Revolution: The Evolution of the Role...

New York, Apr 17, 2008

LOT 199

Ref 5514, Submariner, Helium Escape Valve Rolex, ?Submariner, Oyster Perpetual, 660ft=200m?, Ref. 5514/5513. Made in 1973. Fine and very rare, water-resistant, center seconds, self-winding, stainless steel wristwatch with helium escape valve. Accompanied by a recent Rolex Geneva service invoice.

USD 80,000 - 120,000

EUR 55,000 - 80,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back, screw-down crown with Crown Guard, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, helium escape valve. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes. Luminous skeleton hands. M. Cal. 1520, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, selfcompensating flat balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The initial batch of ref. 5514 with HEV can be found with small & medium case back numbers (and generally non COMEX logo dials) and were delivered alongside the final batch of the ref. 5513 COMEX watches in 1972. Most deliveries from 1974 to 1977 of the COMEX ?Submariner? with HEV only had the unique model ref. 5514 and not the ref. 5513. The model ref. 5514 was never sold to the public. The ref. 5514 from these batches featured two different case back styles with four variations of small, medium and large issue numbers. The original dials were still the matt variety, but the majority now featured the COMEX logo. In total the ref. 5514 was actually produced in higher numbers (approximately 600 to 700) than many of the other COMEX models, however, a far lower number have survived in their original configuration. The ref. 5514 remains a key watch to collectors purely because of the unique COMEX only reference number.