SOLD-Rolex Submariner reference 5513 from 1967 with a meters first dial

Is there any watch more iconic than a Rolex Submariner? We all love our Subs. But the coolest and cleanest of them all are the Meters First Submariners. Only two lines and meters first. That’s all folks..

Unlike later Submariners (or its sister references, the 5512 and 1680), the 5513 features only two lines of text at the top half and two lines the lower half of the dial. This gives the 5513 a wonderful clean and understated look. Not too much, not too little: just perfect for a proper tool-watch.

The 40 mm stainless steel case is in great condition with thick lugs and is accompanied by a stainless steel folded Oyster bracelet.

The 5512/3 reference and its movement

The 5512 Submariner reference was introduced in 1959. It was a big improvement. This was the first reference with the crown guards. The ref. 5512 also came with a slightly larger 40mm Oyster case, 2mm larger than its 38mm predecessor.

Thereby it was the first Submariner which was chronometer rated which was also stated on the dials with two extra lines of text.

The Rolex Submariner 5512 and Submariner 5513 started both out with the Rolex caliber 1530 movement. The reference 5513 is the longest produced reference so far in the line of Submariners, to be precise from 1962 to around 1989. A year after production started, the diver was equipped with a renewed caliber 1520, based on the previous caliber 1530. This was a chronometer movement with a Breguet overcoil. A discovery that ensured that the timepiece could be adjusted more accurately. In caliber 1520 this was replaced by their own ‘flat’ coil spring. This was done to save costs. This caliber is made with 17, 25, 26 Jewels (stone bearings) made. The first Submariner with caliber 1520 was made in 1963, but the timepiece type was used until around 1980.

Two lines or 4 lines

Early Submariner 5512 watches were outfitted with the non-chronometer rated Caliber 1530, therefore the dials did not include the “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” label. Colloquially, these models are aptly referred to as two-liner Submariner 5512 models.

When Rolex replaced the Caliber 1530 with the chronometer-rated Caliber 1560 (and eventually the Caliber 1570), the company naturally included the SCOC text on the dial. Thus, these models are nicknamed the four-liner Submariner 5512.

So there is one detail that makes this 5513 arguably more attractive than the 5512: it has 2-lines of text instead of 4-lines due to the lack of “Superlative Officially Certified Chronometer,” which is found on the majority of 5512 Submariners from 1963. The result is a cleaner look due to no chronometer markings.

Meters first dial

This 5513 dates back to 1968 and features a ‘meters first’ dial, which refers to the depth rating that states the meters first followed by the equivalent in feet (“200m = 660ft”). In the second half of the 1960s, Rolex switched to printing the feet before the meters to satisfy the growing American customer base. As a result, these ‘meters first’ dials are coveted among collectors.

Below are a few important characteristics of the 5513 meters first matte dial that help to determine authenticity:

• starting from the top of the dial, the “L” in “ROLEX” should have very little if any serif on top and should be centered under the coronet. Serif is defined as small extensions at the letter’s vertical and horizontal termination points that enhance its appearance and readability.
• the “6’s” in the depth rating are semi-open and to my eye appear that the top is rotated a couple degrees in the clockwise direction. I use the term semi-open here because it may take a 10X loupe to show that the “6’s” are in fact non closed.
• the “S” in Submariner has a very characteristic shape with the top part of the “S” straight across, and the middle horizontal portion closer to the top part than the bottom portion of the “S”.
• Finally, the “SWISS - T < 25” marking at the bottom of the dial is across a total of five minute hash marks at the bottom of the dial. This is in contrast to the Non Serif Dials and subsequent dials that had the “SWISS - T < 25” across only three minute hash marks at the bottom of the dial. Please note that there was a short run of 5512 meters first matte dials with the “SWISS - T < 25” across only three minute hash marks, but I have never seen an example of a Meters First matte 5513 dial with that characteristic.

Condition report

This stunning example of the Rolex Submariner 5513 reference comes with a  rare "Two Liner Meters First" Dial and  is in really good honest vintage condition.

