Although the Rolex 5513 is not the very first Submariner that was ever created, it is often the first model that comes to mind whenever someone thinks of a vintage Submariner watch. While the very first Submariner made an appearance in 1953, the collection itself didn’t really start to take form until the end of the decade when Rolex’s industry-leading dive watch grew to 40mm in diameter and gained the addition of crown guards for the very first time. By the time the ref. 5513 emerged almost a full decade after the birth of the Rolex Submariner, most of the watch’s core design DNA was already established, yet the model offers an unmistakably vintage overall look and feel that immediately sets it apart from the modern Submariner watches that Rolex produces today.
Owning a 5513 feels like holding a piece of history, one that carries the legacy of Rolex’s pioneering spirit in horology. The subtle wear on the case, the patina on the dial, and the classic design elements all contribute to its allure, making it a piece that transcends time and trends. With that said, let’s dive into the Rolex 5513.
Rolex Submariner Reference 5513
Vintage Submariner 5513 Key Features:
- Reference Number: 5513
- Production Years: 1962 – 1989 (Approx.)
- Case Size: 40mm
- Materials: Stainless Steel
- Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds, Elapsed Time Bezel
- Bezel: Bidirectional, Black w/ 60-Minute Scale
- Insert Material: Aluminum
- Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers (Gilt, Matte, or Gloss w/ Applied Markers)
- Hands: Mercedes Style, Luminous
- Luminous Material: Radium or Tritium
- Crystal: Acrylic (Domed)
- Water Resistance: 200 Meters / 660 Feet
- Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet
About The Vintage Rolex Submariner 5513
The Rolex Submariner 5513 holds a significant place in Rolex Submariner history as a vintage no-date model featuring a movement that is not chronometer-certified. Released a few years after the reference 5512, it shares an almost identical appearance, with the primary difference being fewer lines of text on its dial. The ref. 5513 was designed as a more affordable version of Rolex’s successful dive watch, offering the same durability and water resistance but without the premium COSC-certified movement. This pricing strategy contributed to its widespread popularity, ultimately leading to the discontinuation of the ref. 5512, while the ref. 5513 remained in production until the late 1980s.
In any thorough Rolex Submariner review, the 5513 stands out for its unique distinctions, as it was produced for over a quarter of a century. It holds the title of being the last no-date Submariner to feature an acrylic crystal, the last to have a matte dial, the last to sport a bi-directional bezel, and the only Submariner to be produced with all three different dial styles that have been fitted to Rolex Submariner watches. Additionally, since the 5513 does not house a COSC chronometer-certified movement, its dial lacks the “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” text found on contemporary Submariners, offering a clean, minimalist aesthetic.
Rolex Submariner 5513 Variations
Due to the remarkably long production run of the Rolex Submariner 5513, surviving examples of the model can be found with a surprising range of variation among their dials, hands, bezels, bracelets, and even the shape of the grown guards on their cases. Some of the very earliest examples featured glossy gilt dials with radium lume and cases with pointed crown guards, while the later era examples featured rounded crown guards, gloss black dials with white printing, tritium lume, and applied hour markers crafted from solid 18k white gold.
Additionally, between these two polar extremes was the entire matte dial era, which is an entirely separate generation of vintage Rolex Submariner dials that is characterized by a matte black surface with white text and painted tritium lume for its hour markers. Additionally, as these changes were occurring, other smaller changes were also taking place such as the order of the units for the depth rating, the dial signature below the 6 o’clock hour maker, the size of the hour marker plots, and even the shape of the Rolex coronet itself.
On top of that, bezel fonts also changed over the years, and Rolex also updated the style of the Oyster bracelet that was fitted to the Submariner a couple of times during the production run of the reference 5513. This diversity ultimately creates excitement for today’s collectors of vintage Rolex watches, and for many fans of sports watches, the reference 5513 consistently ranks among their favorite models to study and collect. There are many people who own numerous examples of the Rolex Submariner 5513 or who will specifically try to collect each of the main different dial variations, while others specifically try to seek out examples with military provenance or co-branded dials, such as those with the famous Tiffany & Co. signature.
Investment Value and Collectability Submariner 5513 Watches
Another reason why the Submariner ref. 5513 is such a favorite among vintage Rolex collectors is because the model can be found at an incredibly wide range of different price points. On the low end of the price spectrum, you can sometimes find some examples from the 1980s for around $15k on the pre-owned market, while some of the mega-rare examples that are fitted with “Explorer Style” dials can be worth upwards of six-figures whenever they manage to surface at auction.
With that in mind, compared to certain other vintage Rolex Submariner watches, the reference 5513 is surprisingly affordable given its status as often being considered the quintessential vintage Submariner. Due to its longer production run and more plentiful production numbers, Submariner 5513 watches are typically quite a bit more affordable than their near-identical ref. 5512 siblings, and it could easily be argued that the reference 5513 was the last truly vintage Rolex Submariner watch, since it was the last model to feature a number of definitively vintage traits such as an acrylic crystal and friction-fitted bezel. Regardless of whether you opt for an early example with a gilt dial or one from the late 1980s with applied white gold hour markers, you are getting an iconic classic and a legitimate piece of Rolex’s legendary dive watch history.
While the Submariner 5513 is an excellent choice for vintage watch enthusiasts, it’s worth noting that Rolex also offers another iconic tool watch: the GMT-Master. If you’re curious about how these two models compare, check out our guide on the Rolex GMT vs Submariner to learn more about their unique features and differences.
