Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 27, 2011

LOT 521

Jean Claude KUJUNDIC Rolex Ref. 5513, Comex First Generation No. 194 Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, 660ft/200m, Submariner?, case No. 2837916, Ref. 5513. Made in 1971 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.

CHF 43,000 - 55,000

USD 43,000 - 55,000 / EUR 33,000 - 43,000

Sold: CHF 50,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back engraved ?ROLEX, COMEX and 194", screw-down Triplock crown with Crown Guard, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for decompression times, helium escape valve. D. Black with 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 blued flat balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 15 mm. Approx overall length 170 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-22-01

Good

Later original

HANDS Original

Notes

Comex's collaboration with Rolex began in early 1971. Previously Comex had worked with Omega, for the Ploprof (short for plongeur professionel), a prototype series of which was tested during Janus II and Physalie V (Nov. 1970). The Ploprof had a problem with ?explosion? during the decompression time after a saturation dive, due to helium build-up inside the case. Rolex had noted the problem on early Sea-Dwellers and solved it by fitting the case with helium valves. Rolex continued to test watches with professional divers, now with Submariners which were sufficient for dives to 200 meters. While testing the 5513 they had problems with crystals exploding on decompression. Rolex fitted Ref. 5513 with a valve and a very limited series of Submariners (approx. 20 pieces) was delivered to Comex Saturation Divers for testing. This particular batch of watches may be considered the true pre-production prototypes of the 5514, as they were tested in real-life conditions, did not feature the Comex logo on the dial (this would come on later production model 5514) and they only had the Comex engraving and a number on the case back.
Jean Claude Kujundic worked for COMEX from 1976 to 1999 as a professional diver in the Mediterranean Sea and in Burma. He took part in over 500 missions and was a member of the research and discovery team for the Saint Exupery plane.