A fake Rolex Submariner 5513 usually gives itself away in four places: the dial text, the crown guards, the bezel insert, and the engravings between the lugs. The reference 5513 was a no-date dive watch made from 1962 into 1989, so any copy has to reproduce decades of small running changes. Most replicas capture the overall silhouette and then fail on the details a collector checks first.
What the Reference 5513 Actually Is
Rolex introduced the Submariner 5513 as the non-chronometer version of its dive line. It shared the 40 mm Oyster case and the 200 m (660 ft) depth rating with the certified 5512, but carried a simpler movement. Production ran from 1962 until about 1989, when the 14060 took over.
- No date window and no Cyclops lens on the crystal
- 40 mm stainless steel Oyster case with a screw-down crown
- Black bezel insert with a luminous pearl at 12 o'clock
- Non-chronometer automatic movement, commonly calibre 1520
- Gilt dials on early examples, matte dials from roughly the mid 1960s onward
Because the model stayed in the catalog for about 27 years, the dial, hands, crown guards and bezel insert all changed. A correct 5513 from 1964 and one from 1984 do not look the same. Imitators often blend features from different eras into one watch, and that mix is the most common tell.
The Dial Is Where Most Fakes Fail
Dial printing is the hardest part of a vintage Submariner to copy. On a genuine 5513 the coronet and text sit on a clean plane, with even spacing and sharp edges on the letters. Replica dials tend to show thick or slightly blurred print, uneven spacing between the lines, and a coronet with the wrong number of points or the wrong curve on the arms.
- Check the order of the depth rating. Earlier watches read meters first, later ones read feet first.
- Look at the lume plots. Original tritium has aged to a warm tone and no longer glows; new luminous paint charges under light and glows bright.
- Compare the minute track. It should line up with the markers instead of drifting around the dial.
- Read the model name. A 5513 dial says Submariner, never Submariner Date.
Crown Guards and Case Profile
Crown guards changed several times across the 5513 run, from thinner and more pointed shapes in the 1960s to fuller, more rounded guards in the 1970s and 1980s. A fake rolex submariner 5513 often has guards that are too thick, too polished, or asymmetric from one side to the other. Case lugs should be even, with a bevel that follows the original lines rather than a soft, rounded edge from heavy buffing.
Bezel Insert, Pearl, and Crystal
Insert font, pip shape and crystal height are quick checks. Original inserts have thin, sharply defined numerals, and the pearl sits in a small recessed seat. Replacement inserts are fine on real watches, so judge the insert on its own merits instead of treating any swap as proof of a fake. The crystal on a 5513 should sit close to the bezel with no magnifier above the center.
Case Back, Serial Numbers, and Engravings
Serial and reference numbers are stamped between the lugs at 12 and 6 o'clock. On genuine cases the stamping is clean and consistent with the production period, and the case back threads sit flat with the case. Replicas frequently show shallow, laser-cut style numbers, mismatched reference and serial ranges, or a case back that does not seat flush.
Movement and the Feel in Hand
A genuine 5513 runs on an in-house Rolex movement, and the winding feel is smooth with a firm click at each turn of the crown. Setting the time moves the hands with no play. Many replicas use a generic or cloned movement that winds loosely, feels gritty, or runs fast or slow outside normal vintage tolerances. Any watchmaker can open the case back and confirm what is inside in a few minutes.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
- Which production year does the seller claim, and do the dial, hands and bezel match that year?
- Has the dial, bezel insert or crystal been replaced, and are the original parts included?
- Can the case back be opened for inspection before payment?
- Do the serial and reference numbers match the stated era?
- Is there a written return policy if an independent watchmaker disagrees with the description?
Why Vintage Replicas Are Tricky to Judge
Modern replica makers have improved at case machining, so shape alone no longer proves much. What still separates a genuine watch from a fake rolex submariner 5513 is the accumulation of small correct details: dial print, aged lume, guard shape, engraving style and movement. When several of those details point in different directions, the watch is likely a copy or a marriage of mismatched parts. Buy from a source that allows inspection, and treat any 5513 priced far below the market for its year and condition as a warning sign rather than a bargain.