Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1977 Reference No: 5512 Movement No: 173’036 Case No: 5’367’310, inside caseback stamped “5513” Model Name: Submariner Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “9315”, endlinks stamped “380” max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “3-72” Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex international service guarantee, instruction manual, product literature, green plastic card holder, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
The matte dialled Rolex Submariners ref. 5512 are extremely popular in the world of vintage watch collecting. Introduced in 1967, the matte dials were made to replace of the preceding glossy gilt dials. While early examples of matte dials featured “meters first” with a softer black finish and printed white text, the final generations of the ref. 5512 were signed with the “feet first” depth rating on the dial.
Bearing a 5’367 million serial, the present example is dated from circa 1977. A quintessential “Maxi 4-Liner" dial, this ref. 5512 is marked with “660ft-200m”, “SUBMARINER” “SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER” and “OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED” in an orderly 4-lined formation, with distinctively enlarged luminous plots. This dial configuration was produced for only a year between 1977 and 1978. Having aged beautifully through the ravages of time, the luminous plots have developed a desirable ivory-cream hue that enhances its vintage appeal. Rare to come by, this no-date Submariner is the perfect no-frills vintage tool watch for daily wear.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.