Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic centre seconds Military Issue wristwatch  Submariner, Ref:5513, Made in 1972, Issued in 1976
Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic centre seconds Military Issue wristwatch
Submariner, Ref:5513, Made in 1972, Issued in 1976
26-jewel Cal:1520 movement, black dial with luminous dot and baton hour markers, signed 'Rolex Oyster Perpetual, 660ft=200m Submariner' and printed with a T within a circle, sweep centre seconds, original issued Sword Hands, polished case with calibrated revolving bezel and fixed bars, inside case back stamped with the serial number, 5513, I.72, screw down Oyster crown and screw on back engraved with the M.O.D number 0552/923-7697, fitted fabric military style strap, case, dial and movement signed
40mm.
Sold for £34,800 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • This particular watch was given to the current owner in 1982 by Sir David Brown.

    Sir David Brown (10 May 1904 - 3 September 1993) was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft. In 1947, Brown saw a classified advertisement in The Times, offering for sale a High Class Motor Business. Brown acquired Aston Martin for £20,500 and, in the following year bought Lagonda for £52,500, followed by the coachbuilder Tickford in 1955. He subsequently concentrated all the Aston Martin manufacturing at the Tickford premises in Newport Pagnell.
    The legendary 'DB' series of Aston Martin cars, including the Atom, the DB2, the DB3, the DB4, the DB5 (famously driven by James Bond) the DB6, and the DB7 - Aston's most successful model yet - were named after Brown using his initials.

    The Royal Navy ordered from Rolex a series of watches for use by their specialist personnel. These watches have fixed bar lugs and the hands are of sword shape so they are more legible under low light conditions, the dials are also marked with the "Circle T" which is the international symbol for Tritium. The case backs are engraved on the interior with the serial number and also on the outside case back with the Ministry of Defence issue number.

    There are 3 series of the Royal Navy Military Submariner:

    1.Standard Ref: 5513

    2.Double Ref: 5513/5517 (5513 on case and back: 5517 on a lug)

    3.Unique Ref: 5517

    This watch is confirmed by Mr. Henry Hudson of Rolex and was issued to H M Dockyard Devonport on the 13th March 1976.

Category: Clocks and Watches / Watches


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