Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

New York, Dec 08, 2010

LOT 332

Rolex - Ref. 168000 - Comex - Submariner Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, "Submariner, 1000 ft / 300 m,? Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, Ref. 168000/16800 COMEX 6243. Made circa 1988. Very fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver's wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster Fliplock bracelet. Accompanied by a pressur gauge, a COMEX - PRO scale card for duration of air supply, a 6? x 8? photo of the French war submarine ?Protee,? sunk in 1943.

USD 30,000 - 60,000

CHF 30,000 - 60,000 / EUR 22,000 - 43,000

Sold: USD 31,250

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, case back engraved: COMEX 6243, 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 applied luminous round, triangular and baton steel indexes, outer minute/seconds track, imprint: COMEX, aperture for the date. 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 freesprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx. overall length 195 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Between 1987 and 1988, Rolex delivered a small batch of approximately 100 watches with the model reference 168000 (note the extra 0). The difference in the reference number indicates the use of higher quality steel (from grade 316 to grade 904L) in the later watches. It used the same case as the later ref. 16610 with the movement and dial from the ref. 16800. As with the 16800, the gloss tritium "small" COMEX logo dials on the 168000 watches were of very poor quality and the dial often deteriorated causing problems with debris becoming loose on the dial and in the movement - making the remaining 168000 sought after by collectors