Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
Geneva, Nov 16, 2008
LOT 344
Red Submariner, Mark I Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual Date, Submariner, 660ft/ 200m., Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified", case No. 2939315, Ref. 1680. Made in 1972. Fine and rare, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with red "Submariner", date, and a stainless steel Rolex Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by a service guarantee (now void) and a booklet.
CHF 8,500 - 11,000
USD 8,000 - 10,000 / EUR 5,500 - 7,000
Sold: CHF 14,400
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding-crown protected by the crown guard, crystal with cyclops lens. D. Black with "Submariner" in red letters, luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions, aperture for the date. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 1570, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 26 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. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 14 mm. Approx. overall length 165 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-02 |
Very good HANDS Service hands |
Notes
First introduced in 1969, in production until 1978, this reference is the first Submariner with the date indication. To the best of our knowledge, the Rolex ?Red Submariner? remained in production for approximately 6 years.
Many of them, attributed to the Royal Marines Special Boat Squadron, were marked on the dial by the "Broad Arrow". The U.S. Army Forces also wore the "Submariner" watch. Launched in 1971, Ref. 1665 the Submariner Sea dweller was the first waterresistant watch with a helium escape valve for decompression of the watch and is guaranteed water-resistant down to 610m./2000ft.
The first generation of the Submariner had no helium escape valve, which caused great inner pressure to bear upon the case when the diver rose to the surface. This problem was solved by Rolex and the COMEX engineers. Similar watches are published in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore, Genova, 2001.