The 5512 introduced the crown-guarded case that would define the Submariner for the next 60 years. Where the 5513 was a standard chronometer, the 5512 was COSC-certified and wore 'Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified' printing on the dial (from ~1961). Early 5512s share the pointed-crown-guard case (PCG) with the earliest 5513s and are among the most collectible references in the entire vintage sports lineup. Gilt-dial 5512s from the mid-1960s, particularly with 'four-line' text and correct hand sets, sit at the very top of Submariner collecting.
← The Rolex Directory
Reference
5512
Submariner
1959–1978
The chronometer-certified sibling to the 5513, and the first crown-guard Sub.
- Case
- 40mm
- Caliber
- 1530 / 1560 / 1570
- Years
- 1959–1978
What to watch for
PCG-to-square-guard case modifications, refinished four-line dials, and mismatched calibers relative to serial range.