Timeless Beauty: Spectacular Wristwat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 24, 2004

LOT 36

Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, "COMEX No. 3032", Sea Dweller 4000ft=1220m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, Ref. 16660. Produced in the 1990s. Fine and rare center-seconds, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with date and stainless steel "Fliplock" Oyster bracelet.

CHF 12,000 - 14,000

EUR 8,000 - 9,000 / USD 9,500 - 11,000

Sold: CHF 19,550

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down engraved case back, graduated revolving bezel for the decompression times, "Triplock" winding-crown protected by the "Crown-Guard", gas-escape valve at 9, sapphire crystal, case back engraved "COMEX 3032". D. Black with tritium-coated round, triangular and bâton indexes, aperture for the date. Tritium-coated "Skeleton" hands. M. Cal. 3035, rhodium plated, 27jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring.Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Height 15 mm.Approx. overall length 215 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 5 - 02

Notes

COMEX COmpagnie Maritime d,EXpertise A French company, specialized in deep sea exploration, that made great advances in saturation diving in the 1960s and 70s. At the time COMEX divers wore Rolex Submariners, ref. 5513. These were rated to 200 meters, sufficient for most dives. However, during the 10-day decompression period following saturation dives, the watch crystals would violently explode due to the pressure of the helium that had built up in the watch. To rectify the problem, Rolex invented the gas escape valve Swiss patent 492246. This simple spring-loaded one-way valve was first fitted to the standard Submariner 5513. Further research led to the first ?Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000?, ref. 1665, in 1971. Today, COMEX still uses Submariners for ?atmospheric? dives and Sea-Dwellers for ?saturation? dives. Early Sea-Dwellers can be found upgraded with quick-set movements and modern dials, because the watches were regularly sent back to Rolex for revision.