Is this bezel insert correct?

[mike_bronco]

Hello all, looking at this Sub 5512 from 1961. Does this look like the correct bezel insert for this watch?

Thanks!

[linesiders]

I believe this insert came out after 61, starting late 60s. But that dial looks wrong for a 61 I think and people would like better shots to see what it belongs to.

[Jason71]

Looks relumed

[Beelzy]

Nope, and neither is the dial.

[mike_bronco]

Well I'm starting to get the picture, and it looks like my suspicions will be confirmed. I just spoke to the gentleman trying to sell the watch, and after talking to him a while, it seems he bought this from someone on craigslist a couple of years ago who claimed to be the original owner, and just took the guy's word for it. He is in his late 70s and always wanted a "real 5512" now he is selling it for medical bills. Seems like a super nice guy, I hate to think he was taken advantage of. He is going to try to send me some better pics, and if he does, I will post. Thanks to all.

[nsumner]

It could be a late meters first service dial with the so called "puffy plots". It's hard to say from the pic but I'm not sure that it's been relumed. That would also explain the insert, possibly changed at service around the same time as the dial.

Paging Dr. John, Paging Dr. John

[HERITAGE82]

Definitely looks like a redone dial to me... If you zoom in on the writing it is not very crisp.

[mike_bronco]

Well, this is the best he could do for a close-up pic, unfortunately. Hoping this is good enough to determine if this is a legit "puffy plots" dial or a relume.

Thanks!

[motoikkyu]

I'm voting re-painted dial. I'm easily deceived on inserts

[QueueCumber]

It may be the picture, but the lume looks awful to me. Sympathy or not, I would pass for sure. The replaced/incorrect dial would be enough for me to walk, since it looks to be a late 60s matte dial and not an early gilt dial....

[JohnBaker3]

I think I emailed this guy after seeing the auction on eBay....

The serial number was something like 1.55 million; not a 1961 for sure...

He argued with me that I didn't have a clue, so I ran away....

[Beaumont Miller II]

My comments are based on the premise that it is in fact a 1.55 mil serial and not a 5512 from 1961 which would have a gilt gloss dial with chapter ring.
The dial in the case is a mk 1 matte mf 5512 dial which is not uncommon in this serial range. The puffy lume typically came a little later and is more common in the 1.7 mil range, but I would not disqualify it because it is a little early. The insert does not look correct to me.
Whether the dial been relumed is a difficult question to answer. Better pics and knowledge of how much the dial glows in the dark would be helpful.

A small point which my website does not cover. This dial is a mk 1 mf 5512 matte which is identical to the 5513 mf matte with the exception of the 2 extra lines of print. If you call something a mk 1, it implies there is a mk 2, which there is and is seldom seen.
The mk 2 5512 matte dial can be easily recognized because the "Swiss T < 25" at the bottom of the dial only goes across 3 minute tics instead of 5. Other differences include an "L" which is moved to the left underneath the coronet and the "S" in Submariner is shaped different.
An example of this rare version can be found in the Vrf dial archive for 5512's near the bottom. It is the 1.6 mil example by timlua.

[Frogman4me]

The insert is not correct for a 1961.

[Beelzy]

The closeup pic of the plots shows them to appear to me as not relumed. Simply those puffy plots found on some dials. They also look ripe.....very ripe for exploding.