THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 5513
YEAR: 1977
BOX/PAPERS: YES/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

The 5513 marque of the Submariner is arguably the most iconic. It also produced the greatest variety within the model during its 25-year production run. Starting in 1963 with pointed crown guard cases and charming gilt dials and hands, it evolved through to 1988/1989 with white gold surrounded tritium markers and gloss dials.

Gilt dial 5513s were produced for only a few short years before matte dial 5513s were introduced around 1967. In the early 1970s, Rolex made another notable change to the dials, switching from meters to feet as the first measurement of the depth rating. This change was likely driven by the growing market share in the United States, which uses imperial measurements.

The present example, dating back to 1977, boasts a "Pre-COMEX" dial, a nickname given by collectors thanks to its similarities to the famous COMEX 5514 dials - the chubby Rolex coronet and the very serify "L" in Rolex. The dial is fantastic; the dead tritium lume on the markers and hands has aged beautifully, acquiring an attractive light creamy patina. The case has seen polishing wheels in the past but remains in great honest shape. The iconic submariner look is completed by the correct MKV "hooked five" insert which has taken on a dark navy/grey patina. A TrueDome crystal is fitted to the watch. 

The watch comes on a full-link 93150/580 bracelet with a "DT" clasp, indicating a service replacement from 2002. The original box is included. The movement has been freshly checked over and the timekeeping is spot on at +2 s/d, 271 amps, with a 0.1 ms beat error. These matte dial 5513s are really the quintessential vintage Rolexes.