Man, I’ve been on a real watch kick lately. You know, reading forums, watching videos, the whole nine yards. And I kept coming across this one watch – the Rolex 5513. It’s a vintage Submariner, and something about it just grabbed me. The clean design, the history… I was hooked.
So I started digging deeper. First, I wanted to know what these things were going for on the secondary market. Turns out, they’re pretty popular. I saw that around 658 of them were sold just in the past year! Prices were all over the place, but it seemed like a decent one would set me back somewhere between $8,500 and $14,600. Anything under $8,500 would be a steal, and anything over $14,600… well, let’s just say I’d have to really love it.
Then I learned that Rolex stopped making the 5513 back in 1989. They also made another similar model, the 5512, but they stopped that one even earlier, in 1980. Apparently, both of these are super collectible, but because they made the 5513 for longer, there are more of them out there.
I also did some window shopping, looking at different examples of the steel Submariner. There were some really sweet ones in the $9,000 to $10,000 range. I even saw a few gold and two-tone models from the 80s and 90s that were going for around $12,000.
Now, I’ve heard horror stories about trying to buy a new Rolex. Long waiting lists, playing games with the authorized dealers… It sounded like a headache. But I figured, “Hey, maybe it’s worth a shot.” So I started looking into how to get on a waiting list. Turns out, getting on the list isn’t the hard part. It’s actually getting the watch that’s the real challenge.
I spent hours on forums, reading people’s experiences with the 5513. People were asking all sorts of questions: “What year is this one?” “What’s it worth?” “Should I buy this one?” It was a goldmine of information… and opinions, I should add many!
One thing I learned was how to negotiate the price with a seller. Apparently, there’s this “Suggest a price” button on some listings. You just put in your offer and your shipping address, and the seller can take it or leave it. Pretty straightforward, I guess.
So, after all this research and preparation, I finally pulled the trigger and got my hands on a 5513. It was a bit of a process, but let me tell you, it was worth it. Holding this thing in my hand, feeling the weight of it, seeing the way the light catches the dial… it’s just something else.
Here’s what I did, step-by-step:
- Scoured the internet: Forums, auction sites, you name it. I wanted to see as many examples of the 5513 as possible.
- Set a budget: Based on my research, I figured out a price range I was comfortable with.
- Contacted sellers: I reached out to a few different sellers who had 5513s that caught my eye.
- Asked questions: I made sure to ask about the watch’s condition, service history, and anything else I could think of.
- Negotiated: I used that “Suggest a price” trick I learned about to try and get the best deal possible.
- Made the purchase: After a bit of back and forth, I finally found the right watch at the right price. I paid up!
- Waited impatiently: Those few days waiting for the watch to arrive felt like an eternity.
- Received the watch: When it finally arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I ripped open the package and there it was, my very own Rolex 5513.
- Enjoying: Wearing it nearly everyday.
It’s been a wild ride, but I’m so glad I went through it. This watch isn’t just a timepiece, it’s a piece of history. And it’s a reminder that sometimes, the things that are worth having are worth the effort.
