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Lot Essay
The present reference 5513 is a highly rare and historical example of the renowned Rolex Military Submariner, commonly referred to as the 'MilSub' by collectors. The caseback's exterior features the correct military engravings:
0552 for the British Ministry of Defence, 923-7697 for the NATO code (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the Broad Arrow symbol identifying all watches owned by the British Army, the issue number 67 and the issue year 74.
Reference 5513 'Milsub'
Rolex created a specially designed instrument for military divers by modifying the standard Submariner reference 5513 to meet the strict requirements of the British Ministry of Defence. The modifications were intentional and practical: fixed bar lugs with a robust 2 mm diameter to secure NATO straps, oversized sword hands for maximum underwater legibility and a hacking seconds function to enable precise synchronization, a crucial component for coordinated military operations. The use of tritium as a luminous material is confirmed by the dial's encircled 'T'.
In addition to its placement between the lugs, the MilSub is unique in that the serial number is engraved inside the caseback, something that civilian models do not do. Only a few of these watches have survived as they were manufactured in extremely limited numbers.
0552 for the British Ministry of Defence, 923-7697 for the NATO code (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the Broad Arrow symbol identifying all watches owned by the British Army, the issue number 67 and the issue year 74.
Reference 5513 'Milsub'
Rolex created a specially designed instrument for military divers by modifying the standard Submariner reference 5513 to meet the strict requirements of the British Ministry of Defence. The modifications were intentional and practical: fixed bar lugs with a robust 2 mm diameter to secure NATO straps, oversized sword hands for maximum underwater legibility and a hacking seconds function to enable precise synchronization, a crucial component for coordinated military operations. The use of tritium as a luminous material is confirmed by the dial's encircled 'T'.
In addition to its placement between the lugs, the MilSub is unique in that the serial number is engraved inside the caseback, something that civilian models do not do. Only a few of these watches have survived as they were manufactured in extremely limited numbers.