Lot
807 Ref. 5513/5517 ‘Military Submariner’
highly rare stainless steel military wristwatch with revolving bezel, fixed bar lugs and military engravings, made for the British Military.
THE CASE BACK CARRIES THE MILITARY ISSUE NUMBERS – CENTER SHOT OF THE GRAPHICS AND MILITARY TRITIUM ‘T’ DESIGNATION – VIEW OF THE MECHANISM AND CASE BACK INNER SIDE.
勞力士，罕有，不銹鋼自動上弦軍用腕錶，配活動錶圈，’Military Submariner’，型號5513/5517，為英國皇家海軍於約1974年製
40 ROLEX MILESTONES
YEAR REFERENCE CASE MODEL NAME MATERIAL CALIBRE BRACELET/STRAP CLASP/BUCKLE DIMENSIONS SIGNED
Circa 1974 5513 and 5517 under the lug 3’926’923 Military Submariner Stainless steel Automatic, 1520, 26 jewels NATO strap Stainless steel NATO buckle 40 mm. diameter Case, dial and movement signed, case back further engraved with military issue numbers W10/6645-99-9237697 941/79 and bottom of the lug engraved 5517
ESTIMATE HKD 640,000-1,280,000 • USD 80,000-160,000 LITERATURE For another example of stainless steel military Submariner reference 5517, please see 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, page 212.
The Military Submariner, or Milsub, is imbued with history. Made upon special request for the British Ministry of Defense, Milsubs were worn during combat and on special missions. Research suggests that approximately 1500 units were delivered, from 1971 to 1979 and less than a few hundred survive today in original condition. The present example, a double reference 5513/5517, displays reference 5513 between the lugs, and 5517 engraved under the lug. JOHN GOLDBERGER’S OPINION
All Milsubs display special characteristics requested by the British government. While the Milsub’s subtleties are aesthetically pleasing to collectors today, these nuances were designed for specific military purposes. All dials displayed a military designated ‘T’ within a circle, which was the international symbol for Tritium. Most examples were also fitted with sword hands. Another feature was the 60-minute revolving bezel insert, instead of the typical 15-minute calibrated bezel. The government also requested a hack feature, non-reflective case and fixed bar lugs. Finally, all watches displayed military engravings on the case back. ‘W-10’ watches were recorded by Rolex as being delivered to the Central Ordanance depot in Donnington, England for onward delivery to the Army Air Corp.The inside case back on this watch is repeated with the serial number, which is correct for a special order watch. The characteristics above are all displayed on the present watch, which is very impressive. Reference 5513/5517’s particular components were never available for civilians, nor were they ever mass-produced. The existence of this watch is thus incredibly rare today.