
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Rolex Submariner 5513 "No Date WGS"
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex (maker)
- Date
- c. 1987
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- Product 9979248443668
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Collectors Corner NY (product 9979248443668)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Rolex Submariner 5513 "No Date WGS" (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Collectors Corner NY (dealer), New York (stock number Product 9979248443668), this is a wristwatch by Rolex, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1987. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Collectors Corner NY
The Rolex Submariner was first introduced by Rolex in 1953 and is notable for being one of the first watches specifically designed for diving. Beyond its technical capabilities, the Submariner has become an icon in the world of watches, with a timeless design that has remained largely unchanged since its introduction. It is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential Rolex watches of all time, and has become a symbol of Rolex's reputation for quality, durability, and precision. The Sub has been worn by everyone from professional divers and military personnel to Hollywood celebrities and heads of state, cementing its place in the pantheon of iconic watches. The ref. 5513 was the longest running Sub reference, crossing 3 decades from '62 until '90. Many collectors agree that the simplicity of its "two line" dial is among the purest iterations of the model. This 915X serial example, circa 1987 comes from the end of the run which houses a glossy dial with "WGS" or "white gold surrounds" markers and a plexi crystal adding a vintage feel. It has remained in nice vintage condition with a mint dial/hands that have taken a light off white patina. The insert is excellent with no distracting wear and a pip that was replaced in service. The case has seen some polishing but retains even proportions. The bracelet retains 10 links, displays medium stretch and will fit an approximate 7 inch wrist.
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Dive and water-resistant watches
Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.
Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.
What to look for
- Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
- Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
- Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
- Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.
Dating clues
- Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
- Professional dive watches: from 1953.
- Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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