Rolex

Well actually I do. My photos do not in any way do the watch justice, the colour of the dial , markers & hands are truly awesome, they just look so warm and can only be appreciated in the flesh. As with the gilt writing and chapter ring. Though its bemusing to see the colour of the markers can vary so much in the different light! The bezel is slightly faded and to top it all the accuracy of the watch itself is beyond belief, for a watch that is 51 years old. I have to say that it is on par with my Explorer II and Patek 5205G. Before, I finish my final words must go to those members (you know who you are) who gave up so much of their time to help & support me in this quest. Without your support, I wouldn't be wearing such a stunning piece. Thank you Regards Tony PS My next piece, hopefully, will be a vintage Rolex from my birth year 1958.............Nicolas have you any ideas??

... Hi Topcat! Congrats on your new Sub! 

Vintage  is the new game! Graham, Tim and now you! I think you scored great on this one Tony - it has all the elements of desirability as listed by Abel. The hard work and helpful friends sure pays off in the end. I can feel your excitement!

cheers

fernando

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hidden away in somebodys'  granny's attic, untouched for the past 20 odd years, with all papers & box & one owner, hehe.

 

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Like you I also hoped to catch such a piece, but believe that I got the best next thing.  

will present itself one day. As you said ,with patience and luck, the opportunity will come. I briefly did the 'search & hunt' game but came upon so many 'franken' pieces that I got disillusioned. Well for now, I'm getting a vicarious thrill from the many happy and excited owners' posts right here, including yours.

cheers

fernando

What a catch!!!

For a first one, this is a brilliant one.

You're absolutely correct, this dial is hard to catch in picture, but in the real it is captivating, anvouting, charming, awfully dangerous.

Seeing it is adopting it.

You have a lot of Vintage Rolex keys, here: The Chapter Ring, the Pointed Crownguards, the Exclamation Dot... Well, it seems that you have been seriously beaten.

1958... If I do have any idea? Yes, I do!

All the best and huge congratulations.

Nicolas

If your entry point is a PCG Chapter ring Exclamation 2 line 5512 what will your next act be.

Big congrats.

Very happy for you.

Best

Bill

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Hey Top Cat - This message has been edited by elliot55 on 2012-05-16 22:15:15

Dam, how could I have forgotten to include the PCG's!

First the watch, what a stunner.

Second your bravery to dig deep into the vintage minefield. It's not only expensive, with a high chance of Frankensteins to the untrained and uninformed, but the pleasure for those who succeed makes it worth the while.

I don't have the funds to go real vintage but I suppose I better start doing my homework.

Wear yours with pride and good health.

Such a beautiful vintage piece, without the help and guidance of a member or two from this very site.

Absolutely stunning watch   to have caught. It has everything. I am really pleased for you. But, beware.....you have just chosen the path of temptation with vintage Rolex. To those who stick to modern Rolex, the path of vintage seems weird. But once bitten, it is all-consuming.

It's worse than a curse.

nt

I share your desires, deliberations and detailed research on embarking into the vintage sub scene.

Amazing watch! You must be over the moon! Huge congrats. Best, Tim

love that patina!

Happy for you . Vintage is a minefield but glad you got there with help from Purists. You mentioned 1958 ?  A pussy galore from 1958 would be great, Just ask Nico.   Enjoy your 5512. 

5512 chapter ring in the early '60ies are among the best vintage Rolex ever manufactured.

It's hard to believe, that this piece was sitting in a safe only 10 miles away.

i was also looking at a 5512, but the dial was from a 5513(service dial) as was the caseback( supposed to be correct) so i chose as clean a 5513 as i could find.

i've done a bit of reading and the 64 5512 i was looking at was a chronometer which should have had a 4 line dial. i note yours is not chronometer certified. without reading all the stuff again, i'm remembering some 5512's were cosc and some werent. i'm assuming yours is one of those not certified.

i usually save everything i read to my favourites, but would you believe i cant find it so i cant check up on my memory.

if i could find a good 5512 4 line chronometer i may go for that as well although they are not as popular as the 2 line dialled 5513's or 5512 in your case.

i will desperately try to find the rolex history i read before so i get my facts straight, but congratulations.

best

Graham

this is a quote taken from a website dedicated to rolex and their history.

''A New Wave of Submariners in the 1960s

The new wave of Submariners started with a chronometer version--model 5512. Launched in 1959, it was fitted with the 1570 movement and was the first model to feature the crown guard (or shoulder) with squared ends. These shoulders were added as a protective measure for the winding or setting mechanism. By the early 1960s, the crown guards had a more pointed appearance at the ends. Later, in the mid-1960s, the crown guards started looking rounded. Also, the 1560 movement replaced the earlier 1570 movement and the words "Officially Certified Chronometer" appeared on the dial.

Another major Submariner model making its way to market during this time was the 5513, powered by a non-chronometer 1530 movement. The main attribute complementing the 5512 and 5513 models had been their over-sized crown that later became a standard feature of the Submarine line. The model 5513 was worn by Roger Moore in the movie "Live and Let Die," and to this day is the most popular and memorable Submariner.

Another major change was a shift from Radium paint for the luminous indices to the Tritium-infused paint. In addition, Rolex discontinued the use of gilt or silver gilt dials and in their place introduced white printing on the Submarine watches. The chronometer Submariner models were also engraved with the words "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified."

 

Tony, this information confuses me and must be incorrect as you have a 5512 with a 1530 non chronometer movement, but is quite obviously a totally correct watch. you would never buy something incorrect especially with the advice you had.

its quite obvious that the full history of such a great brand cannot be summed up in 3 paragraphs.

i'd love to learn more so if anyone can point me in the right direction (or the right purist) i would greatly appreciate it.

best

Graham

don't worry...the 5512 came with 1530, 1560 and 1570 movements...came with all three versions. 

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Like you I also find it very distracting with all the many different websites, all appearing to put in their own contradicting points of view.

I too got stuck on the different movements, but having carried out research after research and getting reassurance from my friends, I can now appreciate that Rolex in its infinite wisdom used several movement models in the 5512.

The only thing that I was not sure about was the COSC rating, I too thought that some of the two line 5512's came with that movement, and that Rolex chose not to disclose it on the dial.

But without an expert looking at the movement on my watch, and confirming one way or another, I am going with the view, that unless it says it on the dial, than mine will be a non chronometer movement.

Regards

Tony