Answer: What is a Rolex Submariner 5512?

The Rolex Submariner 5512 was produced from 1959 to 1980. It is a vintage dive watch with a 40mm case, no date window, and a depth rating of 200 meters. Because of its age and collector value, the 5512 is heavily counterfeited. Most fakes are not exact copies of any specific year. They mix features from different 5512 references, which creates obvious flaws.

Case and Crown Guard Shape

Authentic 5512 cases have distinct crown guards: short, thick, and mostly squared off. Many fakes use crown guards from modern Submariner models, which are slimmer and taller. Check the lug holes: genuine 5512 cases have drilled lug holes for spring bars, a feature that continued until the late 1960s. Later genuine models may lack them, but most fakes incorrectly omit them on early-style dials. The case back should be smooth or have only faint engravings. Replicas often have deep, incorrect markings.

Dial and Handset Details

The 5512 dial can be either gilt or matte depending on the era. Gilt dials have gold text and a glossy black finish. Fakes often use a dull matte dial with incorrect off-white lume plots. Check the font: real Rolex dials use a precise serif or sans-serif style for the 'Submariner' and '100 ft = 330 m' text. Replica printing may be thick, blurry, or unevenly spaced. On non-COSC versions, the dial should read 'Superlative Chronometer' only on later examples. Many fakes add 'Chronometer' text to non-chronometer dials. The hour markers on genuine 5512 are radium or tritium, and their lume aged to a tan or dark brown. Replicas use bright green or white lume that glows strongly. Hands should have a matching shape: 'Mercedes' hands with a straight seconds hand. Look for flat or slightly rounded edges, not sharp modern cut.

Movement

Genuine 5512 uses Rolex caliber 1530 or 1570. These are mechanical, automatic, with a hacking second hand (when you pull the crown, seconds stop). Many fake 5512s contain cheap Chinese automatic movements or even quartz. Open the case back if possible. A genuine Rolex movement has a distinctive rotor with 'Rolex' engraving and Geneva stripes. A fake movement often lacks these details or shows obvious rust or machining marks.

Bezel and Crystal

Original 5512 bezels are aluminum with friction fit. They rotate bidirectionally? No, 5512 rotates counterclockwise only. The numbers and minute markers are engraved and filled with silver or black paint. Fakes often have modern ceramic bezels with bright colors. The crystal is acrylic (plexi), not sapphire. Genuine 5512 crystals are domed and can have scratches. Fake replacements often use flat sapphire with a magnifier, which the 5512 never had.

Bracelet and Clasp

The standard bracelet is a folded-link Oyster or later solid-link 9315. Genuine clasps have a stamped crown logo and a model number inside. Modern fakes use solid end links that do not fit the vintage case properly. Check the stretch between links: genuine vintage bracelets have some play, but not excessive wobble.

Final Advice

If you are considering a replica, understand that no fake perfectly reproduces a 5512. Even high-grade replicas have incorrect case dimensions or lume color. The best way to avoid a scam is to study high-resolution photos of genuine watches from multiple years. Always compare weight, bezel action, and crown winding smoothness. If the price is too good for a genuine watch, it is likely a fake.