Revolution: The Evolution of the Role...

New York, Apr 17, 2008

LOT 203

Ref. 16660, Comex Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual Date, Comex, Sea Dweller 4000ft=1220m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified?, Ref. 16660. Made circa 1980. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with second generation gasescape valve, date and stainless steel ?Oysterlock? bracelet. Accompanied by its original warranty (now void), booklets, anchor and original fitted box.

USD 70,000 - 100,000

EUR 47,000 - 67,000

Sold: USD 84,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down engraved case back, graduated unidirectional revolving bezel for the decompression times, "Triplock" winding- crown protected by the Crown Guard, gas escape valve at 9, sapphire crystal. D. Black with luminous steel round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions, aperture for the date, Comex logo at six. Luminous steel "skeleton" hands. M. Cal. 3035, rhodium-plated, 27 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, free-sprung monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Height 15 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The reference 16660 was a transitional watch for Rolex and was produced for COMEX from 1982 through 1984. The new case, synthetic sapphire crystal, larger helium valve meant that the new watch could be taken to depths up to an incredible 1220 meters (4000 feet). There was also a new movement inside the case, the caliber 3035. The new movement replaced the 1570 in the previous 1665 Sea-Dweller models. The new watch also was designed to have a new dial made for Comex only with a matt finish, however approximately only half of the 1st batch of 100 watches survived with matt logo dials, the remaining watches have the gloss tritium ?small? logo dial or the later replacement gloss tritium/lminova ?big? logo dials, more commonly found on the 16600. The 2nd batch of 16660 went out from the factory fitted with the gloss tritium ?small logo? dials.