Reference:5517 - Revision history

Admin: Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

2026-04-30T04:22:26Z

Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:22, 30 April 2026
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	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>

	[[File:Ref 5517 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|~~340px~~\|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 5517\|Rolex Submariner Ref. 5517]]		[[File:Ref 5517 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 5517\|Rolex Submariner Ref. 5517]]

	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

Admin: De-orphan: forward-link to milsub, submariner-5xxx-family

2026-04-30T04:17:22Z

De-orphan: forward-link to milsub, submariner-5xxx-family

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:17, 30 April 2026
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	* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24632/lot/90/ Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513/5517 Military — Bonhams 2018 lot 90] (Bonhams, 2018)		* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24632/lot/90/ Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513/5517 Military — Bonhams 2018 lot 90] (Bonhams, 2018)
	* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra		* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra

			<span id="related-references"></span>
			== Related references ==

			The 5517 is the dedicated Submariner of the [[Reference:milsub\|MilSub]] program, used in the third Royal Navy batch after the first two ran on 5513 cases. It sits inside the [[Reference:submariner-5xxx-family\|5xxx Submariner family]] with the chronometer 5512, the long-run civilian 5513, and the COMEX 5514.

	[[Category:Submariner]]		[[Category:Submariner]]
	[[Category:Working Draft]]		[[Category:Working Draft]]

Admin: Audit: strip banned dealer names from prose lists per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

2026-04-29T22:47:43Z

Audit: strip banned dealer names from prose lists per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:47, 29 April 2026
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	<small>[[Reference:submariner\|Submariner]] -> '''5517'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:submariner\|Submariner]] -> '''5517'''</small>

	The 5517 is the MilSub: the British military Submariner, purpose-built for the Ministry of Defence and never sold through any retail channel. Production ran across three batches roughly 1972 to 1979 in two distinct serial bands — the 3.9M cluster for the early 5513 and 5513/5517 double-reference watches, the 5.3M cluster for the dedicated 5517 batch.		The 5517 is the MilSub: the British military Submariner, purpose-built for the Ministry of Defence and never sold through any retail channel. Production ran across three batches roughly 1972 to 1979 in two distinct serial bands — the 3.9M cluster for the early 5513 and 5513/5517 double-reference watches, the 5.3M cluster for the dedicated 5517 batch.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>
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	* [https://www.fellows.co.uk/blog/watches/2020/08/24/rolex-milsub-sells-for-over-165000-smashing-fellows-house-record/ Rolex MilSub Sells for Over £174,000 Smashing Fellows House Record] (Fellows Auctioneers, 2020)		* [https://www.fellows.co.uk/blog/watches/2020/08/24/rolex-milsub-sells-for-over-165000-smashing-fellows-house-record/ Rolex MilSub Sells for Over £174,000 Smashing Fellows House Record] (Fellows Auctioneers, 2020)
	* [https://corradomattarelli.com/products/the-british-military-submariner-ref-5517 Military Submariner — A Watch Made by History] — Corrado Mattarelli (OnlyVintage Magazine listing)		* [https://corradomattarelli.com/products/the-british-military-submariner-ref-5517 Military Submariner — A Watch Made by History] — Corrado Mattarelli (OnlyVintage Magazine listing)
	* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/resources/rolex-milsub-submariner-ref-5517.html The Rolex MilSub Submariner Ref. 5517 resource page] (~~Bob's Watches~~ editorial)		* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/resources/rolex-milsub-submariner-ref-5517.html The Rolex MilSub Submariner Ref. 5517 resource page] (editorial)
	* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080221/152 Rolex Submariner MilSub Ref. 5517 — Phillips Geneva XIV lot 152] (Phillips, 2021)		* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080221/152 Rolex Submariner MilSub Ref. 5517 — Phillips Geneva XIV lot 152] (Phillips, 2021)
	* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/important-watches-part-i-2/military-submariner-reference-5517-a-stainless?locale=en Full Spec Military Submariner Reference 5517 c.1978 — Sotheby's Important Watches Part I lot 3] (Sotheby's, 2023)		* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/important-watches-part-i-2/military-submariner-reference-5517-a-stainless?locale=en Full Spec Military Submariner Reference 5517 c.1978 — Sotheby's Important Watches Part I lot 3] (Sotheby's, 2023)

Admin: Audit: strip research-scaffold corpus tokens (surveyed corpus, auction-house corpus, consulted source) — reader-facing rephrase

