Rolex Submariner ref 5513 from 1977

The Rolex Submariner Reference 5513 is, by any measure, the most iconic dive watch ever produced. Introduced in 1962 and manufactured for nearly three decades until 1989, it is the reference that defined the visual language of the modern sports watch. Its proportions, its rotating bezel, its matte black dial — all of it so precisely calibrated that Rolex saw no reason to change it for 27 years. This example, dating to 1977, belongs to the late production phase of the 5513 and carries two of the most desirable details a collector can find on this reference: a Feet First dial and an original Jubilee bracelet.

Key Specifications

Collector's Note

The Feet First dial is one of the key details that separates the later 5513 from its earlier siblings. From approximately 1969 onward, Rolex reversed the depth rating inscription on the dial from "200m = 660ft" (Meters First) to "660ft = 200m" (Feet First), a change driven by the growing importance of the American market. For collectors, the Feet First configuration is a precise chronological marker and a much-discussed variant, particularly when found in well-preserved matte condition.

Equally significant is the Jubilee bracelet. While the Submariner is most commonly associated with the Oyster bracelet, Rolex did offer the 5513 on a Jubilee in certain markets and periods. Finding an original, period-correct Jubilee on a 5513 is rare, as most were replaced over the decades. It gives the watch an unexpectedly dressy character that makes it one of the most versatile vintage Submariners a collector can own.

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