The Rolex Submariner 5513 is a classic vintage Rolex diving watch and a choice for serious collectors around the world. As a precise timing tool for professional scuba divers, the type 5513 Rolex Submariner first appeared in the 1960s and has become a sought-after and coveted vintage Rolex model due to its classic style and durable special design. Since these AAA replica watches were originally considered reliable underwater tools, many of the surviving examples in reference 5513 are accompanied by extraordinary stories, often related to scientific or military uses.
So, we’re going to take a better look at a very special ref. 5513 Rolex Submariner that belonged to a professional U.S. Navy diver named Raymond. We will talk a little bit about the different features of the Submariner 5513 and discover what makes it the perfect timepiece for professional divers around the globe like Raymond.
When Raymond became a 2nd class Navy diver in 1968, graduating first in class from dive school in the Philippines – he purchased a Rolex Submariner watch: a reference 5513. Raymond had chosen to become a diver with the Navy since it paid nearly 50% more than the average salary, and the extra income would allow him to pay off his student loans more quickly. In the late 1960s, the sport of scuba diving was still in its formative years, and having a good way to keep time underwater was an essential must for any professional diver. What’s more, Raymond’s role as a Quartermaster with the Navy involved a good degree of navigational proficiency, and having a high-precision watch meant that he could be more accurate with his various navigation calculations.
Raymond paid for his Replica Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 from the Navy base in the Philippines. Raymond chose a Rolex submarine that was slightly more expensive than other watches at the time because Rolex watches are known for their accurate timing. Raymond once tested the accuracy of his Submariner, and despite it not being fitted with a chronometer-certified movement, his reference 5513 only lost 2 seconds per month, which is well-within the timekeeping parameters established for chronometer accuracy by the COSC.
As a professional diver, Raymond has three different Rolex watches. His first reference to the 5513 Rolex submarine’s stolen knifepoint; However, he soon replaced it with another watch number 5513, which was essential to his equipment as a navy diver. The second Rolex submarine, the 5513, has been with him throughout his career, exactly like the watch we have on video today.
During saturation diving, divers spend long periods of time in dry high-pressure Chambers, where they breathe a special mixture of gases, some of which nitrogen is replaced by helium. Under extreme pressure for a long time, tiny helium molecules are squeezed through the gasket of a traditional diving watch and trapped inside. The fake Rolex Sea-Dweller was particularly developed to contend with the very special challenges of saturation diving and became Raymond’s go-to dive watch for all of his various deep-sea diving missions.