Rolex Submariner 5513 - 1985 Serial

[illiguy]

I am looking for a birth year (1985) 5513. My search often comes across the "Spider Dial" 5513s. Was 1985 the big year where Rolex produced such dials? Aesthetically, I'd prefer a 5513 circa 1985 serial without the spider dial. May be a dumb question, but are non-Spider Dials out there?

[TurboWatch]

Absolutely, they are out there. Quite a few of them in fact



I like them glossy too:

[illiguy]

Stunning. With RSC, it's harder and harder to find 5513s with all original dials/markers/lume. Tangential question, when servicing a watch, do you have to specifically tell Rolex to not replace the original parts and just the movement to prevent changes?

Originally Posted by TurboWatch

Absolutely, they are out there. Quite a few of them in fact



I like them glossy too:

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by illiguy

Stunning. With RSC, it's harder and harder to find 5513s with all original dials/markers/lume. Tangential question, when servicing a watch, do you have to specifically tell Rolex to not replace the original parts and just the movement to prevent changes?

Yes, you have to be very clear in exactly what you want done (and not want done).

In fact, I won't send them to a RSC for this reason. In addition, there are trusted watchmakers here who can service them to your exact specs, in less time and for less cost than a RSC. You can request an invoice from them which includes the watch's serial/model. In my opinion, this paper from a trusted watchmaker also serves as an authentication document (at least to those in the Rolex community who also know and trust these guys); much like what you get from a RSC. To this end, you should always buy the seller. RSC docs can be faked, too.