Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 352

?COMEX Everest 1997 Explorer? Rolex Oyster Perpetual "Explorer", Ref. 14270. Used by a member of the COMEX ?Everest 1997' team. Fine and historically important center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with a stainless steel Oyster bracelet and fliplock deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original Guarantee from 1997 (now void), a copy of Le Monde with an article on the expedition and several photocopies of COMEX documents relating to the project.

CHF 38,000 - 48,000

EUR 25,000 - 30,000 / USD 30,000 - 40,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back and crown, concave lugs. D. Black with applied luminous white gold Arabic numerals and triangular and bâton indexes. Luminous white gold "Skeleton" hands. M. Cal. 3000, rhodium-plated, 27 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometalic balance, self-compensating Volute balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Case back engraved ?EVEREST 8848m COMEX 1997? Diam. 36 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

In 1997, the Comex (Compagnie maritime d?expertise) company conducted an experiment during which the conditions of a Mount Everest climb were simualted virtually. In Operation Everest III (Comex '97), eight volunteers were decompressed in a hypobaric chamber, with a decompression profile simulating the conditions that prevail during a climb of Mount Everest, to the altitude of 8,846 meters. Various scientific experiments were carried outduring the experiment, to assess cardiac and other bodily functions under laboratory conditions. The present watch was worn by one of the participants in this experiment.