Lot Essay
With Rolex International Service Guarantee stating that the present watch has undergone a complete overhaul on 1 June 2009.
As of the late 1960s, Rolex supplied different Submariner models featuring the patented gas escape valve to the side to COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise) in Marseille, a professional diving operation for the oil industry.
Reference 5513, such as the present watch, was the first of these models, depth rated to 660 ft (220 m), with the COMEX designation on the outside of the screw back but not on the dial. Part or the entire serial number was repeated to the inside of the case back, a feature only seen on ref. 5513 supplied to COMEX and to military forces (see the following lot). The case back of the present watch bears the engraved reference 5513 and 755, the last three digits of the serial number.
For a reference 16610 supplied to COMEX see lot 21 in this auction.
As of the late 1960s, Rolex supplied different Submariner models featuring the patented gas escape valve to the side to COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise) in Marseille, a professional diving operation for the oil industry.
Reference 5513, such as the present watch, was the first of these models, depth rated to 660 ft (220 m), with the COMEX designation on the outside of the screw back but not on the dial. Part or the entire serial number was repeated to the inside of the case back, a feature only seen on ref. 5513 supplied to COMEX and to military forces (see the following lot). The case back of the present watch bears the engraved reference 5513 and 755, the last three digits of the serial number.
For a reference 16610 supplied to COMEX see lot 21 in this auction.