2026-04-29T21:44:10Z

Audit: strip research-scaffold corpus tokens (surveyed corpus, auction-house corpus, consulted source) — reader-facing rephrase

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:44, 29 April 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| production		\| production
	\| approximately 1972 to 1979 across three batches (~~auction~~-house ~~corpus~~)		\| approximately 1972 to 1979 across three batches (Major-house lots)
	\|-		\|-
	\| total program output		\| total program output
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	\|-		\|-
	\| movement		\| movement
	\| caliber 1520, 26 jewels (~~auction~~-house ~~corpus~~ universal: Phillips, Sotheby's, Antiquorum, Bonhams, Horobox all read 1520; the 1570 forum claim looks like contamination from standard 5512 / 5513 cases that can house either)		\| caliber 1520, 26 jewels (Major-house lots universal: Phillips, Sotheby's, Antiquorum, Bonhams, Horobox all read 1520; the 1570 forum claim looks like contamination from standard 5512 / 5513 cases that can house either)
	\|-		\|-
	\| case		\| case
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	== Production outline ==		== Production outline ==

	Production ran in three batches with overlapping serial bands. Total program output is genuinely contested across the ~~corpus~~ and the article cites all five reputable readings rather than picking one.		Production ran in three batches with overlapping serial bands. Total program output is genuinely contested across the auction record and the article cites all five reputable readings rather than picking one.

	<span id="batch-1-5513-engravings-only"></span>		<span id="batch-1-5513-engravings-only"></span>
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	=== Batch 2: 5513/5517 double-reference ===		=== Batch 2: 5513/5517 double-reference ===

	The second batch keeps 5513 between the 12:00 lugs and adds a 5517 stamp under one lug (commonly the 7:00 lug per established collector taxonomy). The dual-marking pattern captures the transition from repurposed 5513 cases to dedicated 5517 production. ~~Auction~~-house ~~corpus~~ places the double-ref batch in the 3.926M serial band — Phillips New York 2019 lot 28 (case 3,926,768, c.1972, issue 688/77), Phillips Hong Kong 2017 lot 807 (case 3,926,923, c.1974, W10 Army issue 941/79), Antiquorum Monaco 2022 lot 77 (case 3,926,842, c.1975, W10 issue 960/79), Sotheby's 2023 lot 64 (case 3,926,898, c.1973), Bonhams 2018 lot 90 (392xxxx, c.1972). Issue years 77 and 79 dominate the cluster.		The second batch keeps 5513 between the 12:00 lugs and adds a 5517 stamp under one lug (commonly the 7:00 lug per established collector taxonomy). The dual-marking pattern captures the transition from repurposed 5513 cases to dedicated 5517 production. Major-house lots places the double-ref batch in the 3.926M serial band — Phillips New York 2019 lot 28 (case 3,926,768, c.1972, issue 688/77), Phillips Hong Kong 2017 lot 807 (case 3,926,923, c.1974, W10 Army issue 941/79), Antiquorum Monaco 2022 lot 77 (case 3,926,842, c.1975, W10 issue 960/79), Sotheby's 2023 lot 64 (case 3,926,898, c.1973), Bonhams 2018 lot 90 (392xxxx, c.1972). Issue years 77 and 79 dominate the cluster.

	<span id="batch-3-5517-only-engravings"></span>		<span id="batch-3-5517-only-engravings"></span>
	=== Batch 3: 5517 engravings between lugs ===		=== Batch 3: 5517 engravings between lugs ===

	The third batch carries 5517 between the 12:00 lugs with no 5513 anywhere on the case — the late, full-spec form of the reference. ~~Auction~~-house ~~corpus~~ places the pure 5517 batch in the 5.339M serial band: Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 (case 5,339,827, c.1978), Sotheby's November 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978, issue 853/78), the Phillips MilSub-discovery article reunited pair (case 5,339,667, c.1978). All issue years are 78. The Phillips article on the reunited pair gives the only 5517-batch-specific subset figure: ~250 produced, ~50 known.		The third batch carries 5517 between the 12:00 lugs with no 5513 anywhere on the case — the late, full-spec form of the reference. Major-house lots places the pure 5517 batch in the 5.339M serial band: Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 (case 5,339,827, c.1978), Sotheby's November 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978, issue 853/78), the Phillips MilSub-discovery article reunited pair (case 5,339,667, c.1978). All issue years are 78. The Phillips article on the reunited pair gives the only 5517-batch-specific subset figure: ~250 produced, ~50 known.

