Vintage Rolex Submariner 5513 Feet First Dial

Vintage Watch Condition Examination:

This Submariner is in great vintage condition with wear consistent with age. The case is in great condition with normal signs of wear. The bezel ring has remained sharp and the bezel insert is in great condition with normal wear. The pip has aged to a light beige color. The inside caseback is stamped “5512” which is not uncommon to find in 5513s. We often times see 5512 or 5513s with the mismatched caseback because Rolex would use whatever that had available at the time. The ‘spider’ dial is overall clean; the top layer of lacquer has cracked, giving it a web-like appearance. This can be hard to notice depending on the lighting. The lume on the dial has developed light patina and aged to an attractive cream color. The hands have developed patina and the lume has aged to a similar color to the lume on the dial; the minute hand shows some cracking. The bracelet is in great condition with light stretch.  

Description: Vintage Rolex Submariner 5513

Rolex made the reference 5513 from around 1962 to 1989 and here is a later example from circa 1985. The defining characteristics of these last generation 5513’s would be the white gold borders around the hour markers, this is known as “white gold surrounds.” This is a characteristic that started in the mid-late 1980s and is still featured on Submariners of this day. The dial on this watch has aged in an interesting way, collectors refer to this as a “Spider Dial.” The top layer of gloss has cracked in a way that looks like a spider web and that is how it got the nickname. In the world of watch collecting, rarity is a big factor and when dials age like this it makes them essentially unique because no two will age exactly the same. These mid-80s Submariners offer a great value and are some of the most classic watches out there.