By accident I stumbled upon the 5513

[finance21]

By accident, I stumbled upon the 5513 a few months back and within a few weeks of staring at pictures online, I fell in love with its simplistic, classic beauty. After a few months of searching forums and gathering information online, I decided I was going to make my first vintage purchase (with a lot of help from those of you who share this same passion, thanks again).
It did take me some time to find one in the condition I was looking for. I knew that I wanted an original dial and I wanted the “feet first” dial. A gentleman on a fellow forum who was providing me with information on these beauties was debating if he should sell his 5513 or not. A few days later he notified me that he would sell the watch if I was interested; needless to say I made the purchase. I must say that I am extremely happy I jumped on it. This watch is 65-66ish (1.7 million serial) which makes it about 15 years older than I and I love that. I now find myself spending more time with the 5513 on my wrist than my other watches combined.
With the hot demand out there for these 5513’s how long can the rave last? It seems like prices have just gone straight up for the past year or so, but can they really keep going at that rate? I do see the beauty of these watches but are they really that scarce? Do you think the demand will fizzle and another watch will take the affection of this frenzy?

Your thoughts?

[puffnmo]

Sorry to seem out of it, but what is a 5513?

[mike]

Again, congrats on great score! It's really great when eveything comes together and you land the one you really want!

I really don't see prices on the 5513 cooling anytime soon. Indeed there are those that feel any matt dial reference is going to rise more in price. Several reasons for this, not the least of which is a finite resource with more collectors entering the market searching for examples.
The 5513 represents one of those iconic pieces that represents the real history of the "tool watch" era and as such has a desirability attached that some references do not have to the same degree.
Granted, the 5513,in matt dial configuration, had a long run(circa 1962 or so till 1984ish), but I it's important to remember Rolex did not make the number of watches of any reference back then as it does today. Couple that with watches that lose their matt dials to gloss WG surrounds with luminova through servicing and we have a dwindling supply.
There are those that feel all matt dials will approach 5k by years end. I don't know if I buy into that, but it does reflect the trend for collectable pieces.
Certainly the fact you have a meters first dial,correct by vintage, adds to that!

The most important thing is you have the watch you want and it makes you smile....THAT's worth a LOT!

[mike]

Originally Posted by puffnmo

Sorry to seem out of it, but what is a 5513?

Non date Submariner, forerunner to the 14060. In matt configuration looks like this,

[Lol-x]

I used to think that the 5513 was an inferior model because it did not chronometer certification.
I have never owned a Rolex that was not chronometer certified. However, I do think that the 5513 would probably be the first non-chronometer certified watch I would buy.
Although it is nice to have "superlative chronometer officially certified" on the dial, I don't think it makes a lot of difference in practical terms to the accuracy and durability of a 5513.
I do feel that if I could turn the clock back a few years, I would certainly own at least one 5513 today. I don't know what this says about the future, who knows, but today I would gladly have a 5513.

[puffnmo]

Originally Posted by mike

Non date Submariner, forerunner to the 14060. In matt configuration looks like this,

Thanks Mike. It's a stunner.

[padi56]

Great picture Mike and got to agree on all counts,these vintage Rolex will always be more valuable than its modern equivalent.And now all original vintage watches now getting a lot harder to find.And the next big price rise IMHO will be the Vintage GMT and the 14060 tritium dial sub.

[kradcliffe]

The new models do not have chronometer certification on the face, however, I believe they are certified. Aren't they????

[padi56]

Originally Posted by kradcliffe

The new models do not have chronometer certification on the face, however, I believe they are certified. Aren't they????

Well the Airking and the non date Sub are not COSC tested but have exactly the same Cal 3130 movement as the Explorer that is tested.And Airking and non date sub will easily perform to the COSC chronometer standard.And the fact is that most of all modern movements all makes. Can perform to the COSC standard today,all thats needed,is a bit of patience and careful regulation.Now the COSC test is only the bare movement,and the third party test costs around £140 per blank movement.IMHO today the test is nothing
more than a big pure marketing ploy.But today to bare the word chronometer on dial it must have been tested, the Swiss have there own -4 +6 secs a day.But the European Din and Japanese have separate ones as well,but are of a higher standard -2 +4 secs a day