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Old 23 February 2018, 06:10 AM   #1
Abdon
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Meters first 5513 Sub incoming!!!

Hello gang!
I am in the process of procuring a 1965/1966 Meters first 5513.
I am very excited, as this is from my uncle, who was the first and only owner of the watch. It has a lot of history, been very well used, and it is my uncle's watch which makes it very valuable to me.

He does state that it has been serviced by Rolex, likely has been polished but the dial is original as well as the bezel, hands, etc... as per the pics he sent me, the lume dot on the bezel is missing...is this something I can have easily replaced? (should I even replace it?)

I will try to provide photos for your review as soon as I get them, if that's ok, as I value the opinion of this forum.
Thank you!!!
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Old 23 February 2018, 06:25 AM   #2
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Here are some pics
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File Type: jpeg 2713F1AD-13C0-477B-809D-1BB0A2B2704B.jpeg (159.0 KB, 958 views)
File Type: jpeg 55A2C4B8-EB5C-4F5D-95C0-C1932AB94352.jpeg (163.1 KB, 955 views)
File Type: jpeg 918EA623-7C42-4802-A656-6FCD78D1B287.jpeg (153.3 KB, 955 views)
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Old 23 February 2018, 06:28 AM   #3
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congratulations, a beauty for sure.
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Old 23 February 2018, 06:34 AM   #4
Abdon
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Thanks!!!!
I'm very excited!!!
Does the crown look a bit bigger than it should or perhaps its just unscrewed?
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Old 23 February 2018, 06:35 AM   #5
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Original matte dial on a '65/'66 5513?
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Old 23 February 2018, 06:36 AM   #6
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As far as I know, the dial is original
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Old 23 February 2018, 11:12 AM   #7
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looks good - congrats.

Crown looks like original 702, its just the picture. Think its the right size.
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Old 23 February 2018, 11:23 AM   #8
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Wow! Original owner meters first 5513, that’s a beauty! Congrats!
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Old 23 February 2018, 11:24 AM   #9
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What is the serial number? Estimated year of production can be all over the place based on what internet chart you used to date the watch.
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Old 23 February 2018, 11:47 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springer View Post
What is the serial number? Estimated year of production can be all over the place based on what internet chart you used to date the watch.
Don’t know the serial number...watch not in my possession yet...all I know is that it was purchased in 1965...can’t wait to get it and do the research...and wear the heck out of it!!!!
I’ll post the serial # (or the first few digits) on this thread as soon as I get the watch.
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Old 23 February 2018, 11:55 AM   #11
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If it was purchased in 1965 it would absolutely have a glossy gilt dial.
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Old 23 February 2018, 12:00 PM   #12
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Quote:
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If it was purchased in 1965 it would absolutely have a glossy gilt dial.
Where can I find info on what the difference is between a "gilt" dial and other types of dials?
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Old 23 February 2018, 12:01 PM   #13
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Ah never mind! Just found the info online...
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Old 23 February 2018, 12:19 PM   #14
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Ah never mind! Just found the info online...
Ha! Yeah, there’s a good bit of info out there these days.
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Old 23 February 2018, 01:11 PM   #15
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1965 5513

This is what my 5513 looked like before Rik Dietel refurbished it. Serial number 1.19... This watch was purchased new in Miami in 1965 by my great uncle. He gave it to me in the early 1970s. I also thought the dial was original but it was retouched once in Miami in the early 1970s by the dealer that sold him the watch. They didn’t do a great job particularly at the bottom where they painted over Swiss T<25. But what was most unusual is that it had a matte dial the whole time I’ve had it. When Rik took it apart the dial started to flake beyond repair, so Rik sent it to London to be redone.
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Old 23 February 2018, 01:31 PM   #16
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After Rik Dietel refurbish photos of 1965 5513

This is what it looks like now. The guy Rik uses in London for dials is amazing. The dial repaint was expensive and not particularly quick, but the results are stunning and the pictures really don’t do the dial justice. In bright light the black gilt dial has a chocolate brown tone that is amazing. It is a repainted dial, so many of you will not like the watch, but given the family history, for me it’s a very treasured watch.

Rik also overhauled it, gave it a medium/light polish, replaced the crystal and crown, tightened up the bracelet (1976 folded steel vintage, I tossed out the original rivet stretch version back then ...). Total was $3000, but the watch looks like NOS and keeps time within a few seconds a day.

Please don’t ask who the guy in London is; I don’t know. This is Rik’s relationship. Call Rik if you want your watch done by him.
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Old 23 February 2018, 03:53 PM   #17
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Old 23 February 2018, 05:55 PM   #18
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great that it's staying in the family
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Old 23 February 2018, 08:16 PM   #19
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Looks awesome!
But it scares the shit out of me... Will this be sold as “all original” in three years (by the next owner)...? Guess we will never know...

