Serif 5513

[sixers]

Hello all,

I am considering to purchase this serif 5513, serial number 3.4. What do you think about it? The case looks quite good, the hands and dial are matching (and the hands seems to have a slight corrosion which make sense for its age) I am just a bit worry if the dial or hands are relumed. (Which the store owner assured it isn’t) It also comes with a 9315 bracelet with 380 end links.

Many thanks in advance! Attaching some photos, price is 15k cash.




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[sixers]

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[sixers]

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[Dan S]

Looks very nice from what I can see. It would be nice to check the case-back engraving just to make sure it lines up with the serial.

[exador]

Are they going to insist on removing the stickers?

[sixers]

Originally Posted by exador

Are they going to insist on removing the stickers?

lol, I just didn't bother to as I was mostly focusing on the dial/hands/case

[Beelzy]

Doesn't look like a Serif dial to me...and I owned one.

[Dino2000]

Originally Posted by Beelzy

Doesn't look like a Serif dial to me...and I owned one.

In my humble opinion, looks like a serif dial in fact, please see this reputable source: http://www.5513mattedial.com/Serifs.html


Everything looks right in my view, proper fat font uneven discoloured insert, bracelet looks right, no thumb recess, fliplock clasp smooth, 380 links. 3.4M serial should be a serif.

I just would insist in removing bracelet and check engravings.

Regards,

Dino

[Dino2000]

Originally Posted by sixers

I am just a bit worry if the dial or hands are relumed

I would say is not been relumed, is quite perfect by Factory period standards. It's a pretty beautiful dial and hands set. It's lovely!

You can see if is still tritium, it should not glow at all in the dark, and it reacts by a while under a black light.

Regards,

Dino

[sixers]

Thanks Dino2000! Should be a serif. Here’s a few more photos if it helps!


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[Dino2000]

For me everything looks good. One concern could be rust under the bezel, as an orange mark appears in one of the pictures under the bezel 10 area. I would insist on the caseback to be opened just to see what a hidden underneath and a bezel removal (it's quite easy just with the watchsmith Swiss Knife).

[sixers]

Originally Posted by Dino2000

For me everything looks good. One concern could be rust under the bezel, as an orange mark appears in one of the pictures under the bezel 10 area. I would insist on the caseback to be opened just to see what a hidden underneath and a bezel removal (it's quite easy just with the watchsmith Swiss Knife).

Thanks for your careful eyes! I will do that tomorrow. I think the rust under the bezel might be the case as the bezel is a bit harder to turn then other 5513 I had my hands on. Is that a big problem?


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[Dan S]

Originally Posted by sixers

Thanks for your careful eyes! I will do that tomorrow. I think the rust under the bezel might be the case as the bezel is a bit harder to turn then other 5513 I had my hands on. Is that a big problem?


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That should be addressed in a service without much trouble. The last 5513 I purchased had a bezel that was totally stuck due to dirt, etc. Usually it just need to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned. Rust in the movement can also be addressed, but at a more significant cost.

[sixers]

Originally Posted by Dan S

That should be addressed in a service without much trouble. The last 5513 I purchased had a bezel that was totally stuck due to dirt, etc. Usually it just need to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned. Rust in the movement can also be addressed, but at a more significant cost.

Noted! Thank you so much for your time and valuable knowledge!


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[sixers]

Here’s some photos of the case back and movement


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[J!m]

It looks exceptional overall. I look carefully at the details as we all do but also the overall presentation to see that the example is consistent in wear and condition across the entire watch.

Two things I see that raise an eyebrow.

1) no corrosion. We all desire a clean case but no corrosion but this has zero and also very little bracelet end link wear. Odd with a sticky bezel but not impossible of course.

2) incorrect movement screws. That was an eye opener because otherwise it looks like an original untouched and virtually unworn example.

And I also see stress cracking on the crystal, which are not consistent with how little wear this seems to have had. No bracelet stretch, no end link wear (which takes weeks only) and wrong movement screws.



That’s all I can glean from the photos.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by J!m

It looks exceptional overall. I look carefully at the details as we all do but also the overall presentation to see that the example is consistent in wear and condition across the entire watch.

Two things I see that raise an eyebrow.

