Rolex Submariner 5517

Buying Advice

About the Rolex Submariner 5517

The Rolex Submariner 5517 is the legendary "MilSub," the military Submariner built to British Ministry of Defence specification and issued to Royal Navy divers and Special Forces. Made in the 1970s and never sold to the public, it is defined by its sword hands, fully graduated 60-minute bezel, fixed strap bars, and circled-T tritium dial, and it is widely considered the rarest and most coveted Submariner ever made. WatchGuys carries pre-owned and vintage 5517 watches, each authenticated in-house and backed by a 2-year warranty. Below we cover what the 5517 is, the details collectors verify before buying, what it costs, and how it compares to the 5513 it is based on.

What Is the Rolex 5517?

The 5517 is the dedicated military reference of the Rolex Submariner, produced in the 1970s in a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case, based on the Rolex 5513 but modified to British MoD specification. It runs the Caliber 1520 and is rated to 200 meters, and it is instantly recognizable by a set of military-specified features: large sword-shaped hands for legibility, a fully graduated 60-minute bezel rather than the standard 15-minute scale, fixed welded strap bars for a NATO strap, and a matte black dial with the encircled "T" that denotes tritium lume. The case back is engraved with military markings, the broad arrow and MoD issue numbers, and because the 5517 was issued as equipment, every example began life on the wrist of a serviceman. Many MilSubs exist as "double reference" 5513/5517 watches, with the case stamped both ways, while the dedicated 5517 reference arrived later in the program.

At this rarity, everything comes down to originality, and the MilSub demands the deepest scrutiny of any Submariner. Because these were tool watches serviced hard by military watchmakers, correct-period military parts are difficult to find, and because MilSub values are so high, the reference is one of the most heavily faked in the entire vintage market, with civilian 5513s frequently converted to imitate the military specification. The correct sword hands, fully graduated bezel, circled-T dial, fixed bars, and authentic case-back engravings must all be right, and documented military provenance, such as a Ministry of Defence letter or a diver's log, adds enormously to both value and confidence. For these reasons, we verify every element of dial, hands, bezel, case, engraving, and movement authenticity in the deepest detail on any 5517 we handle.

Rolex 5517 Price

Pre-owned and vintage Rolex 5517 watches at WatchGuys typically range from $150,000 to $400,000 or more, placing it among the most valuable Submariners and at the very top tier of collectible vintage Rolex. Its extreme rarity as a never-sold, military-issued reference is the primary driver, with only a small number of the roughly 1,200 MilSubs delivered surviving in original, full-military-specification condition. Originality of the sword hands, graduated bezel, circled-T dial, fixed bars, and case-back engravings, along with documented military provenance, all move the price significantly. Exceptional, well-documented examples trade toward the top and beyond at major auction. As arguably the ultimate collector's Submariner, the 5517 sits at the very pinnacle of vintage Rolex collecting. For pricing and availability on a specific 5517, contact our team directly.

Rolex 5517 vs. 5513

The 5517 is built on the Rolex 5513, the long-running civilian no-date Submariner, and mechanically the two are close: the same 40mm case, Caliber 1520, and 200-meter rating. The differences are the military specification. Where the civilian 5513 has Mercedes hands, a 15-minute bezel, standard spring bars, and a plain case back, the 5517 has sword hands, a fully graduated 60-minute bezel, fixed welded strap bars, the circled-T tritium dial, and a military-engraved case back, and it was issued only to the armed forces rather than sold. The 5513 is the attainable everyday vintage Submariner, while the 5517 is the rare military cousin. It is closely related to the other issued professional Submariner, the Rolex 5514 COMEX, which was built for commercial divers rather than the military. For the wider picture, browse our Rolex Submariner lineup or the full vintage Rolex collection.

Trusted Dealer

Why Buy a Rolex 5517 From WatchGuys

Every pre-owned Rolex 5517 for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated, accurately described, and protected end to end. On the most heavily faked reference in the Submariner catalog, scrutiny is everything, and here is what comes with every purchase.

Common Questions

Rolex 5517 FAQ

• What Is a Rolex MilSub?

  MilSub is the collector nickname for the military Submariner, a contraction of "Military" and "Submariner." These were Submariners built to British Ministry of Defence specification and issued to Royal Navy divers and Special Forces in the 1970s, never sold to the public. The 5517 is the dedicated military reference of the MilSub, and it is distinguished by sword hands, a fully graduated 60-minute bezel, fixed strap bars, a circled-T tritium dial, and military case-back engravings.

• What Makes the 5517 Different From a Standard Submariner?

  The military specification. Compared with a civilian 5513, the 5517 has large sword-shaped hands instead of Mercedes hands, a fully graduated 60-minute bezel instead of the standard 15-minute scale, fixed welded strap bars instead of removable spring bars, and a matte dial with the encircled "T" for tritium. Its case back is engraved with military markings including the broad arrow and MoD issue numbers. It was issued as equipment to the armed forces rather than sold in stores.

• Why Are So Many 5517 MilSubs Fake?

  Because the values are so high and the base watch is a 5513, unscrupulous sellers convert civilian 5513s into imitation MilSubs by adding sword hands, a graduated bezel, fixed bars, and fake engravings. This makes the 5517 one of the most heavily faked references in the entire vintage market. Authenticating a MilSub requires deep expertise in the correct military parts, dial types, and case-back engravings, along with any supporting provenance, which is why buying from a knowledgeable, reputable dealer is essential.

• How Rare Is the Rolex 5517?

  Extremely rare. Only around 1,200 MilSubs were delivered to the British armed forces across the program, and because they were hard-used tool watches often serviced and modified in the field, only a small fraction survive today in original, full-military-specification condition. Complete, correct 5517 examples are among the rarest and most valuable of all Submariners, which is why they command six-figure prices and are so coveted by collectors.

• How Much Does a Rolex 5517 Cost?

  Pre-owned and vintage 5517 prices at WatchGuys typically range from $150,000 to $400,000 or more, among the highest of any Submariner. Originality and provenance dominate the value: the correct sword hands, graduated bezel, circled-T dial, fixed bars, and case-back engravings, plus documented military history such as a Ministry of Defence letter or a diver's log. Exceptional, well-documented examples trade toward the top and beyond. Contact our team for pricing and availability on a specific 5517.

• What Movement Does the 5517 Use?

  The 5517 uses the automatic Caliber 1520, the same robust movement found in the standard 5513 on which it is based. It was a proven, reliable caliber well suited to the demands of military diving. Because these are decades-old working tool watches, we ensure the movement is correct and properly serviced by a specialist before any 5517 is listed.

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