Short answer

The Big Triangle is a dial style used on the Rolex Submariner ref. 5513. The triangle at 12 o'clock is larger than the triangle on a standard 5513 dial. Rolex used this dial on watches made in the late 1970s, with examples dated from about 1976 to 1981. Replica makers sell this dial in several grades. Most copies miss the marker size, the print fonts, or the lume color.

What the genuine 5513 is

Rolex built the ref. 5513 from 1962 to 1989. It is a no-date Submariner with a 40 mm steel Oyster case, a screw-down crown, and a depth rating of 200 m (660 ft). The crystal is domed acrylic. The bezel turns both ways and has no click spring. Rolex used the cal. 1520 in most 5513 examples, a 26-jewel automatic with a rate of 19,800 vph. The dial is matte black with tritium lume and the mark "SWISS - T < 25" below 6 o'clock.

Big Triangle dial details

  • Matte black dial, no gloss.
  • Tritium lume, applied by hand.
  • Oversized triangle at 12 o'clock.
  • Print above center: "ROLEX" and "OYSTER PERPETUAL".
  • Print below center: "SUBMARINER" and "660ft = 200m".

Traits of fake 5513 Big Triangle watches

  • Triangle size. Many replicas use a standard triangle and call it big.
  • Lume color. Painted lume sits flat. Real tritium darkens with age and shows grain.
  • Font weight. The "SUBMARINER" text on replicas runs thick or wide.
  • Coronet shape. The crown logo above 12 o'clock has the wrong prong count or outline.
  • Case profile. Replica cases sit thicker and carry soft lug chamfers.
  • Bezel insert. Numeral fonts, pearl size, and pearl seat differ.
  • Movement. ETA 2824 clones, Seiko NH35, and Chinese 2813 movements fill most replica cases. Rotor engraving does not match Rolex.
  • Case back and lugs. Serial and reference stamps between the lugs are shallow or absent.

What to check in hand

  1. Measure the triangle width against the 11 and 1 o'clock markers.
  2. Look at the lume under a loupe. Check for grain and for cracks in aged tritium.
  3. Compare the coronet and the text against photos of known Big Triangle dials.
  4. Weigh and measure the case. A steel 5513 case weighs less than a thick replica.
  5. Open the case back. Check the movement ring, the balance bridge, and the stamp inside the back.
  6. Check the stamps between the lugs with a loupe.

Prices

Genuine 5513 examples with Big Triangle dials sell above the price of a standard matte 5513. Auction results have run from about $10,000 to above $25,000 in recent years. Case condition, dial condition, and paperwork set the number. Replica versions sell from about $200 to $500 for mid grade builds. High end builds with a Swiss movement and a reshaped case run $1,000 and up.

Bottom line

A replica 5513 Big Triangle can look close in photos. In hand, the triangle size, the lume, the fonts, and the case profile give it away. Compare the dial to known examples, weigh the case, and open the back.