Lot 146
Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and hack feature, made for the British Royal Navy
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, 660FT=200M, SUBMARINER, REF. 5513, CASE NO. 3'764'774, MANUFACTURED IN 1974
Closed16 November 2009
Price Realised
CHF 43,750
More Information
Specialist note
With copy of Rolex SA, Geneva invoice dated 20 February 2009 for the complete overhaul of the watch.
The Military version of the Submariner ref. 5513 was adapted following the specifications requested by the British Ministry of Defence. The watches had to be fitted with fixed bar lugs with a diameter of at least 2 mm. The dials had to be easily readable and were therefore equipped with the larger "sword" hands. They also had to show the international symbol for Tritium, the encircled "T". The hack feature allowing the precise setting of the time was another specific request.
The models furthermore had a unique bezel with sixty minute marks rather than only the first fifteen minutes. The outside of the case backs were marked with the military broad arrow sign, Ministry of Defence issue numbers and unit number. Furthermore the inside of the case backs repeated the serial number which is commonly only found between the lugs.
The outside of the case back of the present watch is engraved with the following markings:
0552 for British Ministry of Defence, 923-7697 for the NATO code, the Broad Arrow characterising all watches owned by the British Army, the issue number 107 and issue year 74.
The inside of the case back bears reference number 5513 and serial number 3'764'774.
The Military version of the Submariner ref. 5513 was adapted following the specifications requested by the British Ministry of Defence. The watches had to be fitted with fixed bar lugs with a diameter of at least 2 mm. The dials had to be easily readable and were therefore equipped with the larger "sword" hands. They also had to show the international symbol for Tritium, the encircled "T". The hack feature allowing the precise setting of the time was another specific request.
The models furthermore had a unique bezel with sixty minute marks rather than only the first fifteen minutes. The outside of the case backs were marked with the military broad arrow sign, Ministry of Defence issue numbers and unit number. Furthermore the inside of the case backs repeated the serial number which is commonly only found between the lugs.
The outside of the case back of the present watch is engraved with the following markings:
0552 for British Ministry of Defence, 923-7697 for the NATO code, the Broad Arrow characterising all watches owned by the British Army, the issue number 107 and issue year 74.
The inside of the case back bears reference number 5513 and serial number 3'764'774.