Help: 5513 - 1660xxx Serial - Photos

[JohnnyNoDate]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some experienced thoughts on this watch below.


What I know:

- The dial itself looks legit.

- It's a very early 5513 reference with a low serial at 1660xxx.

- The case and overall condition checks out.

- Crown has been replaced with a Triplock at some point.

- Watch came with a 7836 bracelet with 380 end links.


My concerns come from the following:

- Dial glows when activated with a bright light source, although for a short time. I would have thought tritium would have died away on this early piece.

- The pearl does not glow at all. If this was an original set, wouldn't it glow along with the dial? On close inspection, I almost think its a piece of white plastic shoved in there. Is anyone able to compare with theirs?

- The condition of the hands almost seem too good with nearly no corrosion.


Anyone have an idea on what may be going on here with this watch? I prefer to have an original dial with dead tritium and avoid a service dial or re-lumed dial. But I'm unsure if these dials should be glowing, even faintly, this late into their lives.

All thoughts appreciated!

[jdog111578]

I believe you are correct on the pearl, certainly not right. Although, it almost looks like the top "bubble" of the pearl has sheered off leaving the bottom half still in tact. As for the dial, yes the half-life of the trit is surely dead by now. However, since it was mixed with a luminescent material,how they did it back then, many dials from that era will still "glow" as this material is still present even after the trit is no long active. Hope that helps and sure looks like a fine example. Case still looks pretty think and the insert, minus the pearl, is in good shape.

[SLS]

I have a 1967 MF 5513 and when activated by a bright light source it will still glow for a short period of time.

[SLS]

Here is mine for comparison.
Scott

[themaninblack]

As commented before elsewhere I have 60's tritium watches with original dials that still glow including a 1.7m 5513 and 70's tritium watches that don't glow at all.

[JohnnyNoDate]

Thank you all for the feedback!

Looks like the dial checks out then.

Is there anyway I could test the hands to make sure they are using tritium and original?

The hands actually charge up, glow, and fade very consistently with the dial - but glows just a little bit brighter than the plots. Does this seem like usual behavior? Perhaps the tight space could be the cause?

I'm cautious about the hands because they are in such pristine condition, with minimal corrosion. I want to avoid having "fake" hands or service hands with luminova.

Anyone with a glowing dial have any thoughts?

[descartes]

Originally Posted by SLS

I have a 1967 MF 5513 and when activated by a bright light source it will still glow for a short period of time.

Same with mine. And the lume has a greenish tint.

[ADINVA]

This looks like a great 5513. I like it. :)

[jban5]

Here is a pic of the glow of my 5513 sn1648xxx after a charge of a light can with a 60 watt bulb:



It lasts at best 15 min. To the left is the GMT-Master I just picked up. Same charge time but the chapters don't get active at all and the hands will glow at about half the intensity (of the Sub) for just a minute or 2

In the light my dial it the total identical twin to yours.

ps. that is a swell looking sub

[figsgrandpa]

This is a photo of my 1967 5513 (SN 1,605,xxx) which I've owned since 1973, and you can see that the condition of the dial and hands are similar to yours. My crystal and bezel pearl are replacements. The tritium is gone, but the phosphorus in the mix will still glow briefly when it is "excited" by a light source.

[JohnnyNoDate]

very interesting! amazing input and resources! thank you guys.

jban5 - your GMT glow confirms my suspicions.

figsgrandpa - your dial and hands are just perfect. can't believe it!

[Dr.Smellody]

My '67 glowing.

[oldLeatherNeck]

Originally Posted by JohnnyNoDate

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some experienced thoughts on this watch below.


What I know:

- The dial itself looks legit.

- It's a very early 5513 reference with a low serial at 1660xxx.

- The case and overall condition checks out.

- Crown has been replaced with a Triplock at some point.

- Watch came with a 7836 bracelet with 380 end links.


My concerns come from the following:

- Dial glows when activated with a bright light source, although for a short time. I would have thought tritium would have died away on this early piece.

- The pearl does not glow at all. If this was an original set, wouldn't it glow along with the dial? On close inspection, I almost think its a piece of white plastic shoved in there. Is anyone able to compare with theirs?

- The condition of the hands almost seem too good with nearly no corrosion.


Anyone have an idea on what may be going on here with this watch? I prefer to have an original dial with dead tritium and avoid a service dial or re-lumed dial. But I'm unsure if these dials should be glowing, even faintly, this late into their lives.

All thoughts appreciated!

Attachment 679368

Attachment 679369

Attachment 679370

Attachment 679371

Dial is correct for that serial range.
A must read by one of our own:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=344403

[R-H]

Seems like the 67's +- are still glowing after all these years.

[Pharmlou]

. 67 5513's are well known for this!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[petereoin]

I have a 68 MF 5513, does not glow when exposed to bright light, but in a dark room when my eyes are adjusted the hands glow slightly on their own.

[watchcrank]

right in line with the Martian green glow, GMT's do this too depending on dial and era.