Vintage Rolex Submariner 5512 - Vintage of the Week Episode 12 | Bob's Watches

Описание: In this episode of Vintage of the Week, we examine a Submariner 5512 from 1973. Shop vintage Rolex watches just like this one: https://www.bobswatches.com/vintage-r...

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00:00 INTRO
00:08 Wrist Check
00:53 Vintage Rolex Submariner 5512
02:18 Matte Dial
03:02 Patina
03:44 Condition
04:00 Bracelet
05:55 Rarity
06:40 Uniqueness
06:56 Patina Pt. 2
07:13 Availability
07:33 Comparison with other Submariners
08:24 Outro

Interested in learning more about the vintage Rolex Submariner 5512 featured in this video, including its history, a detailed look at its features, and pricing? Check out our review here: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blo...

Join us each week as we take a closer look at a different vintage watch from our vault. This week we are showcasing the remarkable Submariner 5512.

SUBMARINER 5512 HISTORY

Rolex introduced the Submariner diver’s watch in the 1950s, tirelessly tweaking the collection in a constant quest for perfection and peak underwater performance. Eventually, the brand produced ref. 5512 after cranking out several of its rather-short lived predecessors.

Its design is what one would consider being the quintessential Submariner, featuring a stainless steel finish, black dial, and matching black bezel.

It was a successful version of the famous luxury dive watch that remained in production until the late 1970s.

Read on or continue watching to find out what makes it so special.

OYSTER CASE

Ref. 5512 introduced the Submariner collection to the 40mm case size, up 2mm from its predecessors. It was also the first Sub to feature crown guards. The guards will be either square, pointed, or rounded, depending on the year produced.

The rarest of these is the square crown guards (SCG) because they were only produced for a few years during the very early stages of ref. 5512’s production.

Of course, the case is also equipped with a 60-minute diver’s bezel and a waterproof crown. This vintage Rolex features a depth rating of up to 200 meters.

DIAL

There are numerous variations of the dial, each of which holds its own value on the pre-owned Rolex market.

GLOSSY vs MATTE

Early editions of the Submariner 5512 were equipped with a glossy dial with a gilt font. Around 1967, the glossy dials were retired in favor of matte dials featuring white printed font.

From there, Rolex produced two versions of the glossy dial, those with a chapter ring (first) and those without (later production). As one might expect, those with glossy dials fetch a higher premium on the secondary market than those fitted with matte dials.

TWO LINES vs FOUR LINES

Another notable variation in dials lies in the amount of text on the dial itself. Early examples of the collection were not yet COSC certified and featured two lines of text on the dial. They are considered quite rare and are often referred to as 2-liner dials.

However, it didn’t take Rolex long to equip the Rolex 5512 with a chronometer-rated movement, and those iterations of the series feature four lines of text on the dial. 2-liner dials are always glossy dials, while 4-liner dials are either glossy or matte, depending on the year produced.

METERS FIRST vs FEET FIRST

Early examples of the Submariner 5512 feature “meters first” dials with the distinction “200m = 660ft”. These dials are always glossy. However, Rolex eventually switched the text to “feet first,” reading, “660ft = 200m”.

By that logic, meters first dials can be found with either two lines or four lines of text. At the same time, none of the early production glossy dials have feet first text. Meters first editions are often more valuable.

Rolex 5512 vs. 5513

Rolex produced ref. 5512 from 1959 until around 1979. Reference 5513 was produced from 1962 until the early 1990s. That means that production for both models overlapped considerably.

Both are nearly identical in design. So, that begs the question, what makes them different from each other? The answer lies within the case. Simply put, ref. 5512 is chronometer rated depending on the production year, while the ref. 5513 is not.

Ref. 5513 was the cheaper option at the time because the movement was not COSC-rated, so it remained in production for decades, eventually replacing its predecessor 5512.

MODERN COMPARISON

After Rolex introduced ref. 1680, the Submariner Date dominated the market. However, the dateless Sub did make a comeback in the 1990s in the form of ref. 14060. If you love the symmetry of the dateless dial but prefer a modern Rolex instead of vintage, ref. 14060, 114060, and 124060 are all excellent options to consider.