Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner reference 5513 1971 1 non serif dial

WRIST ICONS present you the Rolex Submariner,  the quintessential diving watch of all time. It has been used by the British military as a tool, but also by the diving company Comex. The watch has gained a lot of popularity due to the appearance in several movies of James Bond. Get the opportunity to buy a really good example of the Rolex Submariner with reference 5513 from 1971. This is the non-date model which is the most loved edition by the purist since when you are diving you don’t need a date function. It is also the reference that has been in production for the longest time of all Rolex references, from 1962–1990.

History of the Rolex Submariner

In 1926 Rolex bought the patent of the Oyster case, which featured a hermetic seal to protect the movement from water. On 7 October 1927 an English female swimmer, Mercedes Gleitze attempted to cross the English Channel with a new Rolex Oyster hanging round her neck by a ribbon on this swim. After more than 10 hours in the chilly water the watch remained sealed and kept good time throughout.

The world's first industrially produced diving watch intended for commercial distribution was made by Omega in 1932. It was the Omega Marine. With a rectangular case. This watch had a double case sealed with cork to keep the water and the elements away from the heart of the watch.  

In 1935 the Regia Marina (the Royal Italian Navy) requested Panerai, their official supplier of all kinds of technical equipment and precision instruments  for a luminous underwater watch for divers. Panerai offered "Radiomir" underwater timepieces in 1936. These watches were made by Rolex for Panerai.

In 1953 Blacnpain introduced the Fifty Fathoms. Various models were issued by Blancpain in small quantities to the military in several countries, including US and French Navy combat diver teams. The Fifty Fathoms was worn by Jacques Cousteau and his diver

Rolex was the first company that really succeeded to properly market a diving watch.  They introduced the Submariner during Baselwold in 1954. It was also due to the  popularity of the first SCUBA diving developed by Jacques Cousteau, called the Aqulaung, that diving came more and more popular by a bigger group of people.

Model information and characteristics

• Waterproof to a maximum depth of 300 m (1000 ft). Earlier models were thinner and resistant to 200 metres (660 ft).
• Twin-lock or triple system waterproof crown, featuring a double gasket system, identified by two dots on the crown. The Twinlock system included one O-ring gasket under the crown to push against the case to create a wall against outside moisture. However, the second O-ring gasket (hence the “Twin”) was located inside the tube surrounding the winding stem to keep the water out even when the crown was unscrewed. The third-generation waterproof winding crown named Triplock, is fitted with a triple waterproofness system. It was introduced in 1970 to equip the Sea-Dweller, the model designed for professional deep-sea divers. To further reinforce the waterproofness, even if the crown should remain unscrewed under water, Rolex engineers added a second O-ring inside the tube. This acts as a kind of airlock, safely keeping out even the minutest particles. Today, the Triplock system equips all the brand’s divers’ watches as well as a number of other Professional models.
• Case made from solid block of 904L stainless steel, a corrosion-resistant alloy, or gold. T
• Unidirectional bezel that enables a diver to memorize and follow immersion time. As the bezel only rotates counterclockwise, the dive time can only become "shorter" in case of accidental bezel movement, averting the danger of spending too much time underwater.
• Perpetual rotor in the self-winding wristwatch mechanism, allowing the watch to run continuously, as every slight movement of the wrist winds the movement. The energy generated is stored in the mainspring, allowing the watch to continue to function with no movement for several days.

Condition

This stunning example of the Rolex Submariner 5513 reference is in really good honest vintage condition. It has all the good parts what makes this a great looking vintage piece

 Dial: Original non serif tritium dial with stunning " patina. Similarly to the case, the blue  dial is in excellent condition, the hour markers of the dial have a really nice patina with a kind of creamy colour.

Hands: Original Tritium hands. The creamy patina of the hands match the patina of the hour markers perfectly.

Case: case has been refurbished. We bought the watch which was really abused on the polishing wheel. Therefore we have laser-welded the case to return the case  to its former glory. We have chosen to not restore the case  to like new condition since then it would no match the condition of the watch as a whole. The lugs are now thick, but not too thick & even showing bevels.. Reference & serial numbers are fully legible. Case shows wear. (Please see pictures).

Crown: Original Rolex triple lock crown.

Bezel & Insert: comes with a lightly faded fat font Mark III bezel insert. It is a sharp original bezel with original "Hooked 5" insert with Tritium dot present..

Bracelet: Rolex 9315  folded link bracelet with 280 end 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 the self-winding automatic 1520 movement polished decorations and circular Côtes de Genève finishings. The movement features 26 jewels and a bi-directional central rotor, beating at 19,800 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 hands and original folded 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. 

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.

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.

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

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• Brand: Rolex
• Model: Submariner
• Serial number: 288xxx
• Reference: 5513
• Year: Circa 1971
• caliber: Automatic 1520 movement w/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 some wear from use. Inner caseback has misprint. ROLEX MONTRES SA has been printed twice instead of once in combination with 5513. Serial and reference numbers are crisp and well defined.
• Bezel and insert: comes with a lightly faded fat font Mark III bezel insert. It is a sharp original bezel with original "Hooked 5" insert with Tritium dot present.
• Dimensions: 40 mm diameter;
• Crystal: Plexiglass
• Dial: Excellent black matte mk II dial with warm creamy markers.
• Caliber: automatic-winding caliber
• Bracelet/Strap: stainless steel Rolex 9315 period correct folded oyster bracelet with a Rolex signed 9315 flip lock buckle. It wears really good, since it is a super tight original Rolex 93150 Oyster bracelet with 280 end links. Bracelet dated to 4 71 (4^th quarter 1971) and has 11 links + the original PATENTED diver extension. Bracelet has been polished and the Rolex crown on the clasp is nice & crisp.
• Lug Width: 20mm
• Box/Papers: only watch