Quick answer
A fake Rolex 5513 "Big Triangle" is a replica of the no-date Submariner dial that Rolex sold near the end of the reference run, about 1984 to 1989. The triangle at 12 o'clock is wider than on earlier dials, and the lume plot fills more of the triangle. Genuine examples with this dial trade between about $11,000 and $20,000, based on case condition, bezel insert, and papers. Replica versions sell for $120 to $700. No replica matches a genuine 5513 in case geometry, dial printing, or movement construction.
The genuine reference
Rolex made reference 5513 from 1962 to 1989. It is a 40 mm steel Submariner with no date window. Water resistance is rated at 200 m / 660 ft. The crystal is domed acrylic. Lug width is 20 mm. The movement is Caliber 1520, a 26-jewel automatic that beats at 19,800 vph. Power reserve is listed near 40 hours. The reference was never a chronometer, so the dial carries no Superlative Chronometer line.
Big Triangle dial traits
- Wider 12 o'clock triangle with a larger lume plot
- Matte black finish on most examples
- Printed SUBMARINER line and 200 m / 660 ft depth rating
- Tritium lume, aged to cream, yellow, or brown
- Case with drilled lug holes
Collectors split late 5513 dials into marks. Marker size, lume color, and the text line at 6 o'clock differ between marks. A dial swapped onto a service case is common, so buyers check the case serial, the dial feet, and the insert.
Replica tells
- Crown guards sit too square or too thin against the case.
- Lug profile loses the taper of the genuine case, and lug holes sit in the wrong spot.
- Insert font differs. The pip is too large, and the numerals on the 10, 20, 30, and 40 marks are wrong in width.
- Lume plots look uniform. Genuine tritium ages at different rates on each plot.
- Dial printing uses wrong serif shapes and wrong spacing on the depth rating.
- Movement is an ETA clone or a 3130 copy, not Caliber 1520. Beat rate and winding feel differ.
- Caseback stamps and crown threads are wrong. A caseback tool often leaves marks on replicas.
Price ranges
Replica prices run $120 to $700, based on factory, movement, and case finish. A genuine Big Triangle dial alone sells for $1,500 to $4,000. A complete genuine 5513 with this dial starts near $11,000. Auction results for clean examples with box and papers reach $25,000 or more.
Legal note
In the United States, 19 U.S.C. Section 1526 bars import of counterfeit goods. Customs can seize a shipment and destroy it. Selling a replica as a genuine Rolex is fraud. Rolex also holds trademarks on the name, the crown logo, and the dial design.
What to check first
- Measure the case. Genuine 5513 cases read 40 mm across, without the crown.
- Look at the triangle. Width and plot size separate Big Triangle dials from earlier marks.
- Pull the caseback with a proper tool. Caliber 1520 has a specific bridge layout.
- Check the insert. Font, pip, and pearl color follow known patterns.
- Ask for a service record. Genuine parts history explains mixed dial and case dates.