Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Jun 11, 2009

LOT 383

Comex Ref. 16800, ?10 Year Service Presentation? Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, "Comex Submariner, 1000 ft./ 300 m." Ref. 16800. Made in 1984. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver?s wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Rolex Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by a fitted box, instruction booklet, 10 year presentation card, Comex medical book, Comex keyring, 2 Comex bags and an anchor, and various photos of B.W. Hughes.

USD 55,000 - 75,000

EUR 42,000 - 57,000 / CHF 63,000 - 85,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back with Comex number and commemoration inscription, graduated unidirectional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding-crown protected by the crown guard, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton steel indexes, aperture for the date, Comex logo. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 3035, rhodium-plated, 27 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, case with Comex number. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness: 13 mm.


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

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

All Comex models are by definition rare. With different amounts being sold to Comex from reference to reference these numbers are generally thought to be approximately 60 to 300 pieces. The Reference 16800 was produced in about 300 pieces but 10-year anniversary models are particularly rare. In fact there is only one other similar watch that has ever appeared at auction (see Antiquorum Revolution, the evolution of the Rolex Sport watch, Lot 204). This is a particularly interesting watch being accompanied by many of the accessories he would have used during his career as a commercial diver including personal photos featuring the owner of this watch standing next to Theo Mavrostomos, another Comex employee and also the current world's deepest record holder.