‘Bart Simpson’ 5513 Rolex Submariner

Ah, Bart Simpson. For all the sexy nicknames that go along with the watches we love such as Nina Rindt, Padellone, Tasti Tondi, Newman, and all the rest, Bart Simpson is bit jaunty. But it’s actually a very significant dial in a lot of ways. These are the final years of the gilt dial Sub. Much like the 6263 and 6265 are the last of the manual Daytonas, this thing is in many ways the end of an era. And it’s a surprisingly quirky dial in the details, in ways you just don’t expect from something with Rolex on the dial. So what’s it all about then?

Most of you will be aware, but if you’re new to 5513s you should know that these are called Bart Simpson for the unusual shape of the coronet, which on this dial is stubbier and not unlike Bart Simpson’s head. There are a few other oddities here as well, such as the spacing in the Rolex line, where the letters are a bit closer together and in the depth rating the crosses of the ‘f’ and ‘t’ are in-line with each other. Now many of you will be nodding off but that’s what the Bart dials are, peak Wilsdorfian detail. They’re also some of the only gilt dial Subs that usually should be found with steel hands instead of gilt, as this was the transition point. They also come from a time of transitional tritium, mixed with what I’ll call ‘other stuff’ like zinc sulfide. So, as we see here, lume often goes tan and not cream for some reason. The bulk of Bart dial production is from the 1.4-1.5M serial range, but some can be found as wide as 1.3-1.6M.

This is a near-impossible watch to explain to someone who doesn’t get Rolex. But if you do, it’s the end of gilt. And that really means something. I also am particularly fond of it because for many collectors it marks a point of no return: it’s kind of like the double black diamond warning on a ski slope. This is, very often, the first watch that an enthusiast will purchase which has a massive premium for what is ultimately a tiny detail. But that’s the way forward in Rolex, and in a lot of collecting. If you’re looking at Bart dials, if you actually understand them and care, you’re a lost cause on the path toward re-financing your home for a 6240. Bart Simpson sounds silly, but for many this is the first ‘seriously nerdy’ vintage Rolex. And for that I salute Mr. Simpson, which is what I like to call this Sub to give it its fair and well-earned respect.

The reason this example is here is on condition. There’s a lot I’m seeing and a lot I’m liking here. First, the dial isn’t perfect. But it’s still and even unperturbed gloss, which is fairly rare on these. The hands hand like cracking which I would personally get stabilized but that tells me they’re almost certainly not touched. The lume is tan and just beautiful, matched in the pip. The case has great lines, not perfect, but very honest and very full. I’m loving the rivet which dates correctly too. It’s a class act example, from a well-regarded Dutch retailer.