Anyway, congratulations to a beautiful watch!!
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Old 24 February 2018, 03:34 AM   #20
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Fantastic! Congrats!
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Old 24 February 2018, 07:04 AM   #21
PaulMiami
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Mine is not for sale, nor will it be anytime soon as my son gets it after me. Regardless, it’s good to know someone is able to carefully restore these treasured heirlooms. It’s too bad Rolex makes restorations so difficult and expensive. Patek and Vacheron definitely do much better with that.

But getting back to the point of a matte dial on a 1965 5513, now we have seen two. I cannot imagine when anyone would have changed my dial. My great uncle only had the watch 6 years or so, and I’ve had it since. Only once did I ask for the dial to be retouched an that was in the 1970s.
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Old 24 February 2018, 07:31 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulMiami View Post
Mine is not for sale, nor will it be anytime soon as my son gets it after me. Regardless, it’s good to know someone is able to carefully restore these treasured heirlooms. It’s too bad Rolex makes restorations so difficult and expensive. Patek and Vacheron definitely do much better with that.

But getting back to the point of a matte dial on a 1965 5513, now we have seen two. I cannot imagine when anyone would have changed my dial. My great uncle only had the watch 6 years or so, and I’ve had it since. Only once did I ask for the dial to be retouched an that was in the 1970s.
The restoration on your watch is excellent! Money well spent especially for an heirloom of that much important to your family! Congratulations on a great watch! I can't wait to get mine!!!!
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Old 24 February 2018, 07:41 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulMiami View Post
But getting back to the point of a matte dial on a 1965 5513, now we have seen two. I cannot imagine when anyone would have changed my dial. My great uncle only had the watch 6 years or so, and I’ve had it since. Only once did I ask for the dial to be retouched an that was in the 1970s.
Speaking purely hypothetically, if these two watches were to be put up for sale, there's no proof that either one came with a matte dial originally.
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Old 24 February 2018, 02:16 PM   #24
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It’s still very odd that both these watches had matte dials.

I can tell you I never saw mine without a matte dial. I got it in the 1970s when I was in high school. My great uncle bought it new and gave it to me. I doubt he ever serviced it and why would he put a matte dial in back then anyways?

The dial in 1972 or so had a small chip on the edge, so I had the Swiss watchmaker that sold us the watch re-touch it. Other than that, it was serviced once by Mayors in 1976 when the rivet bracelet was replaced, but the dial was not altered by Mayors. And in 1984 I got a Datejust and put the 5513 in the bank, until now.

Rik had no explanation for why my 1965 5513 has a matte dial. Is it possible it came from the factory that way. Most of you will say no, but I’m beginning to believe it maybe always had a matte dial. Anyways the dial I had was repainted and now it’s gilt.
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Old 25 February 2018, 08:59 AM   #25
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All is set, as per text from my Uncle, watch has been delivered to me!!!
As per UPS tracking # I should have my watch in hand by Tuesday!!!!!
VERY EXCITED!!!!
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Old 25 February 2018, 02:24 PM   #26
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Yea a little scary with redials like that going around....
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Old 25 February 2018, 03:10 PM   #27
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Quote:
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It’s still very odd that both these watches had matte dials.
not odd at all as the odds are far greater that the OP is confused as to the actual year the watch was purchased...regarding yours, so your saying that you can remember with certainty that over 50 years ago the dial of your watch was matte? the same dial thats been repainted several times?

I wish my memory was this good.
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Old 1 March 2018, 02:17 PM   #28
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Not too hard to remember ... watch serial number and markings on the inside cover are 1965. In 1972 more or less it had a little chip around 6 o’clock. The chip was retouched and the last “S” of “SWISS - T<25” became the first “S” do “SWISS”. Rik figured this out. Nothing else was done to the dial until Rik completely repainted it in 2017. Only real question is whether between 1965 and 1972 my great uncle replaced the gilt dial with a matte dial. That we will never know but I cannot explain why he would have done that.

I’m very curious to hear from Abdon as to what his serial number is and if his dial is gilt or matte. Is it possible some 1965 5513s had a matte dial? Stranger things have happened.
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Old 1 March 2018, 02:32 PM   #29
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Is it possible some 1965 5513s had a matte dial?
No, but it is highly likely the dial was changed during normal service.
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Old 1 March 2018, 03:18 PM   #30
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I noticed that in this course of debate, the OP never disclosed the starting 3 digits of the serial number?

So depending on which chart he read - it could be different years.

OP, can you tell us what the starting 3 digits are on your watch? That will probably put some of this debate to rest....just maybe
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