I believe the Rolex Submariner is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and collectable watches of all time—period. At some point in every enthusiast’s collecting journey, the Rolex Submariner, whether modern or vintage, serves as a benchmark of quality and collectability. What I find particularly compelling about vintage Rolex Submariners, in contrast to their contemporary counterparts, is that they represent an era when Rolex was genuinely focused on creating a tool watch capable of enduring the harshest conditions, rather than prioritizing the concept and idea of luxury. This commitment underscores the purity of the Submariner’s design language from that time. With such a rich history spanning decades, the Rolex Submariner has evolved and seen many iterations and references throughout its lifetime, but its lineage remains unmistakably clear.
The watch presented here today is a remarkable example of a Rolex Submariner 5513 – a perennial favorite among vintage Rolex collectors and widely regarded as the reference to own due to its rich history and the expansive, diverse range of dial variants produced over the years.
The 5513 we are offering here today is fitted with a 'Maxi Mk 1' dial from 1977. The term ‘Maxi’ refers to the larger-than-usual lume plots, which make the dial stand out visually, especially on a matte dial like this one. For those unfamiliar, Mk 1 dials are easily recognizable as they represent the last of the matte dial 5513s to feature the 'SUBMARINER' text below the depth rating, with the ‘A’ aligning directly beneath the ‘=’. Additionally, the ‘S’ in ‘SUBMARINER’ has a distinctive zig-zag font that can almost resemble a ‘Z’ when flipped in the opposite direction.
In terms of collectability, Mk 1 dials are highly sought after as they tend to retain their bright eggshell-white lume plots over time, which contrast beautifully with the crisp white text against the black matte dial. Adding to this already stunning watch is an aluminium bezel insert that shows signs of ghosting—an appealing characteristic often seen on vintage Rolex models with pre-Cerachrom bezel inserts, particularly when the effect is as evenly distributed as it is here.
Powering the 5513 from within is Rolex’s Cal. 1520, a robust self-winding movement that beats at a rate of 19,800 vph and carries a 42-hour power reserve on a full wind.
As someone who has pursued and offered many modern and vintage Rolexes over the years, I can conclusively say that the allure of early Submariner designs is simply hard to resist. There’s a certain badass quality about them that modern versions just simply cannot replicate, and I believe many collectors would agree with me—just take a look at this one. It’s an exceptional specimen of a tool watch, offering a perfect balance of design, functionality, and character, even for those who aren’t hardcore watch enthusiasts like us. These early Submariners embody traits and design elements from a bygone era of the brand that have significantly influenced the development of the modern Submariners we all know and love today.
When it comes to vintage Rolex collecting, discovering an attractive Submariner 5513 with a stunning Maxi Mk 1 dial and a beautifully ghosted bezel insert like this one is as thrilling as it gets. It is, without a doubt, a standout reference to get into for anyone serious about diving into the world of vintage Rolex.
