THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 5513
YEAR: 1984
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 40MM
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
The 5513 reference of the Submariner is arguably the most iconic of them all. It also offers the greatest variety within the model across its 25-year production run. Introduced in 1963 with pointed crown guard cases and charming gilt dials and hands, the reference evolved through to 1988/89, when it featured glossy dials with white gold-surrounded tritium markers.
Gilt-dial 5513s were produced for only a few short years before matte dials were introduced around 1967. In the early 1970s, Rolex made another notable change, switching the primary depth measurement from metres to feet. This adjustment was likely driven by Rolex’s growing market share in the United States, where imperial measurements are standard.
In the 1980s, Rolex entered a new era with the introduction of new movements, sapphire crystals, and updated case designs, led by “transitional” models such as the GMT-Master II 16760, the Sea-Dweller 16660, and the Explorer II 16550. However, the Submariner line quietly waited a few more years before the ref. 14060 replaced the 5513.
The present example dates to 1984 and features a beautiful "spider dial" with white gold surrounds. Some of the early gloss dials had unusually thick lacquer; after years of UV exposure, the lacquer fractures on the surface, producing this spiderweb effect. The case is likely unpolished and shows only minor marks, as you would expect after more than four decades of life. The lume on the markers and hands has aged to an even, creamy hue. The correct early “flat four” bezel insert is still present. The original full-link 93150 bracelet with I-stamped clasp (1984) shows very mild stretch and will accommodate a 20 cm wrist.
The movement has just been serviced and is running at +1 s/d, with 310° amplitude and a 0.1 ms beat error. The watch also passed a 5-bar pressure test. For many, these gloss-dial 5513s mark the end of the true “vintage Rolex” era. They are beautiful on the wrist and still underappreciated.