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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A rare Rolex Submariner 5510 described by watchmaker Greg Petronzi as a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) issue watch was brought back to running condition with its unusual original configuration preserved. The account, published by Fratello on March 24, 2024, connects the watch’s reported military service to later civilian ownership—and shows why restoring a vintage watch is not simply a matter of replacing worn parts.
What makes this Australian 5510 unusual
Petronzi, who runs True Patina, a business specializing in vintage Rolex and Tudor restoration, described the featured Submariner as made in 1958 and issued to RAN clearance divers. He gave its internal military designation as 645-66-010-8359 and called it an example in “full-spec A10 condition.” Those details are Petronzi’s account as reported by Fratello, not findings independently authenticated here.
The configuration he described includes fitted fixed lugs, a 3-6-9 dial and a red-triangle bezel insert. Together, those retained elements make the restoration story about more than getting the watch running: they are part of what gives this particular 5510 its reported historical character.
Petronzi called it the only known RAN 5510 with full provenance and said four examples were known to exist. These are attributed counts, not a verified census, so they should be read as claims about the examples known to him rather than definitive totals.
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#1 Best Overall
- Refined Proportions & Vintage-Inspired Design: At just 11.8mm thick, this watch features a carefully re-engineered case and bezel for better visual balance. The inner rehaut is straightened (not sloped like the original 5513), which opens up the dial for improved legibility while keeping the overall dimensions compact. The bezel measures 40.7mm — slightly enlarged for a more natural, balanced look on the wrist
- Premium PT5000 / PT5004 Automatic Movement: Powered by the high-precision PT5000 (date) or PT5004 (no-date) movement, beating 8 times per second (28,800 vibrations per hour) for an incredibly smooth seconds hand motion. With 25 jewels to reduce friction, it delivers performance comparable to the Swis ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200. Plus, a 38-hour power reserve and hacking seconds let you set the time precisely, creating a fluid glide that feels just like a luxury Swis timepiece
- Scratch Domed Sapphire Crystal: Crafted from 316L stainless steel with a refined case finish for durability and a premium feel. The domed sapphire crystal features a high-clarity anti-reflective (AR) coating, delivering excellent scratch resistance and easy readability from any angle. Plus, the unidirectional rotating bezel offers crisp, satisfying clicks with 120 precise positions for reliable dive timing
- Super Luminous BGW9/C3 Light: This watch features Swis Super-Luminous BGW9 or C3 luminous material on the hands, markers, and dial. The BGW9 emits a cool blue glow for long-lasting visibility — lasting at least 5 hours in the dark — while the C3 provides a bright green initial burst for quick readability after moving from light to dark. Both recharge quickly in bright environments. The matte black dial with applied indices ensures perfect legibility by day
- 20Bar Water Resistant: Our WD5513P professional mechanical dive watch delivers true 20Bar/200M water resistance, built to meet ISO 6425 dive watch standards. The screw-down crown is a riple-sealed system that prevents water intrusion (please tighten crown before contact with water). And with the double gasket system - Reinforced at crown, case back, and crystal. Suitable for professional marine activities, swimming, water sports, and daily wearing. Not recommended for showering with hot water
From RAN service to collector ownership
According to Fratello’s account, the watch remained in military use until 1977, when Reverend Jack Flentje acquired it through Tottenham government-surplus auctions. Flentje had served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II; the article says he was stationed in Marauke Dutch Guinea as a radar operator from 1942 to 1944. Fratello’s author reports locating Flentje’s RAAF records and enlistment photographs.
The watch later passed to collector Alan Bloore, who held it until the year the article was published. That sequence gives the reported provenance a civilian chapter after its military service. It does not, by itself, independently confirm every detail of the watch’s earlier history.
Rank #2
- Classic Style: rotatable bezel function with 120° unidirectional rotation, Japanese quartz movement with date function, enlarged date window at 3 o'clock, rotatable bezel, can be used as a chronograph or second time zone timer.