The original aluminum bezel inlay still has a black color with a purple kind of hue in it that matches well with the grained matte black dial. The dial features the Submariner’s iconic painted tritium markers in a pleasing eggshell color, which do not light up anymore after being exposed to light due to the use of a tritium/zinc sulfate compound, the markers and hands. The dial that has a beautifully even black paint with uniform patina, and full and intact luminous hour plots with an excellent matching hand set. Comes with a dome plexi crystal, under which the dial markers are warm and creamy with sharp and bold text, a truly original and well preserved dial that classes this example in the premium range for condition.

If you’re looking for an honest and no questions example, this is it, a true rarity as these rarely become available in this condition. Check the high res pics, even more stunning in the flesh, and no disappointments.

• Dial: Original beautiful matte Two liner meters first dial. The matte dial has a really nice even patina with a kind of creamy colour tritium. The luminous material of the hour markers of this dial have a beautiful even and consistent patina on top of the black painted brass matte dial
• Hands: Original tritium steel hands. The creamy patina of the hands match the patina of the hour markers perfectly.
• Case: case has been polished. The lugs are still thick & even showing bevels.. lugs and pointed crown guards that has been well preserved and looked after. Reference & serial numbers are fully legible. Case shows wear but very reasonable for its age (Please see pictures). Inside case and movement is sharp and ultra clean with no corrosion, beautifully aged. Correct original single coronet double lock crown (without later 3 dots). Serial number in the correct range with clear numbers between lugs and correct inner caseback stamp dating it to second Quarter - 11/1967.
• Bezel: really nice Mark 3 bezel with a purple kind of hue on it. The Mark 3 bezel is one of the earliest bezel without the red triangle faded from black to grey. The bezel has its original tritium pearl. The key tell on the Mark 3 bezels compared to service bezels is that the index markers for the seconds are as thick as the one at 10 while at the service bezel these markers are thinner
• Bracelet: excellent Rolex 93150 oyster bracelet with solid links. Bracelet has some stretch and wear but is in really great wearable condition.
• Movement: Bought serviced. Just checked by our watchmaker. Running perfectly with a one year service warranty. The watch carries the self-winding automatic 1520 movement polished decorations and circular Côtes de Genève finishing. The movement features 26 jewels and a bi-directional central rotor, beating at 18,000 A/h, with a power reserve of 42-hours. The movement is clean, and during the time of testing the watch was fully functional.
• Accessories: None.
• Notes: Absolutely stunning example of a super desirable Rolex Submariner 5513 with an attractive dial, original hand, original bezel and later bracelet. Very hard to find these in this condition.

Overall, the Rolex Submariner 5513 is noteworthy, both for its design and execution. This Rolex Submariner 5513 is remarkably well preserved. This particular watch has just undergone a full service. This work was carried out by our Rolex authorized watchmaker using Rolex parts.

As with all of our pre-owned watches this watch comes with a full 12 month warranty with ourselves that will be invoked from the day of purchase.

Viewings can be arranged at our office by appointment.

If you put it on your wrist, you feel you have locked and Wrist Icon!

• Brand: Rolex
• Model: Submariner
• Serial number: 1.651.1xx
• Reference: 5513
• Year: Circa 1967
• caliber: Automatic 1520 movement without/date
• Case: It has a stainless steel case with screw down case back. waterproof screw-down crown, rotatable time-lapse diver's bezel, acrylic crystal.            Excellent case with reasonable wear from use. Inner caseback has printed II 67
• Bezel and insert: comes with a lightly faded fat font Mark III bezel insert It is a sharp original bezel with original insert with Tritium dot present.
• Dimensions: 40 mm diameter;
• Crystal: Plexiglass
• Dial: matte meters first two liner dial with warm creamy tritium hour markers.
• Bracelet/Strap: stainless steel solid link 93150 oyster bracelet folded oyster bracelet with a Rolex signed  buckle. It wears really good, bracelet has been polished and the Rolex crown on the clasp is nice & fully working
• Lug Width: 20mm
• Box/Papers: only watch