Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, May 10, 2009

LOT 305

Ref. 5513, Comex First Generation, Meter First, H.E.V. Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, 200m/660ft, Submariner?, case No. 2833634, Ref. 5513. Made in 1970 for the Comex Company. Very fine and very rare, center-seconds, self-winding,water-resistant, stainless steel diver?s wristwatch with first generation helium escape valve and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster Fliplock bracelet. Accompanied by a fitted box.

CHF 38,000 - 58,000

USD 33,000 - 50,000 / EUR 25,000 - 38,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back with engraved COMEX and "106" inscriptions and case number "634" stamped inside, screw-down triplock crown with Crown Guard, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, helium escape valve. D. Black with painted luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute/second division. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 1520, rhodium-plated, oeil de perdrix and fausses cotes decoration, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat blued steel balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 14 mm. Approx overall length 175 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Submariner and Sea-Dweller References used by Comex: 1970-1972/3 Submariner Ref. 5513 with HEV. 1972-1978 Submariners Ref. 5514 with HEV made for COMEX only. 1978-1979 Submariner Ref. 1680 no HEV. 1977-1980 Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 with HEV. 1980-1984 Sea-Dweller sapphire Ref. 16660 with HEV. 1982-1986 Submariner sapphire Ref. 16800 no HEV. 1988-1989 Submariner Ref. 168000 no HEV. 1986-1997 Submariner Ref. 16610 no HEV. 1992-1997 Sea-Dweller Ref. 16600 with HEV and sapphire crystal.
COMEX (COmpagnie Maritime d?EXpertise)
A French company, specialized in deep sea exploration that made great advances in saturation diving in the 1960s and 70s. At the time COMEX divers wore Rolex Submariners, ref. 5513. These were rated to 200 meters, sufficient for most dives. However, during the 10- day decompression period following saturation dives, the watch crystals would violently explode due to pressure from helium that had built up in the watch. To rectify the problem, Rolex invented the gas escape valve (Swiss patent 492246). This simple spring-loaded one-way valve was first fitted to the standard Submariner 5513, which was then given the Ref. 5514. Further research led to the first ?Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000?, Ref. 1665, in 1971.