5513 keeps perfect time

[brandrea]

I've been wearing my recently acquired 1967 5513 Sub for about the last two weeks. Keeping perfect time gaining only about 30 seconds in that span.

I wear the watch from about 7 am to 8 pm every day.

How does your vintage time piece perform?

[Old Expat Beast]

With appropriate overnight positioning, my 5513 will stay spot on, or a second or so either way, indefinitely. Sounds like yours is gaining about 2 seconds a day. Have you tried laying it down sideways?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

With appropriate overnight positioning, my 5513 will stay spot on, or a second or so either way, indefinitely. Sounds like yours is gaining about 2 seconds a day. Have you tried laying it down sideways?

Thanks Adam, I always lay the watch "face up", I'll try that and see if it helps. I'm not disappointed at all with plus or minus a few seconds a day, in fact I am surprised it keeps such good time

[Old Expat Beast]

I'm sure it'll make a difference. In my experience these old 1520 and 1530 movements are every bit as accurate as the new ones, and more manageable as they are more sensitive to positional regulation. Great looking watch, btw.

[brandrea]

Thanks Adam. Learning a little bit more about vintage here from guys like you and appreciating the beauty of them more and more

[tix99us]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

With appropriate overnight positioning, my 5513 will stay spot on, or a second or so either way, indefinitely. Sounds like yours is gaining about 2 seconds a day. Have you tried laying it down sideways?

I have never heard that before. Thanks for the tip.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by tix99us

I have never heard that before. Thanks for the tip.

No problem. Rolex used to include this info with new watches bsck in the day.

[kbutler971]

My recently acquired 1018 (1560 movement) has lost a total of 3 sec in the last 2 weeks..........pretty amazing. Thanks for the repost on the effects of at-rest positioning, I'll give it a try.
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[TheBluePrince]

I had a 5500 Explorer with the same 1520 movement as 5513 and that was running pretty much spot on +/-0 per day after I regulated it. Maybe it would be a second or two out over a whole week. Very impressive, esp when newer watches come back from RSC not even meeting COSC specs!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I'm sure it'll make a difference. In my experience these old 1520 and 1530 movements are every bit as accurate as the new ones, and more manageable as they are more sensitive to positional regulation. Great looking watch, btw.

Like all movements all brands Adam they are only as good as what they have been regulated to. And IMHO the 15 series movement are the best that Rolex have ever made well over engineered.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by padi56

Like all movements all brands Adam they are only as good as what they have been regulated to. And IMHO the 15 series movement are the best that Rolex have ever made well over engineered.

Interesting, is the COSC specs more of a marketing tool than anything else?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Interesting, is the COSC specs more of a marketing tool than anything else?

Yes. Chronometer certification was important back in the 1920s and 30s when Rolex first started submitting their movements for observation and certification, but it's not really necessary these days.

[seattleal]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I'm sure it'll make a difference. In my experience these old 1520 and 1530 movements are every bit as accurate as the new ones, and more manageable as they are more sensitive to positional regulation. Great looking watch, btw.

Exactly right Adam; I have a 1601 and an 1807, both with cal. 1570 movements. After service and regulation by my WM I can keep each of them within +/- 3 secs of true time for weeks on end just by alternately laying them cown up or face up at night.

But having a WM who is really good at regulating them is the key factor.

[Vincent65]

I have a 1966 1675, and a 1970 1680 - both with the '1570' (1575) movement - and both keep superb time - maybe gain a few seconds a day. Good enough for me.

[GGGMT]

Does the positioning of the watch at night (dial-up vs. Vertical) apply to non-vintage?

[007Sub]

My 5513 is +10. I know this shouldn't bother me but it does. I took it to RSC for a regulation and they just gave it back to me and said that its fine for a watch of this vintage (1978- recently serviced). Should I go back again and ask them to do it anyway or just deal with the +10? What do you guys think?

Oh and yes I've tried the old crown up crown down thing.. doesn't seem to help.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

My 5513 is +10. I know this shouldn't bother me but it does. I took it to RSC for a regulation and they just gave it back to me and said that its fine for a watch of this vintage (1978- recently serviced). Should I go back again and ask them to do it anyway or just deal with the +10? What do you guys think?

Oh and yes I've tried the old crown up crown down thing.. doesn't seem to help.

I'd ask the RSC to do it anyway. Or ask a watchmaker with more respect for vintage Rolex.

[seattleal]

Originally Posted by old expat beast

or ask a watchmaker with more respect for vintage rolex.

+1

[seattleal]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Does the positioning of the watch at night (dial-up vs. Vertical) apply to non-vintage?

In my experience it does not; the newer high beat movements do not seem to be as position sensitive.

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

My 5513 is +10. I know this shouldn't bother me but it does. I took it to RSC for a regulation and they just gave it back to me and said that its fine for a watch of this vintage (1978- recently serviced). Should I go back again and ask them to do it anyway or just deal with the +10? What do you guys think?

Oh and yes I've tried the old crown up crown down thing.. doesn't seem to help.

Well, it sounds like it annoys you too much to let it go, but I wouldn't bother, especially as it's been serviced. If you're not happy, you have the right to have it corrected, but I'm inclined to agree that it's pretty good.

[nolaclarky]

I have a '78 5513 that i wear 24/7 on my wrist. It was last serviced in 2011 (will have serviced in June of this year) and currently gains around +10 to +12 seconds/day. My AD sent me an official clip and stated the following:

I have attached a photo of the timing quality control specifications. I have highlighted the 2 calibers that your movement could be. Rolex’s first criteria is -7 to +18 secs per day for that movement. The second criteria is -1 to +10 secs per day. The criteria depends on the position of the movement.

[brandrea]

That seems like quite the variance ..

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

I have a 1966 1675, and a 1970 1680 - both with the '1570' (1575) movement - and both keep superb time - maybe gain a few seconds a day. Good enough for me.

Pretty much same here with me and my 1675/1680s. Great accuracy for something mechanical of such an age. A few seconds here or there for something like this does not bother me in any event! I just love them as they are!