Description
A truly stunning and very original example. Serial number indicates 1972 model year. Factory Matte dial. Amazing patina and colouration. Bezel had also started to fade beautifully. Newly hand tailored leather strap with vintage buckle, of the highest quality. Suit the watch perfectly in our opinion. Supplied with it original box.
WATCH WILL BE FULLY INSPECTED, TESTED, CHECKED AND DETAILED BEFORE SOLD. ANY INSPECTION WELCOME.
The Rolex Submariner was first introduced in 1953 and was one of the world’s very first purpose-built dive watches. Designed around Rolex’s legendary ‘waterproof’ Oyster case and ‘perpetual’ self-winding movement, the Submariner set the standard for all future dive watches, and has been a fixture within the industry ever since.
During the first several years following its initial release, Rolex released a number of different variations of the Submariner; however it was not until the introduction of the reference 5512 in 1959 that Rolex’s underwater timepiece would start to take on what would ultimately become its modern iconic form.
Rolex released the reference 5513 Submariner in 1962 and to the average buyer, it was virtually identical to the ref. 5512 that had just been introduced a few years before. Both watches featured 40mm stainless steel cases, self-winding time-only movements, domed acrylic crystals, black luminous dials, black aluminum bezels, and matching steel Oyster bracelets.
Although these two Rolex Submariner watches appeared more-or-less the same on the outside, they were powered by different movements and were accompanied by different retail prices. The ref. 5512 received a COSC-certified movement; however the reference 5513 Submariner was fitted with a similar caliber that lacked chronometer-certification. Despite the ref. 5512 being positioned as the premium version, real-world performance between the two watches was rather similar, and the lower price point of the reference 5513 made it the better-selling Submariner.
By the end of the 1970s, Rolex had discontinued the ref. 5512; however production of the Submariner 5513 lasted all the way up until 1989. During its remarkably long production run, Rolex Submariner reference 5513 watches were produced with a range of variation in regards to the different styles of dials, bezels, hands, crown-guards, and bracelets that were fitted to them.
The reference 5513 Submariner was introduced back in the early days of Rolex sports watches, when the brand was still using glossy gilt dials, and production of this long-running reference lasted well beyond the point when Rolex made the switch to dials with applied, white gold surrounds for the hour markers. This means that the Rolex Submariner 5513’s production run spanned the entire matte dial era, and it is this wealth of variation that makes the reference 5513 one of the most diverse and exciting vintage Rolex watches for collectors to study and pursue.
12 MONTH WARRANTY SUPPLIED.
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