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kansaswoody · 13 January 2018, 02:59 PM

Hello folks, Been lurking here for awhile now drooling over the recent finds and scores. I normally am active over on a Coleman lantern collectors forum, so this Rolex forum was a pleasant find.

Just wanted to share the story of my first Rolex I recently picked up. I got married this October, and shortly before the wedding my father approached me and told me he wanted me to have a nice watch to wear during the ceremony. He's got a few Omegas, and also a few Rolex in his collection. (Most recently a minty Polar dial Explorer II which is a beauty.) We both shopped around, and compared models, and finally decided I was going to buy an Omega Speedmaster Pro from the local AD.

At work the day before I was going to head up buy the speedmaster, I mentioned my purchase plans to an older coworker. He said "I have a rattly old Rolex I'd sell you for half the price". Tell me more I said. I was expecting a datejust or similar model or even possibly a fake. He lives near work, so during lunch we head to his place and out comes this watch. A vintage 5513 Submariner. Not what I was expecting at all. He handed it to me, and told me to try it on. I told him I loved it, but there was now way I was going to be able to give him what it was worth. He countered by saying it was only worth what he "wanted to get out of it", and he figured selling it to me was worth more than having it sit in his safe. I took the watch home that afternoon and had the local AD give it a look over. All checked out through them. So the next day I paid him his asking price, and bought him the best KC strip steak I could find at the butcher. I promised him on my word and a firm handshake I would never sell or trade the watch until I found someone worthy of passing it on, as he had done to me.

He said he bought the watch in Upstate New York when he was working for a jewelry store shortly before leaving for the army. As he put it, it was the nicest watch he could afford and he wanted it to last him. He wore the watch during his career in the army, and after, while living and working in Alaska. After his first retirement he put it away and forgot about it until I came along.

I sent it off for service through my local jeweler, and after a complete service it came back working great just in time for my wedding. The original oyster bracelet is pretty severely stretched, but still functional, I wore it on the bracelet during my wedding, but as soon as we left for our honeymoon in Canada I put it on a black NATO, which I really like the looks of. I have found multiple serial number references but most put the date around 1968-1970

Anyways, enjoy the pictures!

Franks07 · 13 January 2018, 03:18 PM

Welcome here and congratulations on your wedding. Your 5513 Submariner is a real gem! Great story. Wear it in good health

cdnwatchguy · 13 January 2018, 03:20 PM

Beautiful. You need a bracelet.

DLRIDES · 13 January 2018, 03:39 PM

Nice color ! Find a cream colored pearl and you’re set.

kansaswoody · 13 January 2018, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnwatchguy

Beautiful. You need a bracelet.

I have the original, folded link Oyster. For some reason, the photos I have of the watch on the bracelet are not cooperating with this forum.

I am thinking of sending it out to Mr. Young to have him work it over.

kansaswoody · 13 January 2018, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLRIDES

Nice color ! Find a cream colored pearl and you’re set.

Yes, the pearl has been replaced at one point, it is newer, with lume. I do see originals from time to time, but as of now, it doesn't bother me too much.

yannis · 13 January 2018, 04:32 PM

Congrats man! That looks beautiful!

Woody · 13 January 2018, 09:20 PM

That is a great story - the watch looks fantastic and I hope you enjoy it for many years to come. All the best.

1675-David · 13 January 2018, 09:27 PM

Great watch, great story. Congratulations on your marriage and your sub

bluemartinifan · 13 January 2018, 10:03 PM

Great story, enjoy your 5513!

Dries · 13 January 2018, 10:25 PM

Great shoots & watch.

1William · 13 January 2018, 11:01 PM

Great story, cool watch and congratulations on the wedding.

spoilsofwar01 · 14 January 2018, 06:23 AM

Love my 1968 5513, its for keeps as I'm sure yours is, all the very best "H"

dysondiver · 14 January 2018, 06:31 AM

great story , fantastic looking watch too.

dbhak22 · 14 January 2018, 07:28 AM

VERY nice! Love the story and what a gentleman your co-worker is. Solid. Congrats all around!

rodwillson · 14 January 2018, 07:43 AM

Looks very beautiful

mountainjogger · 21 January 2018, 11:18 PM

Nice!!!

brandrea · 21 January 2018, 11:37 PM

Welcome and congratulations, beauty find

I need to find new work colleagues

nigelUK · 22 January 2018, 03:27 AM

This is extremely good karma . . you must be good bloke worthy of this great find !

Enjoy .. super watch. Congratulations

Boaters · 22 January 2018, 06:26 AM

Great story and what an awesome watch congrats on both that and your wedding.

The Argonaut · 22 January 2018, 07:45 AM

Stunning. A beautiful piece.

Sglass · 24 January 2018, 02:26 PM

Awesome watch congrats!

simplymod · 24 January 2018, 04:56 PM

Great story and super pics! congrats! My 5513 is one of my all time favorite. Enjoy and wear in good health!

