Rolex Submariner 5512

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About the Rolex Submariner 5512

The Rolex Submariner 5512 is the first Submariner ever fitted with crown guards and the reference that became the chronometer-certified Submariner. Produced from 1959 to 1980, it is significantly rarer than its 5513 sibling and one of the most collectible vintage Submariners. WatchGuys carries pre-owned and vintage 5512 watches, each authenticated in-house and backed by a 2-year warranty. Below we cover what the 5512 is, the crown-guard and dial variations collectors chase, what it costs, and how it compares to the 5513 it sold alongside.

What Is the Rolex 5512?

The 5512 is a no-date Rolex Submariner produced from 1959 to 1980 in a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case, with a black dial, no date window, a domed acrylic crystal, a black aluminum bezel, and 200-meter water resistance. Its historical significance is twofold. It was the first Submariner with crown guards, the small shoulders that protect the winding crown, a feature every modern Submariner still carries. And from 1962 it became the chronometer-certified Submariner, gaining the higher-grade Caliber 1560 and later the Caliber 1570, along with the extra Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified text that created the four-line dial. Its everyday twin, the Rolex 5513, launched that same year as the non-chronometer alternative, which is why the two look nearly identical but sit at different price points.

Two things collectors study most on a 5512 are the crown guards and the dial, and both track the production era. The earliest 1959 examples carry square crown guards, produced for less than a year and exceedingly rare, followed by pointed crown guards in the early 1960s, and finally the rounded guards Rolex settled on from the mid-1960s onward. On the dial, early examples are glossy black with gilt (gold-colored) text, giving way to matte dials with white printing around 1967, and the depth rating shifted from meters-first ("200m = 660ft") to feet-first ("660ft = 200m") toward the end of the 1960s. Early square-guard and gilt-dial examples are the most valuable configurations by a wide margin. Because these details drive value and are frequently faked or swapped, we verify crown-guard type, dial originality, and correct-period configuration on every 5512.

Rolex 5512 Price

Pre-owned and vintage Rolex 5512 watches at WatchGuys typically range from $16,000 to $45,000 or more. The reference sits above the 5513 because it is far scarcer, with roughly one 5512 made for every ten 5513s, and because it carries the chronometer certification. Within the reference, crown-guard type and dial era are the largest factors: rounded-guard matte-dial examples sit toward the accessible end, while early pointed-guard gilt dials command strong premiums and the rarest square-guard examples can trade far above the range. Condition, dial and case originality, and box and papers all move the number considerably. As a genuine milestone reference, the 5512 remains one of the cornerstones of vintage vintage Rolex collecting. For pricing on a specific piece in our inventory, contact our team directly.

Rolex 5512 vs. 5513

The 5512 and the Rolex 5513 are the two vintage no-date Submariners, and at a glance they are nearly identical: same 40mm case, crown guards, acrylic crystal, and aluminum bezel. The difference is chronometer certification. From 1962 the 5512 carried a chronometer-grade movement and the four-line dial with the Superlative Chronometer text, while the 5513 used a non-chronometer movement and the cleaner two-line dial as the more affordable option. Because Rolex produced roughly ten times as many 5513s, the 5512 is the scarcer and generally more expensive of the two, and it carries the added distinction of being the reference that introduced crown guards. The 5513 is the more accessible route into the same vintage silhouette. For the wider date-free lineage see our No-Date Submariner collection, or browse the complete Rolex Submariner lineup.

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Why Buy a Rolex 5512 From WatchGuys

Every pre-owned Rolex 5512 for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated, accurately described, and protected end to end. A milestone vintage reference at this value demands real scrutiny, and here is what comes with every purchase.

Common Questions

Rolex 5512 FAQ

• Was the 5512 the First Submariner With Crown Guards?

  Yes. Introduced in 1959, the 5512 was the first Submariner fitted with crown guards, the small shoulders on either side of the winding crown that protect it from knocks. Every Submariner since has carried them. The earliest 5512s used square crown guards, which evolved through a pointed shape into the rounded guards Rolex settled on, and those early guard shapes are among the most sought-after details on the reference.

• What Is the Difference Between the 5512 and 5513?

  Chronometer certification. From 1962 the 5512 carried a chronometer-grade movement and a four-line dial with the Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified text, while the 5513 used a non-chronometer movement and a cleaner two-line dial as the more affordable option. Both are 40mm no-date Submariners with crown guards, an acrylic crystal, and an aluminum bezel, and they look nearly identical. Rolex made roughly ten times as many 5513s, so the 5512 is the scarcer and usually more valuable of the two.

• What Years Was the Rolex 5512 Produced?

  The 5512 was produced from 1959 to around 1980. The earliest 1959 examples were non-chronometer, but from 1962 Rolex upgraded the reference to chronometer certification, and it served as the chronometer Submariner for the rest of its run. Over those two decades it moved from square to pointed to rounded crown guards and from glossy gilt dials to matte white-text dials.

• What Is a Four-Line 5512 Dial?

  The four-line dial is the chronometer version. Once the 5512 gained chronometer certification in 1962, the dial added two lines of "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" text beneath the model name, creating four lines of text where non-chronometer examples had two. Four-line dials came first with glossy gilt printing and later with matte white printing. The earliest two-line 5512 examples, which predate certification, are rarer and especially prized.

• How Much Does a Rolex 5512 Cost?

  Pre-owned and vintage 5512 prices at WatchGuys typically range from $16,000 to $45,000 or more. Crown-guard type and dial era are the largest factors, with later rounded-guard matte dials toward the accessible end and early pointed-guard gilt dials commanding strong premiums. The rarest square-guard examples trade far above the range. Condition, originality, and completeness with box and papers all affect the price. Contact our team for current pricing on a specific 5512 in our inventory.

• Does the 5512 Have an Acrylic or Sapphire Crystal?

  Acrylic. Like the 5513, the 5512 used a domed acrylic crystal throughout its production. The warm, slightly distorting look of the domed plexi is central to the reference's vintage character. Sapphire crystals did not reach the no-date Submariner until the 14060 succeeded this generation. Acrylic can be polished to remove light scratches, which helps these decades-old watches still present well.

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