Revolution: The Evolution of the Role...

New York, Apr 17, 2008

LOT 208

Ref. 16600 Comex Sea-Dweller Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, COMEX, Sea Dweller 4000ft=1220m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, Ref. 16600. Made in the late 1990s. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water resistant to 4000 ft, stainless steel diver's wristwatch with date, helium escape valve and a stainless steel Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by the original box, Guarantee Certificate (now void), anchor, 2 instruction booklets, bracelet tool, diver?s timetable and Rolex documentation.

USD 40,000 - 70,000

EUR 27,000 - 47,000

Sold: USD 101,900

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down engraved case back, graduated unidirectional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding crown protected by the crown-guard, helium escape valve at 9, sapphire crystal, case back engraved with Comex number. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, aperture for the date. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 3135, rhodium-plated, 31 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 15 mm


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2

Very good

Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Approximately 200 watches of the reference 16600 COMEX ?Sea dweller? with HEV were delivered to COMEX in two batches between in 1992 (Serial N) and 1997 (Serial U). The first 100 were delivered in 1992 with the word ?Rolex? engraved straight across the case back and with a COMEX case back serial number in the 32XX range. The second 100 were delivered in 1997 with the ?Rolex? engraved in a curved manner across the case back and the COMEX case back serial number in the 33XX range. The ref. 16600 featured a gloss tritium dial with a big COMEX logo. It is interesting to note that a small batch of 16600 COMEX watches with gloss Luminova dials and COMEX logo were delivered to COMEX in 2004 (F Serial). The present watch is from the second batch delivered to COMEX circa 1997. The ref. 16600 was the last Rolex supplied to COMEX. The COMEX issued Rolex dive watches have become one of the most sought after Rolex sports watches, due to their rarity and the important role that they have played in the development of dive watches.