Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 345

Ref 5514, Comex No 820, Maxi Dial Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, COMEX, 660ft=200m, Submariner?, Ref. 5514/5513, case No 5230217. Made in 1977. Very fine and very rare, water-resistant, center seconds, self-winding, stainless steel diver wristwatch with first generation heliumescape valve, and a stainless steel Rolex oyster fliplock bracelet. Accompanied by a Rolex box.

CHF 60,000 - 75,000

USD 55,000 - 70,000 / EUR 38,000 - 47,000

Sold: CHF 54,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back, screw-down triplock crown with Crown Guard, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, helium escape valve. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes. Luminous skeleton hands. M. Cal. 1520, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shockabsorber, self-compensating flat balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-8-01

Good

Slightly scratched

HANDS Original

Notes

The Ref. 5514 was a COMEX specific watch, which was never available to the general public. Due to the extreme conditions in which the COMEX divers operated, every six months the watches were sent back to Rolex for an overhaul. These watches were not just meticulously overhauled but in many cases upgraded each time the watch went back to Rolex. It has been reported by former COMEX divers that some of the earlier ref. 5514 watches did not have the COMEX logo on the dial and that when these watches were sent to Rolex for service, on request they were replaced by Rolex with the later gloss tritium or luminova dials, some bearing the COMEX logo. For a note on the Comex Company, see next lot.