13 January 2018, 02:59 PM	#1
kansaswoody "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Kansas Posts: 20	New to me 5513 Submariner Hello folks, Been lurking here for awhile now drooling over the recent finds and scores. I normally am active over on a Coleman lantern collectors forum, so this Rolex forum was a pleasant find. Just wanted to share the story of my first Rolex I recently picked up. I got married this October, and shortly before the wedding my father approached me and told me he wanted me to have a nice watch to wear during the ceremony. He's got a few Omegas, and also a few Rolex in his collection. (Most recently a minty Polar dial Explorer II which is a beauty.) We both shopped around, and compared models, and finally decided I was going to buy an Omega Speedmaster Pro from the local AD. At work the day before I was going to head up buy the speedmaster, I mentioned my purchase plans to an older coworker. He said "I have a rattly old Rolex I'd sell you for half the price". Tell me more I said. I was expecting a datejust or similar model or even possibly a fake. He lives near work, so during lunch we head to his place and out comes this watch. A vintage 5513 Submariner. Not what I was expecting at all. He handed it to me, and told me to try it on. I told him I loved it, but there was now way I was going to be able to give him what it was worth. He countered by saying it was only worth what he "wanted to get out of it", and he figured selling it to me was worth more than having it sit in his safe. I took the watch home that afternoon and had the local AD give it a look over. All checked out through them. So the next day I paid him his asking price, and bought him the best KC strip steak I could find at the butcher. I promised him on my word and a firm handshake I would never sell or trade the watch until I found someone worthy of passing it on, as he had done to me. He said he bought the watch in Upstate New York when he was working for a jewelry store shortly before leaving for the army. As he put it, it was the nicest watch he could afford and he wanted it to last him. He wore the watch during his career in the army, and after, while living and working in Alaska. After his first retirement he put it away and forgot about it until I came along. I sent it off for service through my local jeweler, and after a complete service it came back working great just in time for my wedding. The original oyster bracelet is pretty severely stretched, but still functional, I wore it on the bracelet during my wedding, but as soon as we left for our honeymoon in Canada I put it on a black NATO, which I really like the looks of. I have found multiple serial number references but most put the date around 1968-1970 Anyways, enjoy the pictures!

13 January 2018, 03:20 PM	#3
cdnwatchguy "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 921	Beautiful. You need a bracelet. __________________ Keith

13 January 2018, 03:39 PM	#4
DLRIDES 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Real Name: Don Location: NC/WY Watch: Me Posts: 4,599	Nice color ! Find a cream colored pearl and you’re set. __________________ ”When citizens learn to vote themselves the treasury, they limit prosperity.”

13 January 2018, 04:32 PM	#7
yannis "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Yannis Location: Europe Watch: maniac Posts: 9,070	Congrats man! That looks beautiful! __________________ Rolex Submariner 116610LV \| Tudor 79220N DSSD MEMBERS - OWNERS CLUB

14 January 2018, 07:28 AM	#15
dbhak22 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Real Name: Daniel Location: PNW Watch: ♛ Posts: 2,960	VERY nice! Love the story and what a gentleman your co-worker is. Solid. Congrats all around! __________________ GMT II (16710) \| Explorer I (1016) \| Datejust I (116234) \| Submariner (1680) \| Day-Date (1803) \| Royal Oak (25594) \| FOIS (2998 spec) \| Submariner (16808)

13 January 2018, 03:18 PM	#2
Franks07 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 729	Welcome here and congratulations on your wedding. Your 5513 Submariner is a real gem! Great story. Wear it in good health

13 January 2018, 09:20 PM	#8
Woody "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Africa Posts: 1,120	That is a great story - the watch looks fantastic and I hope you enjoy it for many years to come. All the best.

13 January 2018, 09:27 PM	#9
1675-David "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Stockholm Posts: 6,014	Great watch, great story. Congratulations on your marriage and your sub

13 January 2018, 10:03 PM	#10
bluemartinifan "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: Russ Location: Dallas Texas Watch: 5513 Posts: 2,124	Great story, enjoy your 5513!

13 January 2018, 10:25 PM	#11
Dries "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,612	Great shoots & watch.

13 January 2018, 11:01 PM	#12
1William 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Carolina Watch: Rolex/Others Posts: 44,749	Great story, cool watch and congratulations on the wedding.

14 January 2018, 06:23 AM	#13
spoilsofwar01 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Real Name: "H" Location: England Watch: ing Rainclouds Posts: 1,437	Love my 1968 5513, its for keeps as I'm sure yours is, all the very best "H"

14 January 2018, 06:31 AM	#14
dysondiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: tom Location: northern ireland Watch: my fins Posts: 10,063	great story , fantastic looking watch too.

14 January 2018, 07:43 AM	#16
rodwillson Banned Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 30	Looks very beautiful

21 January 2018, 11:18 PM	#17
mountainjogger 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Real Name: H Location: North Carolina Watch: M99230B-0008 Posts: 5,672	Nice!!! __________________ The King of Cool.

21 January 2018, 11:37 PM	#18
brandrea 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Brian (TBone) Location: canada Watch: es make me smile Posts: 73,703	Welcome and congratulations, beauty find I need to find new work colleagues

22 January 2018, 03:27 AM	#19
nigelUK "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Northants, UK Posts: 1,057	This is extremely good karma . . you must be good bloke worthy of this great find ! Enjoy .. super watch. Congratulations

22 January 2018, 06:26 AM	#20
Boaters 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2015 Real Name: Mike Location: Pacific Northwest Watch: 116610LV 16710 SD Posts: 10,649	Great story and what an awesome watch congrats on both that and your wedding.

22 January 2018, 07:45 AM	#21
The Argonaut "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: VA Watch: GMT Master 16750 Posts: 1,373	Stunning. A beautiful piece.

24 January 2018, 02:26 PM	#22
Sglass 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NYC Watch: The throne Posts: 296	Awesome watch congrats!

24 January 2018, 04:56 PM	#23
simplymod "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Real Name: Michael Location: Los Angeles, CA Watch: 5513 MKIII Sub Posts: 51	Great story and super pics! congrats! My 5513 is one of my all time favorite. Enjoy and wear in good health!

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