1014
Rolex
Ref. 16800
Submariner “COMEX”
A rare and well-preserved stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with "spider dial", center seconds, date, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box, made for COMEX
Full-Cataloguing
- Ref. 16800 Submariner “COMEX”
- Glossy surface has aged to a “spider web” dial
- Case retains its bevels, sharp factory finishing and crisp engravings
- Accompanied by punched guarantee and presentation box
Rolex timepieces have a rich history as essential tools for professionals, none more iconic than the brand's long-standing partnership with COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertise) in Marseille, France. Rolex exclusively supplied specially modified Submariner and Sea-Dweller references to COMEX deep-sea divers. These watches, featuring "COMEX" printed on the dial and issue numbers engraved on the caseback, were reserved strictly for commercial operations and were never made available to the public.
The present reference 16800 is preserved in exceptional condition, displaying crisp bevels, sharp factory finishing and a clear "6169" issue number on the caseback. Its glossy black dial bears the legendary COMEX logo at 6 o’clock and has aged into a highly sought-after "spider dial", characterized by fine, web-like crazing across the lacquer.
The caseback is personalized with the engraving “E. I. Moore 1974-1984”, indicating it was likely presented to Mr. Moore to mark a decade of service. Correct for COMEX-issued timepieces of this era, the full serial number is stamped inside the caseback, matching the numbers between the lugs. Accompanied by its original punched guarantee and presentation box, this reference 16800 represents an exceptionally complete and fascinating piece of professional diving history.
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.