Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

New York, Dec 11, 2008

LOT 190

Ref. 16600 COMEX Sea-Dweller Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, COMEX, Sea Dweller 4000ft=1220m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, Ref. 16600. Made in the late 1990?s. 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 - 60,000

EUR 31,000 - 47,000 / CHF 47,000 - 70,000

Sold: USD 43,200

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: ROLEX COMEX 3384. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton steel 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: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Sea-Dweller First launched in 1971 as the Ref. 1665, this watch was a direct result of Rolex's collaboration with COMEX, the French deep sea exploration company. Rolex's research resulted in the ?gas-escape valve? first fitted to the Submariner Ref. 5513 and from 1971 to the new Sea-Dweller, Ref. 1665. From 1971 until 1973 they bore the name ?Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000? in red. The second generation of the ref. 1665 from 1973/4-1980 was simply signed ?Sea-Dweller? in white print, both were rated to 2000ft/610m. The Ref. 1665 was superseded in 1980 by the Ref. 16660 with quick-set date, sapphire crystal and improved ?double gas-escape valve?. This watch was rated to 4000ft/1220m. The ref. 16660 was superseded in the mid 1990s by the Ref.16600 with caliber 3135 ?fast-beat? move