Revolution: The Evolution of the Role...

New York, Apr 17, 2008

LOT 204

Comex Ref. 16800 ?10 Year Service Presentation? Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, "Comex Submariner, 1000 ft./ 300 m." , Ref. 16800. Made in 1984. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver?s wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Rolex Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by a Comex 10 Years of Service card.

USD 100,000 - 150,000

EUR 67,000 - 100,000

Sold: USD 125,500

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back with Comex number and commemoration inscription and crown, graduated unidirectional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding-crown protected by the crown guard, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton steel indexes, aperture for the date, Comex logo. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 3035, rhodium-plated, 27 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed, case with Comex number. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness: 13 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

Approximately 200 watches of model reference 16800 were delivered to COMEX between 1982 and 1989. The ref. 16800 featured the caliber 3035 with date mechanism and a scratch-proof sapphire crystal. The first batch of 100 Ref. 16800 were delivered in 1982 with a matt tritium COMEX logo dial. These are often referred to as the ?transitional? models by collectors, due to mix of the old style matt dials and new style sapphire crystals. The other 50 watches in the first batch were delivered with a gloss tritium dial with a ?small? COMEX logo. The second batch of 100 ref. 16800 watches that were delivered to COMEX also featured a gloss tritium dial with a ?small? a COMEX logo. Both the matt logo dials and gloss tritium ?small? logo dials were of very poor quality, the condition often deteriorated causing problems with debris becoming loose on the dial and in the movement. Many of the watches from these batches received a later ref. 16610 Tritium COMEX ?big? logo replacement dial during service and therefore the survival rate of the ref. 16800 in its original configuration is very low.
It was customary for COMEX divers to receive a commemorative watch from the company on completion of the 10th and 25th year of service. These watches have in the past included gold Longines and Baume / Mercier dress watches. In 1984 a group of divers (4 are known) primarily from COMEX Houlder, Aberdeen completed their 10 year service and received a Rolex ref. 16800. The watches all have case backs within the 61xx case back range and are engraved with the employees name. The dials on these presentations watches were unique in that they feature the COMEX logo and do not have the words 'Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified? which can be found on all other ref. 16800 COMEX watches within the 61xx range. This watch was presented to William Bain, a COMEX diver who worked for COMEX Houlder Division and retains its original presentation dial. The COMEX Houlder Diving company was the UK branch of COMEX.