A Rolex Submariner 5513 "Big Triangle" is a no-date dive watch from the late 1970s with an oversized triangle marker at 12 o'clock, and it is one of the most replicated vintage Rolex references on the market. Fakes come in two forms: complete counterfeits built in the last few decades, and frankenwatches that pair a genuine case with a reprinted dial. Dial print, lume texture, case engraving, and the movement inside are the four places where a replica gives itself away.
What Is the Rolex 5513 Big Triangle?
Reference 5513 ran from 1962 to 1989 as Rolex's entry Submariner: 40 mm steel case, rotating bezel, acrylic crystal, no date window, and no chronometer line on the dial. Water resistance was rated at 200 m (660 ft).
The "Big Triangle" name covers a family of matte black dials made from about 1976 to 1979, in which the luminous triangle at 12 o'clock is larger than on standard dials. Collectors group these as Maxi dials, Mk I through Mk III, and they carry tritium markers with a "SWISS - T < 25" or "T SWISS T" signature at the bottom.
The dial has no date and few printed elements. That simple layout is what makes a convincing copy cheap to produce.
Why Fakes and Frankenwatches Are Common
A 5513 Big Triangle in clean condition sells in the five-figure range in US dollars at auction, so the payoff for a passable replica is high. The plain dial also cuts the number of details a counterfeiter has to match.
The bigger risk for buyers is not a factory-made fake but a frankenwatch: a real 5513 case fitted with a reprinted dial, refinished hands, and an aftermarket bezel insert. Those watches survive a phone photo and fail a loupe.
Dial Red Flags on a Fake Big Triangle
- Triangle size. The 12 o'clock marker should sit in proportion with the round and rectangular plots. Copies often oversize it to match the "Big Triangle" nickname.
- Print. Original text is crisp with even spacing between SUBMARINER and the 660ft = 200m rating. Watch for thick or smeared letters, wrong serif shapes, and printing placed too high or too low.
- Lume. Genuine tritium ages to an uneven cream or pumpkin tone and can show small cracks. Painted lume on replicas looks flat, uniform, and too bright.
- Hands. Hour, minute, and second hands should match the dial's patina. A dial that has aged with hands that have not is a red flag.
- Signature text. Look at the font and position of ROLEX, SUBMARINER, and the depth line. Reprints often get the spacing right and the letterforms wrong.
Case, Bezel, and Engraving Checks
Between the lugs you will find the reference and serial numbers. On a genuine 1970s 5513 the engraving is stamped into the metal, not laser-etched with the bright, uniform finish seen on modern replicas.
The crown guards should flow from the case in a soft curve rather than a blocky step. Lug holes on this era are drilled through, and the crystal should be acrylic (Tropic 19), not sapphire. A sapphire crystal on a 5513 is one of the fastest tells that something is wrong.
Bezel inserts from the period use a "fat font" with wide numerals and a lume pip that has aged along with the dial. Sharp-edged inserts with bright white pips do not belong on a watch from the late 1970s.
Movement and Inside-the-Case Checks
Most 5513s run the Rolex calibre 1520, a 26-jewel automatic, with the earliest examples using the 1530. Both carry correct Rolex finishing and engraving on the bridges and rotor. Many replicas run a stock ETA 2824 or an Asian 2813 dressed up with an engraved rotor.
Caseback stamping matters too. Genuine casebacks carry period-correct reference and date codes that line up with the case serial. Many fakes use a generic caseback that does not match.
A watchmaker with the case open is the only reliable check. Budget for that step before any money changes hands.
Do 1:1 Super Clones Cover the 5513?
Modern 1:1 replica factories chase current references such as the 116610 and 126610, because those sell in volume and use movements they can source in bulk. The 5513 gets far less attention, so most "super clone 5513" listings are older replica builds, relumed dials, or frankenwatches rather than a factory model.
When a replica 5513 does show up, the weak points repeat: a sapphire crystal, a case slightly too thick, printed lume that will not age, and a movement that cannot match the hand stack of a 1520. Better photos do not fix those errors.
Legal Reality and What to Do Next
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and sell in the United States, and selling one as genuine is fraud. That rule covers a cheap flea-market copy and a five-figure frankenwatch alike.
If you are shopping for a vintage 5513, ask for photos of the serial and reference between the lugs, the movement, and any service history. Then arrange independent authentication from a watchmaker who works on vintage Rolex before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Big Triangle dial rare?
It is less common than the standard 5513 matte dial and it sits in a short production window, so buyers pay more for it. Scarce and in demand is the accurate description, not rare.
How much does a genuine 5513 Big Triangle sell for?
Auction results land in the five-figure range in US dollars. The top of that range goes to watches with an untouched dial, original hands, and box and papers, while fully restored examples sell for less.
Can a fake 5513 pass a close inspection?
A cheap copy will not. A frankenwatch with a real case and a reprinted dial can fool a phone photo, which is why the dial under a loupe and the movement inside decide the question.