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Rolex. A rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy Military Submariner, Ref: 5513, Circa 1974/5 image 1
Rolex. A rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy Military Submariner, Ref: 5513, Circa 1974/5 image 2
Rolex. A rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy Military Submariner, Ref: 5513, Circa 1974/5 image 3
Rolex. A rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy Military Submariner, Ref: 5513, Circa 1974/5 image 4
Lot 78

Rolex. A rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy
Military Submariner, Ref: 5513, Circa 1974/5

Fine Watches
21 June 2023, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £190,900 inc. premium

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Rolex. A rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy

Model: Military Submariner
Reference: 5513
Date: Circa 1974/5
Movement: 26-jewel Cal.1520 automatic
Dial: Black, Tritium T, luminous dot hour markers, baton quarters, white outer minute divisions, broad polished sword hands with luminous inserts, arrow tipped centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down Oyster back and shouldered crown, inside back date coded I.72 and engraved 3826517, outside back engraved 0552/923-7697 232/75, black calibrated bezel insert, fixed bar lugs, No.3826517 between the lugs
Strap/Bracelet: Grey NATO fabric
Buckle/Clasp: Associated black buckle
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 39mm

Footnotes

Rolex made the 'MilSub' as a direct order for the British Military through the Ministry of Defence. These were made with specific enhancements that set them apart from their civilian equivalent. The reference 5513 was the first of these to be customised for Military use by making the spring bars solid and friction welded into place negating the possibility of the spring bar being pulled out. As such all Military Submariners have NATO straps as the more normal straps or bracelets cannot be fitted to the solid lugs. The hands were replaced with the aptly named Sword hands to enhance legibility with Tritium luminosity signified by the T in a circle on the dial.

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. The military numbers on the back of this particular watch refer to it being issued in 1975.

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 use. The current owner is at least the second person to own this watch having received it as an 18th birthday present in the late 1990's.

Additional information

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