Submariner

The 5513 is the archetypal Submariner and there's a reason it endures. On the wrist it disappears - modern Subs feel oversized in comparison. Movement is basic but bulletproof. My honest complaint: prices have gone insane. If you're patient and can find a clean example at last decade's prices, this is a lifetime piece.

The Submariner in its purest form. What use is a diving watch? To measure time underwater. What does it require? A rotating bezel, luminous markers, a robust case. Anything else is decoration; and decoration, unmoored from function, is at best neutral and at worst a lie. The 5513 refuses decoration. In this refusal it becomes admirable.

The Submariner reference 5513. Vintage. Matte dial. This is the correct Submariner - everyone at the office knows that, or ought to. Reese wore a modern Submariner last Tuesday and I noticed immediately; I doubt he did. The 5513 has provenance. It has weight. It has meaning. I am considering acquiring a second.

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