Retrospect: Bob Barth's SEALAB Rolex 5512 Submariner

Today brings news that one of the most sought-after Rolex Submariners in the marketplace has become available by Fourtane Jewelers of Carmel, California. Owned by veteran Navy man Bob Barth who was a member of the SEALAB program – the Navy’s first foray into saturation diving – in which “aquanauts” lived in a pressurized habitat underwater for days and weeks on end, the watch has endured a lifetime of significant dives. Barth bought his 5512 Submariner in 1964, just prior to the first SEALAB expedition which took place off the coast of Bermuda at a depth of 192 feet. The only member of SEALAB to contribute to all three stages of the program, Barth and his trusty watch are truly a national treasure. The 1964 5512 Rolex Submariner is slated for auction at a starting price of $150,000 USD.

Source: HODINKEE