5513

The 5513 was the no-date Submariner that Rolex produced continuously for nearly three decades. Its length of production means the reference spans every major dial and case transition of the modern Rolex era: gilt gloss dials (to ~1967), matte dials with painted markers (1967–1984), and the transitional 'maxi' dials with fatter indices that ended the run. Early 5513s share a case with the military 5517 and are the most desirable, particularly 'meters first' depth-rated dials and the sought-after 'exclamation point' variants. Later 5513s with white-gold surrounds on tritium plots offer serious vintage character at a fraction of gilt prices. Collectors evaluate cases on lug thickness, bevel sharpness, and whether the drilled lug holes remain (they were phased out in the mid-1980s).