	The 3.9M and 5.3M bands are the two serial clusters that map cleanly. The 4M–5M middle band sometimes cited in dealer copy does not surface in ~~the auction~~-house ~~corpus~~ and should be treated as cross-batch noise rather than a third serial band.		The 3.9M and 5.3M bands are the two serial clusters that map cleanly. The 4M–5M middle band sometimes cited in dealer copy does not surface in major-house lots and should be treated as cross-batch noise rather than a third serial band.

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
	== Movement notes ==		== Movement notes ==

	The 5517 runs caliber 1520. The ~~auction~~-house ~~corpus~~ is unanimous: every Phillips, Sotheby's, Antiquorum, and Bonhams lot description reads cal. 1520 at 26 jewels. The forum-level claim that some 5517 examples carry caliber 1570 is not supported by any major-house lot in ~~the surveyed corpus~~ and likely shows contamination from the standard 5512 / 5513 cases that can house either caliber. Treat the 1520 reading as resolved against the 1570 claim.		The 5517 runs caliber 1520. The Major-house lots is unanimous: every Phillips, Sotheby's, Antiquorum, and Bonhams lot description reads cal. 1520 at 26 jewels. The forum-level claim that some 5517 examples carry caliber 1570 is not supported by any major-house lot in documented examples and likely shows contamination from the standard 5512 / 5513 cases that can house either caliber. Treat the 1520 reading as resolved against the 1570 claim.

	The 1520 is the long-run non-chronometer caliber that powers the 5513 through most of its run. The 5517's distinction over the standard 5513 is structural — fixed bars, 60-minute bezel, sword hands, military caseback engravings — rather than mechanical.		The 1520 is the long-run non-chronometer caliber that powers the 5513 through most of its run. The 5517's distinction over the standard 5513 is structural — fixed bars, 60-minute bezel, sword hands, military caseback engravings — rather than mechanical.
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	=== Maxi dial generations ===		=== Maxi dial generations ===

	Late-program 5517 dials carry the same Maxi I (1977–1978, early 5M to early 6M serial range) and Maxi II generations documented across the contemporary 5513. The cleanest reference for the Maxi sub-generations. The Sotheby's 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978) catalogues a Maxi I dial. Maxi III ("lollipop") arrives c.1978 in the 5M–6M range — the latest 5517 dial generation surfaced in ~~the auction~~-house ~~corpus~~.		Late-program 5517 dials carry the same Maxi I (1977–1978, early 5M to early 6M serial range) and Maxi II generations documented across the contemporary 5513. The cleanest reference for the Maxi sub-generations. The Sotheby's 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978) catalogues a Maxi I dial. Maxi III ("lollipop") arrives c.1978 in the 5M–6M range — the latest 5517 dial generation surfaced in major-house lots.

	<span id="sword-hand-variants"></span>		<span id="sword-hand-variants"></span>
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	The dual-engraving pattern splits cleanly between maker and customer. Rolex reference and case-number markings sit on the inner caseback. Military identification — broad arrow, NATO stock numbers, service numbers — sits on the outer caseback. Royal Navy / SBS issue uses the 0552 prefix: ''0552 / 923-7697 / [issue]/[year]'' plus the broad arrow. Army / SAS / W10 issue uses the W10 prefix: ''W10 / 6645 / 99 / 923-7697 / [issue]/[year]'' plus the broad arrow. The T-circle is a dial marking, not a caseback engraving, and articles that describe it as caseback-side conflate two separate authentication tells.		The dual-engraving pattern splits cleanly between maker and customer. Rolex reference and case-number markings sit on the inner caseback. Military identification — broad arrow, NATO stock numbers, service numbers — sits on the outer caseback. Royal Navy / SBS issue uses the 0552 prefix: ''0552 / 923-7697 / [issue]/[year]'' plus the broad arrow. Army / SAS / W10 issue uses the W10 prefix: ''W10 / 6645 / 99 / 923-7697 / [issue]/[year]'' plus the broad arrow. The T-circle is a dial marking, not a caseback engraving, and articles that describe it as caseback-side conflate two separate authentication tells.

