Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jun 27, 2009

LOT 369

Ref. 5517, Military Submariner Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Submariner, 660 ft=200 m.?, case No. 5212908, Ref. 5517/5513. Made in 1977 for the British Military. Very fine and rare, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel military diver's wristwatch with fixed bar lugs.

HKD 200,000 - 300,000

USD 30,000 - 43,000 / EUR 20,000 - 30,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, engraved screwed-down case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding-crown protected by the crown guard, fixed bars, inside case back engraved with no 3927187. D. Black with painted luminous round, triangular and baton indexes. Luminous steel lozenge hands. M. Cal. 1520, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, selfcompensating flat balance spring, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The case number between the lugs at 6 does not match the case number engraved inside the case back of this watch. It would appear that the original case back was accidentally changed during servicing by the Ministry of Defence.
The reference 5513 became the first Rolex for many years to become an official British Military issue watch, when it was issued to the divers of the Royal Navy in 1965. The military requested certain modifications; in this case the modifications were so major as to almost be a new watch. First, they wanted a new dial featuring a large "T" in a circle under the center post. The high visibility hands were much larger and of a completely different shape. The hour hand was diamond-shaped, while the minute hand was much wider than on a conventional Submariner and the seconds had had a unique luminous diamond indicator at the tip. Even the case was different from a standard Submariner. On the military models the spring bars were replaced with solid steel bars welded into the spring bar holes. The case was then polished so the hole was hardly visible. The rear of the case was then engraved with all the military specifications and issue numbers which enabled the quartermaster to identify the watch.