909
Rolex
Ref. 1665
Sea-Dweller, “Double Red MK IV, JANUS IV ”
A historically significant and very well-preserved stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with “Double Red MK IV” dial, center seconds, date, gas escape valve, bracelet and presentation box, originally owned by Vito Lentini, COMEX diver of the JANUS IV expedition
Full-Cataloguing
- Originally owned by COMEX JANUS IV diver Vito Lentini
- “Double Red Mk IV” dial, caseback with personalized engravings
- An abundance of accessories, including COMEX service medal, JANUS IV report and COMEX diving suit with mask
In the present time Rolex might be regarded by many as one of the world’s foremost producers of luxury watches, yet the brand has established itself by producing some of the most reliable tool watches since mid-century. Rolex released a number of models targeted to an extremely restricted and specific audience, from the Explorer, made for high-altitude expeditions under unpredictable weather conditions and temperature swings; to the Submariner, made for scuba diving and under water maneuvers; to the Milgauss, designated for personnel working in the presence of strong magnetic fields; to the present, and possibly most “professional” and specific of them all, thte Sea-Dweller.
While widely used by scuba divers as an improved version of the Submariner, the Sea-Dweller was in fact developed - in conjunction with COMEX - for an extremely specific purpose: to be worn in hyperbaric chambers or “underwater habitats”, experimental underwater facilities where scientists would live for days or even weeks, conducting research on underwater environment. It is obvious how such a technical piece was truly necessary only to a handful of individuals on the planet, highlighting the ethos of Rolex at the time.
While in the end Rolex released the Sea-Dweller to the general public, the present example, in the rare and extremely appealing “Double Red” configuration nonetheless, is in fact one of the few specimens that have been used to the full extent of their capabilities. As engraved on the caseback, the present Sea-Dweller originally belonged to Vito Lentini, COMEX diver who participated in the JANUS IV expedition. The JANUS project, made by Comex in conjunction with Rolex, consisted of a series of dives made between 1968 and 1977 with increasing depth starting at 150 meters, and eventually, to 501 meters below sea level.
One of the significant features that identifies a Sea-Dweller is the Helium Escape Valve. In helium-rich atmospheres, tiny helium molecules would seep through the crystal and rubber gaskets into the watch and create pressure once the diver had surfaced. This would usually result in the crystal popping off. The development of the valve was meant to prevent this issue by letting the gas escape. This watch, in fact, is one of the few Sea-Dwellers that had make good use of the feature for being worn in such extreme environment.
As a tool watch that has been used in deep-sea diving by Lentini, the condition of the timepiece is unexpectedly well. The case edges and bevels are still sharp and defined and the case is most likely retained in its natural look without later polishing. The dial is a “MK IV” dial with “closed 6”, matching with a serial number in the 4 million. It is in exceptionally well-preserved condition despite heavy duty in deep sea, with the hour markers developing a nice patina enjoying a creamy hue.
The present watch is a remarkable piece of history. Being a personal timepiece of Vito Lentini, the watch possesses strong provenance, offering an abundance of accessories that not many other pieces can compare. The watch is accompanied by a COMEX 10-year service medal with Lentini’s name and years of services, a detailed report of JANUS IV Phase II with a handwritten message of his possession of the watch, JANUS IV related literature, and most unusually the full COMEX diving suit including the mask. This watch, that has witnessed one of the most important open-sea expeditions, is truly ultimate collectable item for COMEX and diver’s watch collectors, for sure a rare occasion this watch surfaces in the market that one should not miss.
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.