Vintage of the Week: Military Submariner 5513/0

Crown Rolex Military Sub 5513

The Rolex watches made for the Royal Navy have a special place in many collector's hearts. These 1970s versions, of which about 1200 were made, are in high demand these days, so if you are lucky enough to find one you want to know what to look for. Experts estimate that only a few hundred remain in their original condition, as many of them have had parts replaced or have been destroyed over the years. For those few lucky enough to have one there is a high demand if you were to ever want to sell your Rolex .

Vintage Military Submariner Papers 5513

Specifications

5513 Submariner Military Issue

The dial on these Military Submariner watches are the typical 5513 dial with a modified large “T” in a circle above the “200 meters/660 feet” markings at six o'clock. The “T” indicates the presence of tritium.

Submariner 5513 with Strap

The hands of this model are unique and are referred to as “sword” hands. The Omega Seamaster has similar hands and people sometimes use Seamaster hands to replace these, but a good collector can tell the difference. Because of their large surface area, the hands are prone to flaking.

Back Vintage Military Submariner 513

The bezel may include an insert with markings all the way around. This was a special bezel made only for military Submariners. The case is a typical 5513 but the spring bars are affixed with metal bars to the NATO-type strap, and the caseback has an MOD number beginning with 0552 or W10 on it along with a triangle with a hat on top below the issue and year numbers.

Back Case Rolex Submariner 5513

These caseback numbers are quite different depending of the delivery date and must be compared to other watches in the same delivery sequence to verity their authenticity. A few watches were delivered with Mercedes hands, and some with 15-minute bezels, so identifying the right reference can be difficult.

Movement 5513 Submariner Rolex

In order to keep the 5513 and 5517 Military Submariners, straight, it is helpful to remember:

• The 5513 was delivered with either sword or Mercedes hands and either a full 60-minute or a 15-minute bezel
• The 5517 can only have sword hands and a full 60-minute bezel.

Looking for a Submariner 5513 Military issue is not a quest to be taken lightly. It will probably require months of searching, and you have to decide if you are willing to take one with different parts as many have been modified over the years. However, owning a piece of history may be well worth the extra effort and waiting for just the right watch may be rewarded with a great find! vedere di piu orologi e Rolex Datejust II