Rolex Submariner 5513

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About the Rolex Submariner 5513

The Rolex Submariner 5513 is the long-running no-date vintage Submariner, produced from 1962 to 1989 and known to collectors as the purist's Submariner. Across a 27-year run it is the longest-serving Submariner reference and the last Rolex dive watch fitted with an acrylic crystal. WatchGuys carries pre-owned and vintage 5513 watches, each authenticated in-house and backed by a 2-year warranty. Below we cover what the 5513 is, the dial eras collectors navigate before buying, what it costs, and how it compares to its chronometer-rated sibling.

What Is the Rolex 5513?

The 5513 is a no-date Rolex Submariner produced from 1962 to 1989 in a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case, with a black dial, no date window, and no Cyclops lens. It carries a domed acrylic crystal, a black aluminum bezel, a screw-down crown, and 200-meter water resistance. Inside is a non-chronometer automatic movement, the early Caliber 1530 and then the long-serving Caliber 1520, which is the defining technical difference from its sibling the Rolex 5512. The 5512 was chronometer-certified and carries the extra Superlative Chronometer text on its dial, while the 5513 was the more affordable non-chronometer version, which is why it far outsold the 5512 and became the everyman's vintage Sub. Its no-date, two-line dial and warm plexi crystal are the qualities collectors mean when they call it the purist's Submariner.

The dial is the whole story on a 5513, and it moves through four main eras across the run. Earliest examples carry glossy gilt dials with gold-colored text, produced into the mid-to-late 1960s, the most valuable and sought-after configuration. Around 1967 Rolex switched to matte dials with white printing, first reading "200m = 660ft" (the meters-first dials) and then, from around 1969, the reversed "660ft = 200m" (the feet-first dials). The late matte run of roughly 1976 to 1984 produced the larger-lume Maxi dials that collectors prize, and final examples returned to glossy dials with applied white gold surrounds on the markers. Because the dial era is the single biggest driver of value and the most-faked element on a vintage Sub, we verify dial originality and correct-period configuration on every 5513.

Rolex 5513 Price

Pre-owned and vintage Rolex 5513 watches at WatchGuys typically range from $10,000 to $25,000 or more. Dial era is the largest single factor: early gilt dials command the strongest premiums and can trade well above the range, while the more common feet-first matte dials sit toward the accessible end, and clean Maxi dials and original glossy examples fall in between. Condition, dial and case originality, the presence of an unpolished case, and box and papers all move the number significantly. As the longest-running Submariner and a genuine piece of the model's history, the 5513 remains one of the cornerstone references of vintage Rolex collecting. For pricing on a specific piece in our inventory, contact our team directly.

Rolex 5513 vs. 5512

The 5513 and the Rolex 5512 are the two vintage no-date Submariners, and at a glance they look identical: same 40mm case, acrylic crystal, aluminum bezel, and crown guards. The difference is under the dial. The 5512 was chronometer-certified and carries the four-line dial with the Superlative Chronometer text, while the 5513 used a non-chronometer movement and the cleaner two-line dial. The 5512 is the scarcer and generally more expensive of the two, while the 5513 ran far longer, sold in much greater numbers, and offers a more accessible route into a vintage Sub with the same silhouette. The 5513 was eventually succeeded by the Rolex 14060, which carried the no-date formula into the modern era with a sapphire crystal in place of acrylic. For the full date-free lineage see our No-Date Submariner collection, or browse the complete Rolex Submariner lineup.

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Why Buy a Rolex 5513 From WatchGuys

Every pre-owned Rolex 5513 for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated, accurately described, and protected end to end. A 40-to-60-year-old reference demands real scrutiny, and here is what comes with every purchase.

Common Questions

Rolex 5513 FAQ

• What Years Was the Rolex 5513 Produced?

  The 5513 was produced from 1962 to 1989, a run of roughly 27 years. That makes it the longest-running Submariner reference in the model's history and the last Rolex dive watch fitted with an acrylic crystal. Its long production means the reference moved through several distinct dial eras, which is central to how collectors value individual examples.

• What Is the Difference Between the 5513 and 5512?

  Chronometer certification. The 5512 was chronometer-certified and carries a four-line dial with the Superlative Chronometer text, while the 5513 used a non-chronometer movement and a cleaner two-line dial. Both are 40mm no-date Submariners with an acrylic crystal, aluminum bezel, and crown guards, and they look nearly identical. The 5512 is scarcer and usually more expensive, while the 5513 ran longer and sold in far greater numbers.

• What Are the Main 5513 Dial Variations?

  Four eras are most commonly encountered. Earliest are the glossy gilt dials with gold text, produced into the late 1960s and the most valuable. Around 1967 came matte dials, first "meters first" (200m = 660ft) and then "feet first" (660ft = 200m) from about 1969. The late matte run of roughly 1976 to 1984 produced the larger-lume Maxi dials. Final examples returned to glossy dials with white gold surrounds on the markers. Dial era is the single biggest driver of a 5513's value.

• What Is a Gilt Dial 5513?

  A gilt dial is the earliest 5513 dial style, a glossy black dial with gold-colored text and printing rather than the white printing used from 1967 onward. Gilt dials were produced into the mid-to-late 1960s, have a warmer, more reflective look, and are the most sought-after and valuable 5513 configuration. Because they command strong premiums, verifying that a gilt dial is original and correct for the serial is a critical part of authentication.

• Does the 5513 Have an Acrylic or Sapphire Crystal?

  Acrylic. The 5513 used a domed acrylic crystal throughout its entire production run and is the last Rolex dive watch fitted with acrylic. The warm, slightly distorting look of the domed plexi is a large part of the reference's vintage character. The sapphire crystal did not arrive on the no-date Submariner until the 14060 succeeded the 5513 in 1990. Acrylic can be polished to remove light scratches, which is one reason these watches still present so well decades later.

• Why Is the 5513 Called the Purist's Submariner?

  Because it is the Submariner stripped to its essentials: no date, no Cyclops, a clean two-line dial, and a warm acrylic crystal. That symmetrical, uncluttered look is what many collectors consider the definitive Submariner form, and the long production run means the 5513 is also the reference most associated with the model's classic era, including its appearances on screen as James Bond's watch.

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