Important Watches

Geneva, Mar 20, 2010

LOT 208

Rolex, Best COMEX Diver 1977 Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual Date, Submariner, 660 ft. / 200 m., Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified", case No. 3388397, Ref. 1680. Made in 1972. Fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant to 200 m, stainless steel wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Rolex Fliplock Oyster bracelet, awarded to Jean-Marc Dutriaux by Comex in 1977. Accompanied by three overall receipts, Mr. Dutriaux's contract of employment with Comex, his divelog and several additional Comex documents.

CHF 37,000 - 52,000

USD 35,000 - 48,000 / EUR 25,000 - 35,000

Sold: CHF 56,400

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Twinlock winding crown protected by the Crown Guard, crystal with cyclops lens, outside case back engraved ?COMEX Services, 28.1.77, J.M. Dutriaux". D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions, aperture for the date. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 1570, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 26 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 14 mm. Approx overall length 195 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-54-02

Very good

Service dial

HANDS Service hands

Notes

Ref. 1680 COMEX In 1978, COMEX received the Submariner Ref. 1680 from Rolex. At the time COMEX divers were equipped with the Ref. 5514 (with HEV) and had just begin to receive the Sea Dweller ref. 1665 (with HEV). Since the Ref. 1680 had no Helium Escapement Valve and was only rated to 200 meters (660 feet), COMEX used the batch for non-saturation dives; many examples were given to COMEX employees, customers and suppliers. The COMEX Ref. 1680 is perhaps the rarest of all COMEX sport watches, since COMEX only received approximately 60 examples. The great majority of those were later serviced, with the COMEX dial being replaced with a regular Rolex dial, as many owners did not like the COMEX logo on the dial (a fact perhaps surprising to today's Rolex collectors).Ref. 1680 COMEX In 1978, COMEX received the Submariner Ref. 1680 from Rolex. At the time COMEX divers were equipped with the Ref. 5514 (with HEV) and had just begin to receive the Sea Dweller ref. 1665 (with HEV). Since the Ref. 1680 had no Helium Escapement Valve and was only rated to 200 meters (660 feet), COMEX used the batch for non-saturation dives; many examples were given to COMEX employees, customers and suppliers. The COMEX Ref. 1680 is perhaps the rarest of all COMEX sport watches, since COMEX only received approximately 60 examples. The great majority of those were later serviced, with the COMEX dial being replaced with a regular Rolex dial, as many owners did not like the COMEX logo on the dial (a fact perhaps surprising to today's Rolex collectors).
The Five Best COMEX Divers of 1976 According to a COMEX interoffice memo, it was decided early in 1977 that awards would be given for the five best COMEX divers of 1976. The criteria for the selection of such "best" divers were the number of hours of work effectively performed in the water. A study by the Operations Diving (based on all the diving reports received in Marseille) is attached to this memo. It shows that the designated five best divers for 1976 were:
1) DUTRAUX J.M. 126h 00
2) FORMATO J. 118h 23
3) RIEHM G. 117h 20
4) BALDOCK 114h 36
5) JEANTOT P. 112h 14
On January 28th, 1977 those divers were presented with a specially engraved Rolex watch. The present lot, a Submariner Date Ref. 1680, was given to Mr. J.M. Dutriaux. The awards for the best COMEX divers were held only in 1977.