First 5513: Advice Sought

[jyc12345]

Dear Rolex Forum Members,

I am looking to purchase my first 5513 and came across one with a 8M serial number for sale. Given my lack of experience and knowledge I turn to you for some advice.

My primary concerns are the dial (is it orginal?), the hands (is it normal for the lume to have all but faded except the very center?), and the bezel (should the bezel pearl have luminous and are the numbers on the bezel correct?). Images of the watch are below:









Thank you all in advance for your advice.

[antrolexsub]

No pictures are showing?

[jyc12345]

http://s93.photobucket.com/user/john...h.jpg.html?o=3

http://s93.photobucket.com/user/john...6.jpg.html?o=0

http://s93.photobucket.com/user/john...e.jpg.html?o=1

http://s93.photobucket.com/user/john...f.jpg.html?o=2

[jyc12345]

I have tried loading the images once again (hopefully it works this time).

Thank you again.

John

[swish77]

Looks pretty good! Mismatched patina on the dial/hands, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's not all original. Aging isn't always uniform. It looks as if the patina is starting on the hands near the center, where it usually begins. The other possibility is that the hands (and perhaps insert) were changed during a service at some point, but the hands and bezel pearl look like tritium, so it's hard to know 100 percent. The dial is the correct style for the mid-'80s (8 mil.), with the surrounds around the hour markers.

The case looks excellent! Very fat. Maybe even unpolished. Fabulous crown guards.

It would all depend on what you're looking for, the asking price, and whether you're OK with the mismatched patina. Who knows? In five years the hands might match the dial patina! Good luck.

[jdmi32]

That's a very nice Sub. Based on the crown guards, bezel and the last picture of the lug, I would guess that it's unpolished. The patina on the dial is fantastic, but the non matching hands would bug me a lot. I know a lot of folks here would disagree with me but I'd have them relumed to match the dial.

[jyc12345]

Thank you for the quick feedback!

[droptopman]

Very nice looking watch. Case is outstanding. I too would color match the hands to the dial patina.

[jyc12345]

As you can see the hands have patina toward the center but not the edge. Also the pearl on the bezel seems to be white as well. What is the usual progression of the tritium like? Does it go from that nice yellowish hue toward white, or does the white age toward the yellow? I want to assess whether or not the hands on this piece have any chance of matching the yellow lume plots over time...Or have the hands aged past this to a whitish color?

Thank you all again.

John

[soundserious]

Case looks great! Way too great frankly. The dial hands and crystal tell a different story.

Therefore: pass

[swish77]

Originally Posted by jyc12345

As you can see the hands have patina toward the center but not the edge. Also the pearl on the bezel seems to be white as well. What is the usual progression of the tritium like? Does it go from that nice yellowish hue toward white, or does the white age toward the yellow? I want to assess whether or not the hands on this piece have any chance of matching the yellow lume plots over time...Or have the hands aged past this to a whitish color?

Thank you all again.

John

Patina develops from white to ivory/cream/yellow.

[springer]

Originally Posted by jyc12345

As you can see the hands have patina toward the center but not the edge. Also the pearl on the bezel seems to be white as well. What is the usual progression of the tritium like? Does it go from that nice yellowish hue toward white, or does the white age toward the yellow? I want to assess whether or not the hands on this piece have any chance of matching the yellow lume plots over time...Or have the hands aged past this to a whitish color?

Thank you all again.

John

I would not expect the hands to change with time to match the dial. It would be many, many years if it ever occurred at all. In the meantime, the dial plots could be come darker, especially if it is not worn and tucked away in a safe.

Personally, based on the dial plots, the hands are way too white for me to call them original, but that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if I were to purchase the watch. The hands can be changed or repaired. The case is only original once and this example appears to have a very nice one as well as a very nice, patined dial.

[jyc12345]

Thank you all again for the feedback.