Rolex Bamford & Sons Stainless Steel Submariner Wristwatch Ref 5513

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Rolex Bamford & Sons Stainless Steel Submariner Wristwatch Ref 5513

About the Item

A stainless steel no-date Rolex Submariner, ref. 5513 meter first customized by Bamford and Sons. Case. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding- crown protected by the crown guard. Case has some nicks and marks. Case has been PVD by Bamford Watch Company including bezel and crown. Dial. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute division. Luminous steel skeleton hands. Dial is double signed Bamford & Sons in red. Movement. Cal. 1520, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, hack mechanism. Watch is accurate within COSC specs. Watch comes with its original Bamford & Sons box and tool kit, Bamford & Sons Cordura Technical NATO straps. We are including the straw colored NATO strap and a brand new beige distressed leather Hodinkee strap as pictured below. Sold by Banford Watch Company in early Circa 2000's Serial Number: 1,77x,xxx Size: 40mm Circa 1966 This watch is a very early Bamford Watch Company release which was customized and sold in the early 2000's. Originally George Bamford was mostly customizing vintage watches such as this Rolex Submariner 5513 inspired by British Mil Spec Submariner and tales of a (yet to be confirmed) South African Military Submariner factory PVD. These early Bamford & Sons Submariners were PVD and the dials were double signed with their signature. The watches proved to be extremely popular and the company rapidly acquired new clients with new orders. However because of the difficulties in obtaining enough vintage Rolex and the exponential rise in price of these vintage watches, BWC ceased customizing vintage and concentrated on modern Rolex and other manufactures. This watch is very early Bamford customization and a rare example being a Rolex Submariner 5513. After over a decade, it has retained much sex appeal and seems as relevant and unique today as it was then. About Bamford (& Sons) Watch Company Bamford Watch Company was founded in 2003 by George Bamford and was originally named Bamford & Sons. It is located in London, England. Originally the goal was to customize Rolex and other luxury watches to a client specific requirements. They have expanded their offerings and are now creating special collections inspired from the history and heritage of watch companies such as Rolex. They customize and enhance the esthetics of the original manufacturer watch by using technical coating or modifying certain parts. Bamford Watch Company is a pioneer in this field and many others have followed their steps but nobody has the same creative process or attention to details and quality. Bamford Watch company has also collaborated with the likes of Fragment Design, Daniel Arsham, Dr. Romanelli and Colette in Paris to create rare capsule collections. They have also created collections including popular characters from comic strips such as Snoopy, Popeye and Beetle bailey

Creator:
Rolex
Case Dimensions:
Width: 1.58 in (40 mm)
Place of Origin:
Switzerland
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1966
Condition:
Seller Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU33421837543

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Rolex

While the rise in popularity of vintage Rolex watches is of no surprise to aficionados, collectors and industry experts, when it comes to contemporary luxury wristwatches, Rolex is also often the first brand that springs to mind. Not only is the company revered for its precision timekeeping and impeccable craftsmanship, but its name was designed to be memorable.

Rolex's enviable worldwide recognition can be credited in part to the genius of company founder Hans Wilsdorf. When the German-born watch dealer and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, set up their London enterprise, in 1905, they called it Wilsdorf & Davis, according to the traditional formula.

But Wilsdorf was determined to come up with another name that was short, would look good on a watch dial and was easy to say and remember in several languages. In 1908, he trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A.

But the main reasons for the brand’s success are its aforementioned commitment to precision and unflagging pursuit of innovation. In 1926, the company introduced the aptly named Oyster model. With a screw-down crown and case back, both fitted with rubber gaskets, this was the first truly waterproof watch.

Five years later, Rolex upped the ante with the Oyster Perpetual. That model’s patented Perpetual movement contained a rotor mechanism enabling it to self-wind. In another trendsetting move, in 1945, the brand debuted the Datejust, with a date window prominently displayed on the dial.

The company’s two most iconic models are sports watches. Although the Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was developed as a dive watch, its waterproof case, solid construction and good looks made it a favorite of adventurers and urbanites alike, including James Bond, who wore it in classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger. The Daytona, the racing chronograph made famous by Paul Newman, is especially sought after by collectors. Newman’s personal Daytona, which hit the auction block in 2017, sold for $17.8 million.

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