Rolex SBS Military Submariner

General

Throughout the 1970's the Rolex Watch Company supplied the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) with a unique divers watch, the specifically designed Military submariner. The watch was designed with certain unique features to meet the MOD purchasing specification and to supersede and improve on the Omega 300 as the MOD's divers watch of choice. These features include ;

- Over sized gladiator sword hands for increased luminous visibility
- Full 60 minute marked bezel for addition countdown time
- Fixed case bars for extra durability
- Dial marked with a 'circle T' to denote the tritium used in the dial construction
- Engravings to denote the piece as property of the crown
- Engravings to denote the unique stores numbers of the piece

Due to a high rate of attrition, disposal by the MOD and a decade of dealers 'restoring' these watches to civilian standards there is only a fraction of the original 1000 or so supplied left in existence, of this there is an even smaller number that retain the full original specification and have not lost their original features to servicing needs.

Of the 1000 or so made the most sought after is the model 5517 of which only about 150-180 were produced, and were given their own unique model reference. The Navy version of this model was mostly bound for the Royal Navy SBS, the UK elite water borne fighting force.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Boat_Service.

This example is loving referred to as the BBC watch as they were good enough to drop me in hot water with my good lady wife who knew i was in Edinburgh for the day, but i hadn't quite mentioned the reason for my trip....luckily Radio 2 picked up the story and let her know on the way to the station to pick me up.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7392129.stm

Case

Stainless steel, model 5517, fixed case bars, MOD engravings to case back.

Dial

This is where the maxi dials started. Mk1 maxi dial, circle T, unmarked condition

Bracelet

Original Nato style strap, shown on modern Rolex supplied Nato style canvas strap

Accessories

Rolex UK letter from Mr Henry Hudson confirming supply and issue. Rolex service papers.