Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 257

ROLEX, REF. 1665, OYSTER PERPETUAL, COMEX Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, Comex, 2000ft./610 m, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, case No. 6751937, Ref. 1665. Sold in May 1982. Fine and extremely rare, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver's chronometer wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by its original warranty, Comex stickers, pictures of the owner during various Comex expeditions, Comex stickers and two Comex magazines (Comex la conquete des grands fonds and Comex services).

CHF 50,000 - 70,000

USD 53,000 - 75,000 / EUR 42,000 - 58,000

Sold: CHF 74,500

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back engraved with ?Rolex Patent Oyster Gas Escape Valve, Comex No. 2289?, and crown, helium escape valve at 9, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding-crown protected by the crown-guard. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute division, 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 fi ve positions, shockabsorber, self-compensating blued steel Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 17 mm. Approx. overall length 170 mm


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Purchased new by the current owner in May 1983, the watch has been maintained in exceptional condition. Mr Philippe Agier explains why: At 23 I started working at Comex as a technician and embarked on a journey I had never imagined I would still be involved in today. At the time my only experience of diving was the one I had seen on television narrating the amazing adventures of Cousteau. You imagine my surprise when suddenly I was confronted with hyperbaric chamber diving, I understand I had entered a big ?human? adventure. Proud to be part of this amazing family, I decided as a souvenir to purchase the Comex Seadweller. Not being a diver, I never used the watch at work as my assignments took me to countries such as Africa or Brazil where out of safety I never wore it. In the end, after having worn it on 5 or 6 occasions I decided that I preferred thiner, more practical watches, so my Comex was put in the safe where it stayed for the next 25 years unused. The watch was sent once to Rolex around 1992, to change the joints and for a light polish of the watch. Now aged 54 years old, I thought it is time to fi nd a new Rolex Property of the original owner rightful owner for the watch that was a real part of my career at Comex.