Rolex Submariner 5513 'Spider Dial'

Rolex released the Submariner ref. 5513 in the early 1960s and manufactured it until 1989, which makes it one of the longest Rolex references in continuous production. It's even served as the inspiration for countless other dive watches over the decades. The ref. 5513 was initially built with a glossy dial, but Rolex switched it to matte starting around 1966. The matte dial had the longest run with the ref. 5513, but it was eventually phased out in favor of the first modern glossy dial Submariners around 1984.

Depending on who you ask, a manufacturing defect or happy accident resulted in those first modern glossy dials "spidering," like the example we have here. While remaining glossy, the dial surface on these Submariners is actually cracked on the very top level of lacquer. This creates an amazing texture and mimics the look of a spider web. Viewing the watch from straight on, the cracking can sort of hide but upon rotating the watch and letting it play in the light, the spidering shines through.

Serial: 8,67X,XXX

Year: 1985

Case Reference: 5513

Dial: 'Spider' - Tritium – spotting on dial as well as spidering - Lume has started to turn light beige

Hands: Tritium – Lume has began to patina into a beige

Case: 40mm - Stainless Steel

Insert: aftermarket - pip missing

Bracelet: 93150 Clasp Code – no. 580 Endlinks and diver extension

Movement: Rolex 1520 - Automatic - Running Strong (+2s/d 290 Amp)

Glass: Acrylic TrueDome D19

Accessories: N/A - Watch only

Lug Width: 20mm

Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds

Bracelet size: 7.25”

Case has light normal wear with nothing notable. Bracelet has slight stretch and has light normal wear. Aftermarket insert is missing the pip. Dial has spotting on dial as well as spidering with a nice beige patina. Hands match the beige lume on the dial and have minimal wear. Watch is running (+2s/d 290 Amp).

Rolex was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, before moving to Geneva in 1919 to be closer to the heart of Swiss watchmaking. From the start, Wilsdorf envisioned a wristwatch that was not only elegant, but also precise and reliable—an ambitious goal at a time when pocket watches dominated. Rolex went on to pioneer key innovations in horology, including the first officially certified chronometer wristwatch, the Oyster case (the world’s first waterproof wristwatch), and the Perpetual rotor—the self-winding mechanism that became the standard for modern automatic watches. These technical breakthroughs laid the foundation for Rolex’s enduring reputation for rugged luxury and mechanical excellence.

Today, Rolex is arguably the most recognized name in watches, with models like the Submariner, Daytona, Datejust, and GMT-Master becoming cultural icons in their own right. Whether tied to deep-sea exploration, motorsport, aviation, or mountain summits, each model reflects the brand’s commitment to performance and precision under extreme conditions. The brand’s status is bolstered by its unmatched consistency in design, rigorous in-house testing, and long-standing associations with exploration, sport, and achievement. For collectors and enthusiasts, Rolex represents more than a timepiece—it’s a benchmark of mechanical reliability, timeless design, and global prestige.