Rolex. Rare montre bracelet militaire en acier avec double référence développée pour la Royal Navy mouvement automatique
Rolex. A rare stainless steel Military automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy with double reference
Model: Military Submariner
Reference: 5513/5517
Date: Circa 1974
Movement: 26-jewel Cal.1520 automatic, free-sprung Gyromax balance
Dial: Black, Tritium T, luminous dot hour markers, baton quarters, white outer minute divisions, broad polished sword hands with luminous inserts, arrow tipped centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back engraved 0552/923-7697 653/77, shouldered screw down crown, fixed bar lugs, case middle No.3926780, inside case back similarly numbered, date coded I.72, lug engraved 5517, black calibrated bezel insert
Strap/Bracelet: Tan brown leather
Buckle/Clasp: Signed steel buckle
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 38mm
Footnotes:
Rolex made the 'MilSub' as a direct order for the British Military through the Ministry of Defence. These were made with specific enhancements that set them apart from their civilian equivalent. The reference 5513 was the first of these to be customised for Military use by making the spring bars solid and friction welded into place negating the possibility of the spring bar being pulled out. As such all Military Submariners have NATO straps as the more normal straps or bracelets cannot be fitted to the solid lugs. The hands were replaced with the aptly named Sword hands to enhance legibility with Tritium luminosity signified by the T in a circle on the dial.

There are 3 series of the Royal Navy Military Submariner:

1.Standard Ref:5513

2.Double Ref:5513/5517 (5513 on case and back; 5517 on a lug) as with the present lot

3.Unique Ref:5517

Movement: Runs when powered at time of cataloguing
Dial: Good, lume has a pleasant cream color, slight discolouration to the lume at 1
Hands: Chrome is bubbling slightly
Glass: Scratches on the surface throughout, one larger at 2, one nick at 11
Case: Surface scratches throughout, one small dent at 8, military engraving on the back is very rubbed, '5517' engraved on the lug at 7 is clear, later insert
Strap/Bracelet: Used, leather has cracked in multiple places and would benefit from being replaced
Buckle/Clasp: Surface scratches throughout, associated and later

We do not test any watches for their accuracy and as such timekeeping cannot be guaranteed.

We advise that if you are bidding on a watch, that you or your agents are completely satisfied with the condition of the lot. We recommend that all watches are serviced and polished after the sale as they are handled throughout the viewing period. Please note that although Bonhams endeavour to include reference to any replacement parts within our Condition Reports we cannot confirm that each individual element of the watch is original or that, if replaced, the replacement has been made using original manufacturer's parts.