Revolution: The Evolution of the Role...

New York, Apr 17, 2008

LOT 201

Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, "Comex, Sea-Dweller, 2000ft./610 m", Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, Ref. 1665. Made in 1979. Fine and very rare, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wrist-watch with date and a stainless steel "Fliplock" Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by its original warranty, booklets, hang tags, anchor and original fitted box. It is further accompanied by a Comex emergency oxygen supply mask.

USD 100,000 - 150,000

EUR 67,000 - 100,000

Sold: USD 248,800

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, dedicated screwed-down case back and crown, helium escape valve at 9,graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, "Triplock" winding-crown protectedby the "crownguard.? D. Black with tritium coated round, triangular and bâton indexes, aperture for the date.Tritium coated steel "skeleton" hands. M. Cal. 1570, rhodium plated,"oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 26 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temper-aturesand five positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance-spring, Microstella regulating screws, hacking feature. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness: 17 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The ref. 1665 sea dwellers were delivered to COMEX from 1977 through 1982. Approximately 300 watches of model reference 1665 with Helium Gas Escape Valve were delivered to COMEX, in 3 separate batches during this period. The first batch of 100 watches was delivered around 1977. These featured 600m COMEX logo dials (Often referred to by Collectors as the ?PISANI? dial) and case backs with the same style engraving as the Double Red Sea Dweller. The second and third batches of 100 watches per batch, were delivered to COMEX in 1980 and 1982 respectively. The majority of these watches still had the 600m COMEX logo dial (some of the later third batch with case backs 325x onwards may have had 610m dials), but the style of the case back engravings had changed from the first batch. There are several differences between the original COMEX ref. 1665 dials and that of the retail version, on the COMEX dial: 1- the COMEX logo is present above the depth rating; 2- the depth rating is 2000ft-600m; 3- the word ?DATE? is missing next to the ?OYSTER PERPERTUAL?; 4- the hour markers are closer to the minute track line; 5- The bottom of the Rolex coronet is flat with the ?L? directly under it; and 6- the ?C? from the word ?CHRONOMETER? lines up with the ?C? from the word ?CERTIFIED?. The present watch retained its original COMEX dial. The 1665 are regarded as the true COMEX watches, as they do not feature the Rolex model name on the dial.
The full case number in the papers has been blurred to protect the buyer?s privacy.