	Documented issue numbers in ~~the auction~~-house ~~corpus~~: 688/77, 691/77, 853/78, 941/79, 960/79, 395/75. The broad arrow is the British government property mark — any broad-arrow watch in the civilian market either left service through official decommissioning or carries an unclear chain of custody. The mark is never a civilian or retail marking.		Documented issue numbers in major-house lots: 688/77, 691/77, 853/78, 941/79, 960/79, 395/75. The broad arrow is the British government property mark — any broad-arrow watch in the civilian market either left service through official decommissioning or carries an unclear chain of custody. The mark is never a civilian or retail marking.

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>

Admin: Slop Cop scrub: strip represents/serves as/stands as/constitutes/encompasses, establishes, reflects, fundamentally, completely different/distinct, pivotal, robust, essentially, AI section-title patterns + transitional connectives. Per CLAUDE.md WRITING_STYLE.md banlist + user feedback on AI cadence.

2026-04-29T16:42:10Z

Slop Cop scrub: strip represents/serves as/stands as/constitutes/encompasses, establishes, reflects, fundamentally, completely different/distinct, pivotal, robust, essentially, AI section-title patterns + transitional connectives. Per CLAUDE.md WRITING_STYLE.md banlist + user feedback on AI cadence.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:42, 29 April 2026
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	== Movement notes ==		== Movement notes ==

	The 5517 runs caliber 1520. The auction-house corpus is unanimous: every Phillips, Sotheby's, Antiquorum, and Bonhams lot description reads cal. 1520 at 26 jewels. The forum-level claim that some 5517 examples carry caliber 1570 is not supported by any major-house lot in the surveyed corpus and likely ~~reflects~~ contamination from the standard 5512 / 5513 cases that can house either caliber. Treat the 1520 reading as resolved against the 1570 claim.		The 5517 runs caliber 1520. The auction-house corpus is unanimous: every Phillips, Sotheby's, Antiquorum, and Bonhams lot description reads cal. 1520 at 26 jewels. The forum-level claim that some 5517 examples carry caliber 1570 is not supported by any major-house lot in the surveyed corpus and likely shows contamination from the standard 5512 / 5513 cases that can house either caliber. Treat the 1520 reading as resolved against the 1570 claim.

	The 1520 is the long-run non-chronometer caliber that powers the 5513 through most of its run. The 5517's distinction over the standard 5513 is structural — fixed bars, 60-minute bezel, sword hands, military caseback engravings — rather than mechanical.		The 1520 is the long-run non-chronometer caliber that powers the 5513 through most of its run. The 5517's distinction over the standard 5513 is structural — fixed bars, 60-minute bezel, sword hands, military caseback engravings — rather than mechanical.

Admin: Round-2 scrub: strip remaining hammer/auction-price wording from body prose. Auction record stays in dedicated section.

2026-04-29T15:30:13Z

Round-2 scrub: strip remaining hammer/auction-price wording from body prose. Auction record stays in dedicated section.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:30, 29 April 2026
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	=== Batch 3: 5517 engravings between lugs ===		=== Batch 3: 5517 engravings between lugs ===

	The third batch carries 5517 between the 12:00 lugs with no 5513 anywhere on the case — the late, full-spec form of the reference. Auction-house corpus places the pure 5517 batch in the 5.339M serial band: Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 (case 5,339,827, c.1978~~, hammer CHF 504,000~~), Sotheby's November 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978, issue 853/78~~, hammer CHF 482,600~~), the Phillips MilSub-discovery article reunited pair (case 5,339,667, c.1978). All issue years are 78. The Phillips article on the reunited pair gives the only 5517-batch-specific subset figure: ~250 produced, ~50 known.		The third batch carries 5517 between the 12:00 lugs with no 5513 anywhere on the case — the late, full-spec form of the reference. Auction-house corpus places the pure 5517 batch in the 5.339M serial band: Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 (case 5,339,827, c.1978), Sotheby's November 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978, issue 853/78), the Phillips MilSub-discovery article reunited pair (case 5,339,667, c.1978). All issue years are 78. The Phillips article on the reunited pair gives the only 5517-batch-specific subset figure: ~250 produced, ~50 known.

	The 3.9M and 5.3M bands are the two serial clusters that map cleanly. The 4M–5M middle band sometimes cited in dealer copy does not surface in the auction-house corpus and should be treated as cross-batch noise rather than a third serial band.		The 3.9M and 5.3M bands are the two serial clusters that map cleanly. The 4M–5M middle band sometimes cited in dealer copy does not surface in the auction-house corpus and should be treated as cross-batch noise rather than a third serial band.

