Gilt PCG 5512 with a Military Backstory. Advice Appreciated!

[ahantel]

Hi all,

New here on the forum from Chicago, IL, USA. Been a Speedmaster guy for a few years until the following story happened, which ended with me being passed a gilt 5512. I am fairly new to Subs and so I'm asking for your thoughts on the state of the watch and what should be done with it with regards to parts - you'll see what I'm talking about (not selling it though, sorry). I'll describe it as best as can to accompany the pictures.

Before pictures/description though, I'd like to share a few words about the man who passed it to me, Edwin. He's an elderly man in my church who knows that I like vintage watches and got this Sub from his mother in 1962 in St Thomas after finishing training in the US Marines. He knew he needed a waterproof watch that would allow him to, as he said "swim out of the submarines they had us transport on in the gulf" ... when he was at Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis! Given just that I think this watch's military designation surpasses most mil-sub's provenance. But I digress, he used this watch then and for the next 15 years as he became a master parachuter for the Marines in Vietnam, landing safely during all 127 (!!) jumps before leaving the Marines for the seminary. I told him about the worth of the watch but he simply wanted a good home for it to be cherished and didn't know a better place to leave it for the next generation than with me.

Looking at the watch itself: the dial looks fantastic. The lume all looks intact and with only the tiniest of blemishes on the 4 o'clock dot. The surface of the dial itself is great, no chips or marks on the gilt. I know there's all the detail with regards to the writing of the depth rating and above/below the lacquer - to me it looks like the depth rating is more of a silver color that sits above the lacquer (or at least it's still visible whereas the rest of the writing/dial is reflective) and the word Submariner is golden like the crown/ROLEX logo. Anything that looks grungy in the pictures is probably the crystal, which is chipped at 6 and scratched other places. The hands are either original or were replaced long enough ago that the lume on them looks the same color as the dial. Neither glows in the dark after having light shined directly on it.

The case looks polished but still on the thicker side, or at least the pins seem to leave a good 1-2mm recess before they meet the edge of the case. I can't read the serial number between the lugs but I can read the 5512 and what looks like "registered design" in caps below it. I don't have a tool to open it so once that happens I'll be able to tell you some more. The crown looks like a newer one as well with the three dots under the logo.

The bracelet appears to be a newer one, labeled 9315 with one end piece marked 258 and the other 380. As is obvious, the bezel and insert are missing. The watch is, sadly, no longer working.

As this is something I would like to have repaired and looking as good (and original) as possible, I'd love to hear what you think and what you think should be done. Besides repairing the movement I'm proposing to 1) buy an original bezel/insert (please tell me which ones are right for this model/year!) 2) replace the crystal (again, which one is correct?) 3) buy a rivet bracelet/endlinks (again, correct information would be helpful). I am +/- on replacing the crown. Additionally, since the case appears thick but the bevel on the lugs is polished, any thoughts on refinishing that onto the case? I know that's controversial waters but I'm new so pleading ignorance.

Sorry if anything I said was incorrect, please let me know so I can learn and appreciate this new member of the family.