Jonathan Snellenburg
Director
Lot 101
ROLEX. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MILITARY STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH ISSUED TO THE ROYAL NAVY
Military Submariner, Ref: 5513, c.1973
3 June 2021, 13:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$50,312.50 inc. premium
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Max Traber
Specialist
ROLEX. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MILITARY STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH ISSUED TO THE ROYAL NAVY
Model: Military Submariner
Reference: 5513
Date: c.1973
Movement: 26-jewel Cal.1520 automatic
Dial: Matte black with Tritium T, luminous dot hour markers, baton quarters, white outer minute divisions, replacement polished Mercedes hour hand with luminous insert and baton minute hand with luminous insert, centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down Oyster back and shouldered crown, fixed bar lugs, No.3927026
Strap/Bracelet: Green Admiralty
Buckle/Clasp: Buckle
Signed: Case, dial, and movement
Size: 39mm
Accompaniments: Letter of authenticity from HN Hudson, Copy of service receipt
Reference: 5513
Date: c.1973
Movement: 26-jewel Cal.1520 automatic
Dial: Matte black with Tritium T, luminous dot hour markers, baton quarters, white outer minute divisions, replacement polished Mercedes hour hand with luminous insert and baton minute hand with luminous insert, centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down Oyster back and shouldered crown, fixed bar lugs, No.3927026
Strap/Bracelet: Green Admiralty
Buckle/Clasp: Buckle
Signed: Case, dial, and movement
Size: 39mm
Accompaniments: Letter of authenticity from HN Hudson, Copy of service receipt
Footnotes
In the early 1970s, the British Ministry of Defence commissioned a very limited batch of Rolex reference 5513 Submariners, designed to enhanced specifications to meet the demands of their Special Forces.
These "Military Submariners", or "MilSubs", differ in many ways from standard production pieces. They feature thicker, sword-shaped hands for enhanced legibility, a rotating bezel calibrated to 60 minutes, an encircled "T" on the dial indicating the use of luminescent Tritium, and solid steel bars fixed between the lugs.
As these watches were "tool watches" in the truest sense of the word, they were often repaired with service parts and in many cases heavily damaged during their years of military use. This example has been meticulously restored so that its newest owner may wear it daily.