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Lot 340
Rolex. A rare stainless steel self-winding water-resistant wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and hack feature, made for the British Royal Navy
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, 660FT=200M, SUBMARINER, REF. 5513/5517, CASE NO. 5212920, MANUFACTURED IN 1972
Closed12 May 2008
Price Realised
CHF 91,000
More Information
Specialist note
Accompanied by a detached stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet.
The present watch is from a series of watches ordered in the early 1970s by the British Royal Navy for one of their commandos, the Special Boat Service or "S.B.S.", one of the world's best trained Special Forces.
This Submariner model was adapted following the specifications requested by the British Ministry of Defence and attributed reference number 5517. The watches had to be fitted with the hack feature for the seconds, fixed bar lugs with a diameter of at least 2 mm., easily readable dials equipped with the larger "sword" hands, the international symbol for Tritium, the encircled "T". The outside of the case backs were marked with the military broad arrow sign, Ministry of Defence issue numbers and unit number.
The Royal Navy's Special Boat Service (SBS) is the lesser-known sister unit of the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) regiment. Based in Poole, Dorset, the SBS is a special forces unit specializing in operations at sea, along coastlines and on river networks. Previously known as the Special Boat Squadron, members of the SBS are exclusively drawn from The Royal Marines.
The present watch is from a series of watches ordered in the early 1970s by the British Royal Navy for one of their commandos, the Special Boat Service or "S.B.S.", one of the world's best trained Special Forces.
This Submariner model was adapted following the specifications requested by the British Ministry of Defence and attributed reference number 5517. The watches had to be fitted with the hack feature for the seconds, fixed bar lugs with a diameter of at least 2 mm., easily readable dials equipped with the larger "sword" hands, the international symbol for Tritium, the encircled "T". The outside of the case backs were marked with the military broad arrow sign, Ministry of Defence issue numbers and unit number.
The Royal Navy's Special Boat Service (SBS) is the lesser-known sister unit of the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) regiment. Based in Poole, Dorset, the SBS is a special forces unit specializing in operations at sea, along coastlines and on river networks. Previously known as the Special Boat Squadron, members of the SBS are exclusively drawn from The Royal Marines.