1) no corrosion. We all desire a clean case but no corrosion but this has zero and also very little bracelet end link wear. Odd with a sticky bezel but not impossible of course.

2) incorrect movement screws. That was an eye opener because otherwise it looks like an original untouched and virtually unworn example.

And I also see stress cracking on the crystal, which are not consistent with how little wear this seems to have had. No bracelet stretch, no end link wear (which takes weeks only) and wrong movement screws.



That’s all I can glean from the photos.

Agree with Jim. Though I’m wondering if, judging by the brush marks on top of the lugs, it wasn’t recently polished, and revived some polishing on the underside of the lugs, too, which would explain the absence of endlink marks. Also, it’s conceivable that any corrosion (which is odd there isn’t any) was removed during this cleaning/service. Dial looks very good though.

[sixers]

Originally Posted by J!m

It looks exceptional overall. I look carefully at the details as we all do but also the overall presentation to see that the example is consistent in wear and condition across the entire watch.

Two things I see that raise an eyebrow.

1) no corrosion. We all desire a clean case but no corrosion but this has zero and also very little bracelet end link wear. Odd with a sticky bezel but not impossible of course.

2) incorrect movement screws. That was an eye opener because otherwise it looks like an original untouched and virtually unworn example.

And I also see stress cracking on the crystal, which are not consistent with how little wear this seems to have had. No bracelet stretch, no end link wear (which takes weeks only) and wrong movement screws.



That’s all I can glean from the photos.

Thank you so much Jim for your careful eyes! I’ve attached some more photos of the end link and the case.

What does the incorrect moment screws mean? And bracelet and end link does look a bit too clean. Seems period correct from the research I have done but again, I am very new to this.


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[sixers]

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[swish77]

Very nice example with great patina.

I'll respectfully (slightly) disagree with a couple of suggestions that there might be some minor inconsistencies. I see a well-maintained but definitely worn Sub with some marks from the end links and a bracelet with stretch consistent with age but careful use.

There is some minor corrosion on the hands (makes sense), some minor dirt/rust where the crystal meets the case (makes sense, common and easily removed), and a case that has been polished but still looks pretty good. The crystal seems to have the age marks and wear/tear you'd expect. Great insert.

The watch has been serviced at some point, of course, based on the case-back marking, so perhaps the wrong movement screws were used. Seems minor and very correctable.

The dial/hands are fabulous and matching. That photo under the UV light is the most telling. Good stuff.

The one thing that's missing in all these photos is one showing the engravings of the reference and serial number. If we're going to go to this extent with detective work, we might as well go all the way!

[sixers]

Here’s a photo for the serial number, thanks again everyone for your help!


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[southtexas]

Do you have a better pic of the serial? Put the case down onto the counter at the ledge, then kneel next to it and tilt your camera until you’ve knocked out any glare and can see them nice and clear. Do the same for the model side.

[sixers]

Originally Posted by swish77

Very nice example with great patina.

I'll respectfully (slightly) disagree with a couple of suggestions that there might be some minor inconsistencies. I see a well-maintained but definitely worn Sub with some marks from the end links and a bracelet with stretch consistent with age but careful use.

There is some minor corrosion on the hands (makes sense), some minor dirt/rust where the crystal meets the case (makes sense, common and easily removed), and a case that has been polished but still looks pretty good. The crystal seems to have the age marks and wear/tear you'd expect. Great insert.

The watch has been serviced at some point, of course, based on the case-back marking, so perhaps the wrong movement screws were used. Seems minor and very correctable.

The dial/hands are fabulous and matching. That photo under the UV light is the most telling. Good stuff.

The one thing that's missing in all these photos is one showing the engravings of the reference and serial number. If we're going to go to this extent with detective work, we might as well go all the way!

Thanks Swish77 for the very detailed break down, I can’t express how grateful I am for that. I just shared an engraving for the serial number side. I forgot to take a picture on the reference number side, let me try to get it tonight.

Thanks again!


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[The_Walrus]

Originally Posted by sixers

Thanks Swish77 for the very detailed break down, I can’t express how grateful I am for that. I just shared an engraving for the serial number side. I forgot to take a picture on the reference number side, let me try to get it tonight.

Thanks again!


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The font of the stamping would be the last piece of the puzzle