In 1962, Rolex released their new Submariner ref. 5513 which enjoyed a long production span of 27 years ending in 1989. Regarded by collectors as one of the most coveted vintage Rolex tool watch references, early examples of the ref. 5513 are without a doubt rare, as they featured highly desirable “glossy” dials. With a short-lived production of “glossy” dials, Rolex replaced them with the common matte dials in 1967. The early 1960s was an interesting and a pivotal moment for the firm as various upgrades determined the future of Rolex timepieces, such as the transition from Radium to Tritium used as the luminous material on the dial.
With that said, early examples of the reference are definitely rare, however with some rarer than others, “glossy” examples also came with various iterations. Very early examples of the reference from 1962 featured “glossy” dial with a chapter ring with a 2-Liner “Swiss only” dial in silver texts and a case with pointed crown guards, similar to examples fitted in the ref. 5512. Most examples of the reference manufactured after 1964 no longer featured a chapter ring on the dial. Furthermore, early examples of the reference were powered by the older cal. 1530 with later examples featuring non-chronometer cal. 1520.
The present example Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 featuring a desirable glossy black “meters first” dial with chapter ring and pointed crown guards is a rare treat for vintage collectors. Boasting an attractive case, the dial is well-preserved and features the rare chapter ring which was only produced for less than one year. Bearing a correct 892’XXX serial from circa 1963, the case back is further stamped “II.63” correlating to the serial. With all the elements combined, the present rare timepiece will certainly captivate the attention of collectors.
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.