Hi guys,

I'm long lusting for a nice matte dial and this nice 5513/3.2 mil serial crossed my path. However, I'm still researching and learning so my knowledge is somewhat limited.
What I know so far about the watch:
- production year is around 1971
- matte open 6 serif dial
- fat font MK3 bezel?
- movement should be 1530 (no photos yet)
- the bracelet is a later addition probably service (ref 93150, P6 serial that places it around June 1991)
- endlinks do not match: 455B and 580

Am I missing anything? Do you see something wrong with it? Does the case look over
polished based on the photos available?
I would like to make an offer to the seller but given the above I'm not sure about the ballpark.

What do you think?

Thanks,
George

 

It's polished but not over polished. The pictures are out of focus so we can't see the chamfers, here is a NOS 5513 for comparison:

 

Thanks. I know how an unpolished case should look like and one that has the lugs recut. Just wandering how "bad" this one is. I'll ask for more photos and post them here, but until then (couple of days probably) this is all I have.

 

@GeorgeT11
The case doesn't look bad (I've seen much worse), but at the same time these pics leave a lot to be desired. From what I can see, the case is definitely soft but there's enough meat there to do a "vintage restoration" case refinishing. My biggest concern would be the crown guards...make sure they aren't too far gone.

 

Pip looks changed/luminova-ed? Second hands patina doesn't match, replacement perhaps?

As what I have learnt from OF about Rolex Vintage subs, pass on this (especially if the seller is asking for top end money).

 

In the first picture, the spring bar is sticking out past the bottom left lug hole. Probably very polished. Pass.

 

Way too polished IMO. Protuding spring bars and pointy crown guards are a no go for me unless the price is in line with these issues.

 

What he said...

 

Thanks for all the replies. Will know for sure what to look out for moving forward.
For the watch in question the asking price is around $8500.

 

Um, well...not awful in this mkt.

 

Just to be clear ...$8500 reflects its issues. You want a sharp case and original bracelet ... you are north of $15K. Overall the dial and bezel are pretty nice.

 

Personally I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that the case is shot just because you can see the spring bar end. The spring bar ends should be visible, but not protruding. It often happens that a novice vintage watch buyer (I'm not addressing the OP, here) will dismiss a case as being “overly polished” going on the visible spring bar concept, when in fact the watch was installed with the wrong spring bars or the original set was so old the pins started to work their way out/forward. IMHO this points to the perils of buying a watch with only digital pics to go on as opposed to having the watch in hand, with a 10x loupe.
At any rate, @GeorgeT11 getting back to this particular watch, I’d have to see much better, clearly focused pics of the edges as well as the crown guards (the CGs on this 5513 are my biggest concern) before considering a purchase.
But…if the case is soft but still meaty and the CGs are alright + all the other problematic details that we know (bracelet, end pieces, pip) then I’d say the asking price is fair. Of course, anything not fully divulged by the seller, like, hypothetically, dial relume, color-matched service handset, etc. would lower the value, obviously.

 

Here are a few more photos I've just received. What do you think?

 

I say go with your feeling, if you like the watch then get it, the price seems to be good. The bottom crown guard looks thinner but they sometimes came out of the factory like this so don't worry about it. Remember that the dial is the heart of the watch, the chamfers on the case are just a small detail.

 

Decent price, not that bad condition. I’d go for it if it was for sale in the UK

 

The seller sais all the parts are original to the watch except the bracelet. Still waiting for movement and inside caseback photos as he needs to take it to a watchmaker to have it opened. He tried at home but it won't budge.

 

More photos. Movement and inside caseback will follow.

 

Looks good to me.

 

It was never implied that the case was shot. An opinion was asked and given. For my taste, that case is overpolished and I suspect the price will be princely. So, unless the price is in line with the quality of the case, I wouldn't choose this example.

 

And movement scans: