Rolex Submariner 5513
The Rolex Submariner 5513 is the quintessential vintage Submariner for new collectors and seasoned collectors alike. As the last of non-date Submariners before the introduction of the white gold marker surrounds (which appeared towards the end of the 5513’s life in the late eighties and again on the non-date 14060), the 5513 is an affordable entry into vintage Submariners. The domed crystal, matt dial and tritium markers give it a warmth and classical appearance that a modern Submariner cannot replicate.
Available alongside the Submariner 5512, the 5513 was a cheaper, non Chronometer tested version of the Submariner, and as such lost out on the third and fourth lines of text on the bottom half of the dial that read, ‘Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified.’ Many prefer the cleaner dial of the 5513, that harks back to the early 6536’s and the first few years of Submariner production when just the depth rating and model name was printed on the dial.
The 5513 was available from 1962 until as late as 1990, and is one of the longest continued productions of any Rolex model, which highlights just how popular a watch it was. It carried the hard-working and reliable calibres 1520 and 1530. The 1530 was used in both the 5512 and the 5513 which shows that, despite chronometer certification, the 5513 was just as accurate and well-built. The 1680 that followed on and also introduced the date function to the Submariner lost the gently domed acrylic crystal of the 5513, which is another reason why the 5513 is so popular with collectors.
Getting into vintage watch collecting can be an eye-opening and expensive experience, but this isn’t the case with the Rolex Submariner 5513. As cheap to buy and maintain as a modern Submariner, yet steeped in the history of an era when mechanical watches dominated, the 5513 represents a relative bargain.
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- Manufacturer: Rolex
- Range: Submariner
- Model: 5513
- Age: approximately 28 years old
- Gender: Gents
- Case: Steel
- Bracelet: Steel (Oyster)
- Size (MM): 40
- Dial: Black Baton