Admin: Strip auction prices/hammer wording from intros and prose body per CLAUDE.md hard rule #10 + user feedback. Auction record stays in dedicated section. Replace "hammered at"→"sold for" / "hammer"→"sale" in remaining prose.

2026-04-29T14:58:47Z

Strip auction prices/hammer wording from intros and prose body per CLAUDE.md hard rule #10 + user feedback. Auction record stays in dedicated section. Replace "hammered at"→"sold for" / "hammer"→"sale" in remaining prose.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:58, 29 April 2026
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	<small>[[Reference:submariner\|Submariner]] -> '''5517'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:submariner\|Submariner]] -> '''5517'''</small>

	The 5517 is the MilSub: the British military Submariner, purpose-built for the Ministry of Defence and never sold through any retail channel. Production ran across three batches roughly 1972 to 1979 in two distinct serial bands — the 3.9M cluster for the early 5513 and 5513/5517 double-reference watches, the 5.3M cluster for the dedicated 5517 batch. Phillips Geneva XIV (November 2021) lot 152 hammered at CHF 504,000 including premium for a c.1978 example with Henry Hudson MOD-issuance letter — the public auction record for the reference. Sotheby's November 2023 lot 3 reached CHF 482,600 for a comparable 1978 full-spec example. Both results sit in the same year-bracket; the 504K Phillips figure is higher.		The 5517 is the MilSub: the British military Submariner, purpose-built for the Ministry of Defence and never sold through any retail channel. Production ran across three batches roughly 1972 to 1979 in two distinct serial bands — the 3.9M cluster for the early 5513 and 5513/5517 double-reference watches, the 5.3M cluster for the dedicated 5517 batch.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>

Admin: Trim dealer/source name-drops in prose per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5 + user feedback. Strip "Bob's, SwissWatchExpo, HQ Milton, Wind Vintage, Hairspring, Bulang, Tropical Watch, Loupe This, Vintage Gold Watches, Craft and Tailored, OBW Collection, Wound For Life, Lange Dyk, Everest Bands, Gray & Sons, Bernard Watch, Exquisite Timepieces, Doc Watches, davidsw, drsd, Watchprosite, Wrist Icons, Goldammer, Mauri DeAngelis, etc." from prose body. Keep facts. Source list at bottom unchanged.

2026-04-29T13:38:19Z

Trim dealer/source name-drops in prose per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5 + user feedback. Strip "Bob's, SwissWatchExpo, HQ Milton, Wind Vintage, Hairspring, Bulang, Tropical Watch, Loupe This, Vintage Gold Watches, Craft and Tailored, OBW Collection, Wound For Life, Lange Dyk, Everest Bands, Gray & Sons, Bernard Watch, Exquisite Timepieces, Doc Watches, davidsw, drsd, Watchprosite, Wrist Icons, Goldammer, Mauri DeAngelis, etc." from prose body. Keep facts. Source list at bottom unchanged.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:38, 29 April 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| total program output		\| total program output
	\| contested. ~1,200 produced / ~180 known (~~Bob's,~~ Bourn, Italian Watch Spotter consensus); 1,110 / ~300 (Wind); 1,250 / unstated ~~(Hairspring)~~; 1,500 / "less than 500" (Sotheby's, Phillips HK)		\| contested. ~1,200 produced / ~180 known (Bourn, Italian Watch Spotter consensus); 1,110 / ~300 (Wind); 1,250 / unstated ; 1,500 / "less than 500" (Sotheby's, Phillips HK)
	\|-		\|-
	\| 5517-batch-3 specific		\| 5517-batch-3 specific
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	\|-		\|-
	\| hands		\| hands
	\| sword / "gladiator" hands across all three batches; some Batch 1 examples shipped with Mercedes hands ~~per drsd.com~~ — sword was factory spec from program inception, Mercedes-handed survivors are mostly later service replacements		\| sword / "gladiator" hands across all three batches; some Batch 1 examples shipped with Mercedes hands — sword was factory spec from program inception, Mercedes-handed survivors are mostly later service replacements
	\|-		\|-
	\| dial		\| dial
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	=== Batch 2: 5513/5517 double-reference ===		=== Batch 2: 5513/5517 double-reference ===

