Penelope Andrews
Head of Department
Lot 75
Rolex. A fine and rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy and offered on behalf of the original owner Military Submariner, Ref: 5513, Circa 1975
19 June 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£80,000 - £120,000
Ask about this lot
Jonathan Darracott
Global Head
Charles Dower
Head of sale, Knightsbridge
Sarah Fergusson
Senior Specialist
George Kidwell
Senior Cataloguer
Edith Chong
Cataloguer
Joselyn Sizer
Sale Coordinator
Rolex. A fine and rare military stainless steel automatic wristwatch issued to the Royal Navy and offered on behalf of the original owner
Model: Military Submariner
Reference: 5513
Date: Circa 1975
Movement: 26-jewel Cal.1520 automatic
Dial: Black, Tritium T, luminous dot hour markers, baton quarters, white outer minute divisions, broad polished sword hands with luminous inserts, arrow tipped centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down Oyster back and shouldered crown, inside back date coded IV.71 and engraved 3926988, outside back engraved 0552/923-7697 406/75, black calibrated military bezel insert, No.3926988 between the lugs
Strap/Bracelet: Brushed 9350 Oyster link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 39mm
Accompaniments: Royal Navy Divers Log and certificate of qualifications, photographs and newspaper articles featuring original owner
Reference: 5513
Date: Circa 1975
Movement: 26-jewel Cal.1520 automatic
Dial: Black, Tritium T, luminous dot hour markers, baton quarters, white outer minute divisions, broad polished sword hands with luminous inserts, arrow tipped centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down Oyster back and shouldered crown, inside back date coded IV.71 and engraved 3926988, outside back engraved 0552/923-7697 406/75, black calibrated military bezel insert, No.3926988 between the lugs
Strap/Bracelet: Brushed 9350 Oyster link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 39mm
Accompaniments: Royal Navy Divers Log and certificate of qualifications, photographs and newspaper articles featuring original owner
Footnotes
One of the enduring attractions of military watches is the life led behind the watch and the current example is as rich as any. Offered on behalf of the original owner and fresh to market, this truly is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a piece of diving history.
Born in 1957, Russell Paxman joined the Royal Navy on the 19th May 1980 passing his Ships Diver qualification in 1982. He would go on to become Leading Seaman and was respected as a 'reliable and steady worker... with a natural flair for engineering matters'. As a Royal Navy Clearance Diver, he and his fellow divers were responsible for disposing of all explosive devices found beyond the water line. Included with the lot are newspaper clippings detailing some of these tasks as well as his Royal Navy Dive Log book from the 1980s. Rich in detail it covers the dive operations and exercises he undertook around the UK, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Gibraltar during this period. In 1988 he received a Commander-in-Chiefs Commendation for courage and professionalism in the aftermath of the 1987 Zeebrugge Ferry disaster where 193 people tragically lost their lives after the 'Herald of Free Enterprise' capsized.
As these watches were "tool watches" in the truest sense of the word, they were often repaired with service parts and in many cases heavily damaged during their years of military use. As such it is exceedingly rare to find a military issue Submariner in as well preserved and original condition as the present lot. From the thicker, sword-shaped hands for enhanced legibility, the rotating bezel calibrated to 60 minutes to the encircled "T" on the dial indicating the use of luminescent Tritium – the originality of this watch is excellent and it remains in honest condition. Having never been offered at auction before this really is a fantastic opportunity.