Short answer
A fake Rolex 5513 Big Triangle is usually one of three things: a complete counterfeit, a genuine 5513 case fitted with an aftermarket or reprinted dial, or a real watch with relumed markers sold as untouched. The dial is the target, because that larger 12 o'clock triangle is exactly what collectors pay for. Nothing in a photograph is proof. The checks that hold up are a loupe inspection of the dial and engravings, a look at the movement, and a seller with a paper trail.
What "Big Triangle" actually means
The term describes a dial variation on the reference 5513 Submariner, not a separate model number. On these dials the triangle marker at 12 is noticeably larger than the standard one and sits lower, close to the minute track. Collectors place them in the later part of the matte dial era, roughly the late 1970s, and they show up far less often than the common 5513 dials. Rolex has been building the Submariner since 1953, and the no-date 5513 ran for decades, so plain examples are everywhere. That is what makes swapping in a Big Triangle dial worth real money to the wrong seller.
The three kinds of fake you will run into
A complete counterfeit
The whole watch is aftermarket, built to mimic a 5513 with a big triangle dial. Case shape is usually wrong through the lugs, the crown guards look too soft or too sharp, and the engraving between the lugs is either missing or cut with a modern font.
A franken watch
Genuine case, genuine movement, fake or reprinted dial. Or the reverse, a real dial dropped into a counterfeit case. These are the hardest to spot because most of the watch is real and the seller can talk about it convincingly.
A relumed or retouched dial
The dial is original, the lume is not. Tritium markers age into uneven beige, often with darker edges. Fresh, uniform lume is a warning sign. So is lume that glows under a UV light on a tritium dial, since tritium stopped being luminous decades ago.
What I look at, in order
- Dial printing under magnification. Matte dial text has slight texture, with edges that are not glass smooth. Perfect crispness on a 45-year-old dial is unusual.
- Lume plots. Look for variation between markers, hairline cracking, and how the material sits in the plot. Repaints usually fill the plot flush.
- Hands. They should age in step with the dial. Mismatched patina usually means one was replaced or recolored.
- Dial feet and the back of the dial. A watchmaker can confirm the feet sit where factory feet sit. This single check kills most franken watches.
- The case. Lugs, crown guards, chamfers, and the space between the lugs where the serial and reference are stamped. Engraving should be struck, not carved by a laser.
- The movement. A 5513 should run a 1520-family caliber. Ask for photos with the caseback off, or have it opened in front of you.
- Crystal and crown. Domed acrylic, correct crown and tube. Small parts get swapped because they are cheap and easy.
Paperwork and price are part of the check
Box and papers help, but they do not authenticate a dial, and they can be bought separately. What carries weight is a service history with a watchmaker's name, an original purchase record, or an auction listing you can find. On price, a genuine Big Triangle 5513 sits well into five figures. A bargain at a few thousand dollars is not a bargain. It is a counterfeit or a watch with a fake dial, and both are hard to move later.
How to buy without getting burned
- Buy the seller. Ask where the watch came from, who serviced it, and whether they will put the dial claim in writing.
- Get macro photos. Straight on, plus angled so the lume surfaces catch the light.
- Have it opened. A local watchmaker can photograph the movement, the dial feet, and the caseback in ten minutes.
- Compare against accepted examples. Auction archives and collector forums are useful here. Treat photo comparisons as a starting point, not a verdict, because a decent reprint can look right in a picture.
- Use a payment method with recourse, or bring in an escrow service for a large sum.
- Decide whether you want original or restored. A relumed dial can cut value by a third, so price the risk before you commit.
If one detail needs a leap of faith, walk away. There is always another watch.