	The second batch keeps 5513 between the 12:00 lugs and adds a 5517 stamp under one lug (commonly the 7:00 lug per ~~Daniel Bourn's reference~~ taxonomy). The dual-marking pattern captures the transition from repurposed 5513 cases to dedicated 5517 production. Auction-house corpus places the double-ref batch in the 3.926M serial band — Phillips New York 2019 lot 28 (case 3,926,768, c.1972, issue 688/77), Phillips Hong Kong 2017 lot 807 (case 3,926,923, c.1974, W10 Army issue 941/79), Antiquorum Monaco 2022 lot 77 (case 3,926,842, c.1975, W10 issue 960/79), Sotheby's 2023 lot 64 (case 3,926,898, c.1973), Bonhams 2018 lot 90 (392xxxx, c.1972). Issue years 77 and 79 dominate the cluster.		The second batch keeps 5513 between the 12:00 lugs and adds a 5517 stamp under one lug (commonly the 7:00 lug per established collector taxonomy). The dual-marking pattern captures the transition from repurposed 5513 cases to dedicated 5517 production. Auction-house corpus places the double-ref batch in the 3.926M serial band — Phillips New York 2019 lot 28 (case 3,926,768, c.1972, issue 688/77), Phillips Hong Kong 2017 lot 807 (case 3,926,923, c.1974, W10 Army issue 941/79), Antiquorum Monaco 2022 lot 77 (case 3,926,842, c.1975, W10 issue 960/79), Sotheby's 2023 lot 64 (case 3,926,898, c.1973), Bonhams 2018 lot 90 (392xxxx, c.1972). Issue years 77 and 79 dominate the cluster.

	<span id="batch-3-5517-only-engravings"></span>		<span id="batch-3-5517-only-engravings"></span>
	=== Batch 3: 5517 engravings between lugs ===		=== Batch 3: 5517 engravings between lugs ===

	The third batch carries 5517 between the 12:00 lugs with no 5513 anywhere on the case — the late, full-spec form of the reference. Auction-house corpus places the pure 5517 batch in the 5.339M serial band: Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 (case 5,339,827, c.1978, hammer CHF 504,000), Sotheby's November 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978, issue 853/78, hammer CHF 482,600), the Phillips MilSub-discovery article reunited pair (case 5,339,667, c.1978). All issue years are 78. Phillips's article on the reunited pair gives the only 5517-batch-specific subset figure: ~250 produced, ~50 known.		The third batch carries 5517 between the 12:00 lugs with no 5513 anywhere on the case — the late, full-spec form of the reference. Auction-house corpus places the pure 5517 batch in the 5.339M serial band: Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 (case 5,339,827, c.1978, hammer CHF 504,000), Sotheby's November 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978, issue 853/78, hammer CHF 482,600), the Phillips MilSub-discovery article reunited pair (case 5,339,667, c.1978). All issue years are 78. The Phillips article on the reunited pair gives the only 5517-batch-specific subset figure: ~250 produced, ~50 known.

	The 3.9M and 5.3M bands are the two serial clusters that map cleanly. The 4M–5M middle band sometimes cited in dealer copy does not surface in the auction-house corpus and should be treated as cross-batch noise rather than a third serial band.		The 3.9M and 5.3M bands are the two serial clusters that map cleanly. The 4M–5M middle band sometimes cited in dealer copy does not surface in the auction-house corpus and should be treated as cross-batch noise rather than a third serial band.
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	=== Maxi dial generations ===		=== Maxi dial generations ===

	Late-program 5517 dials carry the same Maxi I (1977–1978, early 5M to early 6M serial range) and Maxi II generations documented across the contemporary 5513. ~~Beaumont Miller II's 5513mattedial.com taxonomy is the~~ cleanest reference for the Maxi sub-generations. The Sotheby's 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978) catalogues a Maxi I dial. Maxi III ("lollipop") arrives c.1978 in the 5M–6M range — the latest 5517 dial generation surfaced in the auction-house corpus.		Late-program 5517 dials carry the same Maxi I (1977–1978, early 5M to early 6M serial range) and Maxi II generations documented across the contemporary 5513. The cleanest reference for the Maxi sub-generations. The Sotheby's 2023 lot 3 (case 5,339,705, c.1978) catalogues a Maxi I dial. Maxi III ("lollipop") arrives c.1978 in the 5M–6M range — the latest 5517 dial generation surfaced in the auction-house corpus.

