long and detailed look at the very first Sub.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"History Lesson: The First Submariner - Bob&#039;s Watches","og_description":"All legends have a beginning, and for the Rolex Submariner, that beginning is the reference 6204. Let's take a long and detailed look at the very first Sub.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html","og_site_name":"Bob&#039;s Watches","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bobswatches","article_published_time":"2022-06-07T16:05:01+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-27T20:12:52+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1616,"height":1077,"url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Paul Altieri","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@bobswatches","twitter_site":"@bobswatches","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Paul Altieri","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html"},"author":{"name":"Paul Altieri","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/22b37643d599dce1a5947061baa91033"},"headline":"History Lesson: The First Submariner","datePublished":"2022-06-07T16:05:01+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-27T20:12:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html"},"wordCount":1095,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg","articleSection":["Resources"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html","url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html","name":"History Lesson: The First Submariner - Bob&#039;s Watches","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg","datePublished":"2022-06-07T16:05:01+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-27T20:12:52+00:00","description":"All legends have a beginning, and for the Rolex Submariner, that beginning is the reference 6204. Let's take a long and detailed look at the very first Sub.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Screen-Shot-2019-02-14-at-8.38.45-PM.jpeg","width":1616,"height":1077},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/history-first-submariner-reference-6204.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Bob's Watches","item":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Resources","item":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"History Lesson: The First Submariner"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/","name":"Bob&#039;s Watches","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#organization","name":"Bob's Watches","url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/bobs-watches-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/bobs-watches-logo.png","width":600,"height":138,"caption":"Bob's Watches"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bobswatches","https:\/\/x.com\/bobswatches","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bobswatches\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/bobs-watches\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/BobsWatches\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/bobswatches"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/22b37643d599dce1a5947061baa91033","name":"Paul Altieri","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/10eb2a1135c1c05aef56a51714e68e06","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3e540a744096739cccba1e3bb39245b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3e540a744096739cccba1e3bb39245b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Paul Altieri"},"description":"Paul Altieri is a vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com. - the largest and most trusted name in luxury watches. He is widely considered a pioneer in the industry for bringing transparency and innovation to a once-considered stagnant industry. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. Paul is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the watch industry and e-commerce, and regularly engages with other professionals in the industry. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. Alongside running the premier retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, Paul is a prominent Rolex watch collector himself amassing one of the largest private collections of rare timepieces. In an interview with the WSJ lifestyle\/fashion editor Christina Binkley, Paul opened his vault to display his extensive collection of vintage Rolex Submariners and Daytonas. Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bobs_Watches"]}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":2286,"user_id":2,"is_guest":0,"slug":"paul","display_name":"Paul Altieri","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3e540a744096739cccba1e3bb39245b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com","last_name":"Altieri","first_name":"Paul","job_title":"","description":"Paul Altieri is a vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com. - the largest and most trusted name in luxury watches. He is widely considered a pioneer in the industry for bringing transparency and innovation to a once-considered stagnant industry.  His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. Paul is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the watch industry and e-commerce, and regularly engages with other professionals in the industry. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. \r\n\r\nAlongside running the premier retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, Paul is a prominent Rolex watch collector himself amassing one of the largest private collections of rare timepieces. In an interview with the WSJ lifestyle\/fashion editor Christina Binkley, Paul opened his vault to display his extensive collection of vintage Rolex Submariners and Daytonas. \r\n\r\nPaul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29029"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29029"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58574,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29029\/revisions\/58574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29029"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=29029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}