The Vault › All references › Submariner
Submariner · 1959 to 1978
“Four-Line 5512”
Grade A · 85/100Today's call: Buy
A: strong buy-and-hold. Ranked #17 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (1965) | $230 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $18,000 – $30,000 |
| Vs original retail | +10335% |
| 1-year trend | +5% |
The 5513's chronometer-certified big brother and the thinking collector's blue-chip vintage Sub. Same looks, meaningfully lower production, and the four lines of text at 6 o'clock are the tell.
Early examples with square crown guards or gilt dials trade multiples above the standard examples. This is the no-date Sub that auction houses lead with.
Steve McQueen's personal Submariner was a 5512, worn for years off-screen and now in the seven-figure provenance club. The reference also spent the sixties on the wrists of actual frogmen who had no idea they were wearing future auction lots.
Square crown guards, then pointed, then rounded: the early case evolution alone fills reference books, and each stage prices differently. The four lines of chronometer text are what separate it from the 5513 at a glance and at the bank.
Our verdict: A: the vintage Sub to buy when you want the one collectors respect most. Condition and originality set the price, so buy the seller.
| Sizes | 40mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet material | Oystersteel (stainless) |
| Factory bracelet | Oyster |
| Factory bezels | Faded aluminum dive bezel; early square-crown-guard cases carry huge premiums |
| Notable dials | Gilt gloss four-line (chronometer); Matte |
| Caliber | 1560 / 1570 |
| Production | 1959 to 1978 (discontinued) |
Live eBay listings ↗ Open in the interactive Vault