ROLEX, SUBMARINER, REF. 5513, MADE FOR THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY

VERY RARE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS
Lot 3590

ROLEX, SUBMARINER, REF. 5513, MADE FOR THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY VERY RARE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS

CASE 3764702, MANUFACTURED IN 1974

Closed2 December 2010

Price Realised

HKD 716,000

More Information

How to sell

ROLEX, SUBMARINER, REF. 5513, MADE FOR THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY

VERY RARE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS
CASE 3764702, MANUFACTURED IN 1974
Calibre 1520, 26 jewels, black dial with encircled "T" indicating the military use, luminous dot, baton and dagger numerals, luminous sword hands, luminous sweep centre seconds, three-part case in stainless steel, fully calibrated revolving bezel calibrated for 60 units, screw down crown, fixed bars, military issue numbers C0552/923-7697 and unit number 168/74 engraved on screw down case back, case, dial and movement signed
Diameter: 40 mm.

Specialist note

US$65,000-90,000

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 168 and issue year 74.