Buying my first Rolex / your opinion on 5513

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Hello OF members,
I would like to kindly ask for your opinion on this Rolex 5513, no box papers. From a German dealer that says it comes from 1st owner / 70yo guy. thanks for your insight: thank you, tomas
 
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My guess is that it is about 50 years old, or possibly older. The bracelet ends on Rolex of this vintage tend to wear away at the case surface between the lugs, sometimes obliterating the model number and serial number. This one looks okay. It has the correct model number of bracelet, and the correct flip-lock extendible buckle, triple-lock Oyster crown. The pearl is missing from the bezel. The state of the luminous tritium material on the dial and hands looks evenly “mature”. Bracelet looks in good shape. Count on having it serviced by a shop that has a parts account with Rolex, but don’t send it to Rolex! To me, looks like a decent, honest vintage Submariner.
Edited:
 
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@Sherbie
I dont know, how to say better words than like I feel this particular watch looks consistent. patina seems same all over the watch. I very like the lume how it aged. Many SUBs seem a bit pale to me, this one looks rich. maybe it is just filter / photo but I like the lume color. disclaimer / I am no expert on rolex, never studied them, thi is my first one:
1. plexi seems original, polished, but I see some deep scratches that are still slightly visible
2. edges / or so called chamfers - are still visible. The seller said " I believe most of the edges are still unpollished" - so he admits some light polish might be there. But seems still quite sharp. your opinion?
3. crown and bracelet looks original, I like that too.
4. perfect dial
5. I like this is no date model / for a date rolex I look after gmt master - next on the shopping list
6. it is my birthyear - 1983 according to serial. Is it trustworthy?
7. like the story behind that it is from a first owner. seller promised to get me a personal letter from the guy.

@Canuck
thanks for your thoughts.
missing pearl - this is the only visual scar / is it problematic to get one?

@Sherbie @Canuck @wsfarrell
what do you think about the price / condition? guy asks 15k euro.
thank you all
 
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I suggest you read up on 5513mattedial.com to confirm the dial against the serial #. The lugs are too rounded for my taste specially given the price. Make sure to get movement and caseback pics.

As for the price, seems aggressive in my opinion. Look at other dealers in US that have similar models for less.
 
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What price do we all think is correct? You could always make an offer ...

I have found, personally, that plus or minus a certain percentage I'll go for a particular example if the story and individual patina speaks to me. I particular dig what I'm seeing from this piece.
 
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Also what version of the maxi dial is this?
I checked on 5513mattedial.com (@ATWG thankyou) and i am pretty sure it is MAXI IV - when comparing to the ref pictures and description.
 
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Lugs look okay to me. I focus on crown guards, which also look okay. As @ATWG said, $15k seems a little aggressive. On the other hand, if bracelet code is H (hard to read), it would match watch serial at 1982-83. Might be hard to resist...
 
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Lugs look okay to me. I focus on crown guards, which also look okay. As @ATWG said, $15k seems a little aggressive. On the other hand, if bracelet code is H (hard to read), it would match watch serial at 1982-83. Might be hard to resist...

from seller:
a sought after superdomed t19 is built on this iconic diver and it even wears the periodcorrect oysterbracelet (claspcode h=1983), that always has been on this watch.
 
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Sorry, I missed the euro thing. That's way aggressive...
just to be aligned, (I know people dont like those question, but as I am completely off rolex market )
- if I may ask, pls, looking at pictures I sent, what would you consider a fair price?
 
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A very saleable watch, but not at that price!
 
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That serial seems to date it to 1982. Definitely not 50 years old. That would also explain the the H code 93150 bracelet. Looks solid. Great patina if that's your thing. Looks like a later maxi dial. Triplock crown also correct.

Depends on the price really. Very difficult to have these properly serviced without costing an arm and a leg. RSCs will mostly not service it. You need to find an independent that has a cache of genuine Rolex parts.

Cheers,

Edit: 😲 Just saw the price...My goodness these have gotten totally crazy 🤨...If you have that kind of coin burning a hole in your pocket...
 
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And for us poor Canadians, that's CAD $ 23K !!!!!!!!! Totally stupid money for a 5513...
 
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Looks nice overall. High price with no b&p, but that's to be expected from a dealer.
 
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All,

Closer attention should be paid to those hands. A good match at first glance but look closely. I'll let you all be the judge.