- Dimensions: Case Diameter: 41 mm; Case Length: 48 mm; Case Thickness: 13 mm; lugs width : 20 mm; Watch weight: 163 g; Watch length: 220 mm
- Detailed Components: screw-down crown, mineral glass dial window, stainless steel bracelet, adjustable bracelet (included tool to remove the bracelet links), security folding
- 200M Waterproof: It can protect your watch, you can use it underwater in rainy days with peace of mind
- Easy to Read Face :Simple dial design, easy to read the time, with luminescent function, the time can be clearly seen in the dark place
Why vintage movement work can be difficult
Petronzi framed the challenge as diagnostic rather than routine replacement. “There’s no simple fix with a vintage watch,” he said in the Fratello article. As examples of work vintage movements may demand, he cited hairspring adjustments, end-shake adjustments and rebushing holes in a main plate. He contrasted that work with the easier availability of replacement parts for newer watches.
Fratello reports that the 5510 challenged Petronzi to get it running well again, but it does not publish a service log. It does not establish that any one of those procedures was performed on this watch, nor does it give a service duration, cost or quantified outcome. Those examples explain the demands of vintage work generally; they are not a list of confirmed repairs to the 5510.
Rank #3
- The return of an icon: The mens Caravelle Sea Hunter is reborn for the modern age. Inspired by one of Caravelles most celebrated models, the new Caravelle Sea Hunter is sized for modern tastes at 39mm, with a case crafted from 316L stainless steel and echoing the sporting form of the original.
- Ensuring ideal legibility and functionality, a high-contrast black dial with a date display and luminescent hands and markers is complemented by a matching rotating 60-minute timing bezel.
- The Caravelle Sea Hunter is powered by a 21-jewel automatic movement with a power reserve of 42 hours.
- Paired with a 3-link stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp and rated to 200m water resistance, this watch can go wherever you do so you can do whatever you want.
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Preserving originality while restoring function
The central tension in the account is how to restore dependable operation without discarding parts that carry historical meaning. Petronzi described his guiding principle this way: “My passion as a collector informs my approach to watchmaking — when possible, preserve rather than replace.” He also said of the 5510, “I like bringing things with history back to life while preserving their originality as much as possible.” Both quotations are from Petronzi as quoted by Fratello.
That approach matters especially when the surviving fixed lugs, dial and bezel insert are part of the reported configuration that distinguishes this watch. Preservation does not mean avoiding necessary repair; it means considering whether a component can be retained before replacing it. The article does not detail which parts, if any, were changed during this restoration.
Rank #4
- Stainless Steel case with Black Resin Band
- Black Dial with date window at 3 O'clock
- Luminous markers and hour hands; sweep second hand
- Anti-reverse bezel
- Water-resistant to 200 M (660 feet)
How the Australian 5510 differs from British MilSubs
“MilSub” can also refer to British Royal Navy Submariners, but the British watches described in auction catalogues are a separate military group—not evidence for the configuration or history of this Australian 5510.
| Detail | Featured Australian 5510 | British MOD MilSub group in Phillips’s 2021 catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing service | Royal Australian Navy, according to Petronzi as reported by Fratello. | British Ministry of Defence deliveries, according to Phillips. |
| References and period | Reference 5510; Petronzi described it as produced in 1958. | References 5513, double reference 5513/5517 and 5517; approximately 1971–1979. |
| Reported configuration or features | Petronzi described fixed lugs, a 3-6-9 dial and a red-triangle insert. | Phillips identifies wide sword hands, a dial with an encircled T for tritium, a 60-minute bezel, hacking seconds, welded fixed bars and military caseback engravings. |
| Reported scale or provenance | Petronzi said four examples were known and called this the only known RAN 5510 with full provenance; these are attributed counts. | Phillips estimates approximately 1,250 deliveries across its British MOD MilSub group; this is not a count of Australian 5510s. |
Phillips’s catalogue also notes that many British watches were civilianized after MOD disposal, with military-specific components removed or replaced. Its lot 81 describes a 1975 British double-reference 5513/5517 with calibre 1520 and a Rolex UK letter confirming British Royal Navy supply. Those details belong to that auction watch, not the RAN 5510.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWhere the 5510 fits in Submariner history
Rolex says the Submariner launched in 1953 and was its first divers’ watch waterproof to 100 metres (330 feet). That is context for the model family, not proof of this individual 5510’s service history. Modern Submariner specifications likewise should not be projected onto a 1958 watch.
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