	<span id="sword-hand-variants"></span>		<span id="sword-hand-variants"></span>
	=== Sword hand variants ===		=== Sword hand variants ===

	Third-batch examples carry sword (also called "gladiator" or "plongeur") hands across the lot corpus — wider and more sword-shaped than the standard Mercedes hand and absent from every retail Submariner. Sword hands were factory spec across the entire program ~~per Bob's,~~ Bourn, drsd.com, and the Phillips MilSub-discovery article. drsd.com explicitly notes that some Batch 1 5513 MilSubs "delivered with either sword or Mercedes hands," with the 5517-only batch coming "ONLY with sword hands and full 60-minute bezel." Mercedes-handed MilSubs in collector hands today are mostly service replacements where MOD watchmakers swapped the oxidising sword set after long deployments.		Third-batch examples carry sword (also called "gladiator" or "plongeur") hands across the lot corpus — wider and more sword-shaped than the standard Mercedes hand and absent from every retail Submariner. Sword hands were factory spec across the entire program Bourn, drsd.com, and the Phillips MilSub-discovery article. drsd.com explicitly notes that some Batch 1 5513 MilSubs "delivered with either sword or Mercedes hands," with the 5517-only batch coming "ONLY with sword hands and full 60-minute bezel." Mercedes-handed MilSubs in collector hands today are mostly service replacements where MOD watchmakers swapped the oxidising sword set after long deployments.

	<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown"></span>		<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown"></span>
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	The dealer-side "5513-T-MOD" and "5517-T-MOD" terminology is collector folklore for service-stripped MilSubs (issue marks rubbed off, parts service-swapped, or never engraved). No registry-quality source treats T-MOD as a distinct taxonomic class. The cleaner taxonomy is the three batches above plus standard 5513 / 5514 COMEX as adjacent military-adjacent references.		The dealer-side "5513-T-MOD" and "5517-T-MOD" terminology is collector folklore for service-stripped MilSubs (issue marks rubbed off, parts service-swapped, or never engraved). No registry-quality source treats T-MOD as a distinct taxonomic class. The cleaner taxonomy is the three batches above plus standard 5513 / 5514 COMEX as adjacent military-adjacent references.

	~~Italian Watch Spotter~~ notes a roughly EUR 20,000 value penalty for service-replaced bezels even when the replacement is period-correct. Sword-hand replacement, dial relume, and "added T" (where a non-T dial has the T markers added) are documented fakery vectors on otherwise genuine cases. Three checks carry most of the authentication weight: documented provenance (chain of custody to a specific Royal Navy unit or service number, verifiable against military records); physical inspection by a specialist who can read fixed-bar construction, caseback engraving depth and consistency, bezel graduation quality, and hand proportions against genuine military specification; cross-reference against known examples — the specialist community is small enough that most genuine watches are tracked.		Specialist documentation notes a roughly EUR 20,000 value penalty for service-replaced bezels even when the replacement is period-correct. Sword-hand replacement, dial relume, and "added T" (where a non-T dial has the T markers added) are documented fakery vectors on otherwise genuine cases. Three checks carry most of the authentication weight: documented provenance (chain of custody to a specific Royal Navy unit or service number, verifiable against military records); physical inspection by a specialist who can read fixed-bar construction, caseback engraving depth and consistency, bezel graduation quality, and hand proportions against genuine military specification; cross-reference against known examples — the specialist community is small enough that most genuine watches are tracked.

	<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>		<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>

Admin: 5517: rebuild from external research scout (16 sources). MAJOR CORRECTIONS: (1) Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 CHF 504,000 = public auction record (NOT Sotheby 2023 482,600). (2) T-circle is DIAL marking not caseback engraving. Fix caseback specs: Royal Navy 0552/923-7697/issue/year + broad arrow; Army W10/6645/99/923-7697/issue/year + broad arrow. (3) Cal 1520 26j RESOLVED unanimous across auction houses (1570 forum claim = contamination from 5512/5513). (4) Two serial bands: 3.926M (5513-...

2026-04-29T06:44:57Z

5517: rebuild from external research scout (16 sources). MAJOR CORRECTIONS: (1) Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 CHF 504,000 = public auction record (NOT Sotheby 2023 482,600). (2) T-circle is DIAL marking not caseback engraving. Fix caseback specs: Royal Navy 0552/923-7697/issue/year + broad arrow; Army W10/6645/99/923-7697/issue/year + broad arrow. (3) Cal 1520 26j RESOLVED unanimous across auction houses (1570 forum claim = contamination from 5512/5513). (4) Two serial bands: 3.926M (5513-...

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