Black sheep of the family: everyone has one…or two. Even the mighty Rolex is not immune! After all, not every watch is a commercial success. That being said, just because something isn’t an inherent success, doesn’t mean it is a failure—far from it. Oftentimes things just don’t get the credit they deserve or are overlooked, underpromoted or ahead of their time. In the case of the Rolex Turn-O-Graph 6202, it certainly falls into the overlooked category.

The 6202 was released in 1953 as the first mass-produced Rolex watch with a rotating bezel. Touted as “a self-winding, waterproof watch that acts as a stopwatch,” it starts to become clear why it is often unfairly relegated to the corner of Rolex history and importance. Later that very same year, the Rolex Submariner ref. 6204 was launched. It too was “a self-winding, waterproof watch that acts as a stopwatch,” but with a few changes. At the risk of possibly competing with itself, the ref. 6202 was discontinued in 1954 and the nameplate was resigned to an awkward Submariner—Datejust hybrid that not even the U.S. Thunderbirds could save—and they are objectively the coolest people on the planet.

When looking at the Rolex Turn-O-Graph 6202, there is nothing inherently wrong with it. It’s a handsome 36mm watch powered by a caliber A260. It features a 60-minute graduated bezel topped with a red triangle. To the uninitiated, if you confused it for a Submariner of the day you would be forgiven; there is a strong resemblance and for good reason. The 6202 very much laid the framework for the Sub we all know and love and was a clear indication of where Rolex was intending to go. Maybe one day, we can look back on the Turn-O-Graph with the same reverence we do with the Submariner. But for now, one of Rolex’s most important pieces of history will just have to wait for its turn.