.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present reference 5513⁄17 is one of the most sought-after and elusive iterations of the renowned Rolex Military Submariner, commonly known as the 'MilSub'. It is the rarest of the three MilSub references supplied to the British Ministry of Defence, with '5513' displayed between the lugs and '5517' underneath. Furthermore, the outside caseback bears an engraving with the following markings:
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 653 and the issue year 77.
Reference 5513 'Milsub'
To ensure maximum robustness and legibility for military divers, the Military Submariner ref. 5513 underwent special modifications to meet the British Ministry of Defence specifications. The alterations included a full 60-minute bezel instead of the typical 15-minute demarcation, large sword hands for better underwater visibility, and fixed bar lugs with a 2 mm. diameter for increased strap security. The hacking seconds feature enabled accurate time synchronization, which is crucial for military operations, and the encircled 'T' on the dial denotes the use of tritium as a luminous material.
Another distinctive feature of the MilSub is that, unlike civilian models, the serial number is engraved inside the caseback as well as between the lugs. The current example is an exceptionally rare and historically significant piece in Rolex's military legacy because so few of these watches were made and even fewer have survived.
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 653 and the issue year 77.
Reference 5513 'Milsub'
To ensure maximum robustness and legibility for military divers, the Military Submariner ref. 5513 underwent special modifications to meet the British Ministry of Defence specifications. The alterations included a full 60-minute bezel instead of the typical 15-minute demarcation, large sword hands for better underwater visibility, and fixed bar lugs with a 2 mm. diameter for increased strap security. The hacking seconds feature enabled accurate time synchronization, which is crucial for military operations, and the encircled 'T' on the dial denotes the use of tritium as a luminous material.
Another distinctive feature of the MilSub is that, unlike civilian models, the serial number is engraved inside the caseback as well as between the lugs. The current example is an exceptionally rare and historically significant piece in Rolex's military legacy because so few of these watches were made and even fewer have survived.