Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

New York, Dec 11, 2008

LOT 278

Ref. 16610 COMEX Submariner Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Submariner, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, Ref. 16610, COMEX 6428. Made in 1997. Very fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver?s wristwatch with a stainless steel Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by the original box, warranty (now void), hang tag and one extra link.

USD 30,000 - 50,000

EUR 23,000 - 40,000 / CHF 35,000 - 60,000

Sold: USD 33,600

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, Triplock winding crown protected by the crown guard, graduated unidirectional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, case back engraved: ROLEX COMEX 6428, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. D. Black with applied luminous round, baton and triangular steel indexes, aperture for the date, special imprint: COMEX. Luminous steel skeleton hands.M. Cal. 3135, rhodium-plated, 31 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 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Circa 1976, Rolex launched the "Submariner" Ref. 1680, 16800, 16803, 16808, 16610, 16613 and 16618 with date and cyclops glass. The Rolex "Submariner" has been the official watch for many of the Marine Corps in the world, available in stainless steel only. 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.