ROLEX | A RARE STAINLESS STEEL CENTRE SECONDS WRISTWATCH MADE FOR THE BRITISH MILITARY, REF 5513 NO 3826463 SUBMARINER, MADE AND ISSUED 1974

Since its first introduction in 1953, the Rolex Submariner has been the benchmark for the diving but also the sport watches in general. Developed as a true tool timepiece, the model is so perfectly adapted that it has barely evolved in decades and that organisations have selected it to equip their divers in extreme conditions. This is certainly true of people employed by the armed forces who, understandably, demand levels of accuracy and utility that perhaps surpass the requirements of all other occupations. As such it stands to reason that wristwatches are a vastly valuable tool.

Throughout the 1970s Rolex supplied watches to the British Military for use by the Special Forces, namely the Rolex Submariner. Over the course of the decade approximately as few as 1200 pieces were manufactured for the Armed Forces. Utilizing references 5513 & 5517 the watches provided were altered to meet strict military specifications and as such are especially collectible. These special pieces had their dials marked with a letter T above the depth rating, the lugs feature fixed bars, and the case backs engraved with a Military issue number, supply date and the famous ‘Broad Arrow’. As opposed to the 5517, the reference 5513 came with any combination of hands (standard or Sword) or bezels (calibrated to 15 or 60 units).

Dubbed the "Milsub" by collectors, the modifications made have now become renowned in the vintage watch world. What’s more, given the conditions and environments that they were made to endure, examples in good condition, unchanged since production, are incredibly sought after, and examples featuring the ‘Sword’ hands even more so.

The present lot, reference 5513, will immediately captivate the connoisseur by the perfectly matching patina of its original dial, sword hands and bezel. Furthermore, the case with fixed bars is extremely well preserved. In fact, the inside of the case back does not bear a single watchmaker mark, suggesting that the piece has never been touched. This assumption is reinforced by the family tradition that says that the piece has remained in a drawer for over 30 years. The absence of service marks supports that a mistake was made when the watch was originally assembled and a case back with a different number was placed, as it sometimes happened. 

This piece can be considered as an absolute "barn find" and a rare opportunity for a collector looking for a special example of the legendary Milsub.