THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 5513
YEAR: 1968
BOX/PAPERS: BOX/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

For us at Falco, one of the most rewarding aspects of vintage watch collecting is studying the small details that can truly make or break a watch. This week, we welcomed two more fantastic matte-dial 5513s into our growing fleet of vintage Submariners. This particular example, dating to 1968, features a “meters first” dial.

The dial is flawless, with creamy tritium plots, and the case remains very strong, having not been polished for a long time. What makes this watch even cooler is the "Long 5" bezel insert, which has aged to a dark grey hue (there is a small crack around the pip), along with the original rivet bracelet, which is in remarkable condition.

It’s fascinating to see how watches made within just a couple of years of one another can develop entirely different characters, depending on how much wear, sunlight, or water exposure they’ve experienced. This example shows completely different characters from the other “meters first” 5513s we currently in stock, which are beautiful in their own ways.

The movement arrived in excellent health and is running at +1 s/day, with an amplitude of 275° and a beat error of 0.1 ms. The watch comes with its box. A fantastic 5513, brimming with vintage charm.