Property of the Original Owner
947
Rolex
Ref. 16660
Sea-Dweller “COMEX”
A rare and attractive stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, date, helium escape valve, bracelet and presentation box, made for COMEX
- Estimate
- HK$320,000 - 640,000€37,800 - 75,500$41,000 - 82,100
HK$533,400
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1984
- Reference No
- 16660
- Movement No
- 1’838’650
- Case No
- 8’348’304, inside caseback stamped “16660, 8348304”, Caseback issue number “3100”
- Model Name
- Sea-Dweller “COMEX”
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3035, 27 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, endlinks stamped “592”, max length 195mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “93160A”“U3”
- Dimensions
- 40mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed. Dial stamped COMEX
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Professional Diver’s Log Book, Diver’s pin, screwdriver, additional extension link, green booklet holder, diver’s photograph and fitted presentation box.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Introduced between 1978-1988, the present specimen was acquired by the original owner Yann Bourhis that year in 1988 as a Sogetram diver. At that time Sogretram, a maritime works company was bought by COMEX. Being part of the Sogretram, Doris, Stolt Comex Seaway and Hydrex’s professional diving team from 1983 until 1997, this Sea-Dweller has seen it all. From offshore dives to maritime dives in France, this ref. 16660 was with Bourhis as diver for control missions during French nuclear tests at CEA.
In two main batches, the initial batch of approximately 80/100 pieces from Rolex arrived in 1982 featuring matte dial with case numbers in the range of 7 million. The remaining batch was likely delivered in 85' with glossy dials and case numbers spanning from 8 to 9 million. Bearing a caseback number of 3100 and a 8’34X’XXX serial came directly from the original owner. A journey that can be shared of its owner and its future collector, a personal professional diver’s log book and dive photographs are accompanied with the present lot.
A symbol of endurance and passion, and further charmed with the personal properties from the original owner. This admirable 16660 is preserved in original condition, and most definitely a true field watch with a man's life story behind, which makes it exceptional collectible for any vintage lovers.
In two main batches, the initial batch of approximately 80/100 pieces from Rolex arrived in 1982 featuring matte dial with case numbers in the range of 7 million. The remaining batch was likely delivered in 85' with glossy dials and case numbers spanning from 8 to 9 million. Bearing a caseback number of 3100 and a 8’34X’XXX serial came directly from the original owner. A journey that can be shared of its owner and its future collector, a personal professional diver’s log book and dive photographs are accompanied with the present lot.
A symbol of endurance and passion, and further charmed with the personal properties from the original owner. This admirable 16660 is preserved in original condition, and most definitely a true field watch with a man's life story behind, which makes it exceptional collectible for any vintage lovers.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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