Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Feb 26, 2012

LOT 344

ROLEX REF. 16600 COMEX SEA-DWELLER Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Comex, Sea-Dweller, 4000ft = 1220m, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, case No. N421569, Ref. 16600, COMEX 3251. Made in 1992. Very fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water resistant, stainless steel chronometer diver's wristwatch with helium escape valve, date and a stainless steel Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by the original box, Guarantee Certificate (now void), Rolex Singapore service receipt dated 2000, booklets, anchor, hang tags, calendar, tool, Buehlmann Table, extra links and tool.

HKD 312,000 - 468,000

USD 40,000 - 60,000 / EUR 31,200 - 46,800

Sold: HKD 387,500

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back engraved Rolex Comex and numbered 3251, screw-down Triplock winding crown, graduated unidirectional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, helium escape valve, sapphire crystal. D. Black with applied luminous round, baton and triangular white gold indexes, aperture for the date, special imprint COMEX. Luminous white gold Mercedes hands. M. Cal. 3135, rhodium-plated, 31 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 13 mm. Approx. overall length 180 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-8-19

Good

Slightly scratched

Dent(s)
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Approximately 200 watches of the reference 16600 COMEX ?Sea dweller? with HEV were delivered to COMEX in two batches between in 1992 (Serial N) and 1997 (Serial U). The fi rst 100 were delivered in 1992 with the word ?Rolex? engraved straight across the case back and with a COMEX case back serial number in the 32XX range. The second 100 were delivered in 1997 with the ?Rolex? engraved in a curved manner across the case back and the COMEX case back serial number in the 33XX range. The ref. 16600 featured a gloss tritium dial with a big COMEX logo. It is interesting to note that a small batch of 16600 COMEX watches with gloss Luminova dials and COMEX logo were delivered to COMEX in 2004 (F Serial). The present watch is from the fi rst batch delivered to COMEX in 1992. The ref. 16600 was the last Rolex supplied to COMEX. The COMEX issued Rolex dive watches have become one of the most sought after Rolex sports watches, due to their rarity and the important role that they played in the development of dive watches, furthermore they are popular today as rare, collectable watches that remain wearable regularly due to use of a sapphire crystal.
The example offered has remained in the possession of the original COMEX diver since 1992. Having joined Comex in Marseille in 1987 after graduating with a master in mechanical engineering and completing the commercial diving course, the owner mostly conducted both air and saturation dives in West Africa. During this period he worked with fellow notable Comex divers such as world record holder Theo Mavostomos (Antiquorum auction his personal Comex 16600 in 2008) Louis Schneider and record holder Patrick Raude (Antiquorum auctioned his personal Comex 5514 in 2011). In addition to diving for Comex the owner participated in the training of astronauts Michel Tognini and Jean-Francois Clervoix. Having spent most of his life within the dive industry the watch has seen regular use but survived in original condition with regular, sympathetic, servicing. Copies of COMEX dive records can be supplied although the owner wishes to understandably retain his original logbooks for sentimental reasons.
This is a rare opportunity for the collector to acquire a one-owner Comex with excellent provenance.