The Tempus Machina Ref. 216A is a heavily customized Rolex Submariner built from a modern, no-date Ref. 114060 and styled to evoke the vintage Ref. 6538. It is not an original 6538. A 2015 article listed its price at $25,000; current retail availability and asking prices are unconfirmed. One indexed auction result records a 2026 sale at $17,160 including the buyer’s premium.
What the Tempus Machina 216A is
In a 2015 account, Monochrome-Watches said the project began with a new, genuine Rolex Submariner Ceramic no-date Ref. 114060. The result combines that modern watch’s underlying platform with visual cues from the vintage Submariner Ref. 6538. The 216A is therefore a customized modern Submariner, not a vintage 6538 or a newly manufactured Rolex reference.
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The distinction matters to buyers: the watch’s character and value depend not only on its Rolex base but also on the modifications, their documentation, and the condition of the individual example. The specifications below are those reported by Monochrome-Watches in 2015; they have not been independently inspected here.
What was changed
Case, crown and bezel
Monochrome-Watches reported that crown guards were removed, the lugs were reshaped, thinned and beveled, and drilled spring-bar holes were added. The article gave the resulting case diameter as 39.5 mm, compared with 40 mm for the stock 114060. It also described an 8 mm genuine Rolex NOS Brevet crown.
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The bezel was reshaped to create a coin-edge profile. The original Cerachrom insert was retained, according to the article, but its luminous pearl was removed and red enamel applied in the triangular recess. A specially specified domed aftermarket sapphire replaced the stock flat crystal; Monochrome-Watches identified it as the only aftermarket part.
Dial and hands
The article said the factory dial was stripped and polished after its applied markers were removed. The customized dial was described as having gilt inscriptions and minute track, painted marker blocks, and a red “300 / 1000” depth marking. The hands were cleaned of their blue luminous material, gold-plated and filled with Super-Luminova.
How it compares with a stock 114060 and a vintage 6538
| Watch | What it is | Design and construction | Price evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempus Machina Ref. 216A | Customized Rolex Submariner based on a 114060, as described by Monochrome-Watches in 2015. | Reported 39.5 mm case after crown-guard removal, reshaped lugs and bezel, domed aftermarket sapphire, and modified dial and hands. | $25,000 stated by Monochrome-Watches in 2015. A single indexed auction result dated 30 June 2026 records $17,160 including a 10% premium; it is not a current asking price. |
| Rolex Submariner Ref. 114060 | The modern no-date Rolex used as the 216A’s base, according to the 2015 article. | Stock modern Submariner design; the 2015 article gave a 40 mm case diameter. | €6,500 comparison price stated by Monochrome-Watches in 2015. |
| Vintage Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 | The historical model whose appearance inspired the 216A. | Original vintage watch, rather than a customized modern 114060. | Monochrome-Watches cited $35,000–$200,000 for examples in 2015, with the upper end associated with rare editions. |
The comparison is about identity as much as appearance. The 216A uses a modern base and extensive modifications to recall the 6538; it does not share the provenance of an original vintage example. A buyer weighing one against the other should establish exactly what has been changed and retain the records that connect the modified watch to its base.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Price and availability
The $25,000 figure is a historical price reported by Monochrome-Watches in 2015, not a verified current retail price. That same article reported production was limited to 50 pieces. The available information does not establish whether the maker currently has watches for sale or what a dealer would ask today.
The Watch Info auction-results index lists a Loupe This sale dated 30 June 2026 with an estimate of $10,000–$15,000 and a realized price of $17,160 including a 10% premium. This is one indexed auction result, not a live offer or a market average; the underlying detailed lot page was not available, so it should not be treated as a complete record of that watch’s condition or documentation.
Service, warranty and what to verify before buying
Monochrome-Watches reported in 2015 that the modifications would invalidate the Rolex warranty, that Rolex would probably not accept the watch for service, and that Tempus Machina would cover movement faults for one year after delivery. Those were the article’s historical descriptions, not verified current terms from either company. Ask the seller and relevant service provider directly about the specific watch before relying on any warranty or service arrangement.
Quick Recap
- Confirm identity and provenance: request the watch’s serial and reference details, purchase records, and documentation linking the customized watch to its 114060 base.
- Get a modification record: ask for invoices or other records describing who performed the case, bezel, dial, crown and crystal work, and when it was done.
- Inspect the individual watch: verify condition, operation, and the state of customized components with an independent watchmaker experienced in Rolex watches and modified pieces.
- Clarify service and warranty in writing: obtain current, watch-specific answers from the seller and the party expected to service or warrant it.
- Separate asking from sold prices: compare any live offer with dated, documented sales for comparable examples; a single auction result does not establish a reliable market range.
Sources
- Monochrome-Watches, 16 June 2015 — reported design, specifications, price, production limit, and historical service and warranty statements.
- The Watch Info auction-results index — indexed Loupe This auction result dated 30 June 2026.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
