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Lot Essay
With Rolex Bexley original letter confirming that the present watch was supplied to Comex in January 1972, Rolex International Service Guarantee dated 26 September 2008 and Rolex presentation box.
Furthermore delivered with a letter dated 20 May 2008, signed Harry Thomson, Diving & Hyperbaric advisor, and copies from his diving logbook. Mr. Thomson confirms having received the present watch in March 1976 from Bernard Dubano, at the time trials manager at Comex. In his letter, Mr. Thomson also explains his career and experiences as a diver.
This fine example of a COMEX ref. 5513 Submariner is preserved in extremely appealing original overall condition. Its dial shows attractively discoloured luminous material to numerals and hands, the case has evidently not been exposed to careless polishing and impresses with its full body and sharp angles to the facets of the lugs. The attractive metallic grey colour of the bleached bezel further enhances the appealing look of this rare timepiece.
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 and 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. The case back of the present watch bears reference 5513 and 567, the last three digits of the serial number.
Furthermore delivered with a letter dated 20 May 2008, signed Harry Thomson, Diving & Hyperbaric advisor, and copies from his diving logbook. Mr. Thomson confirms having received the present watch in March 1976 from Bernard Dubano, at the time trials manager at Comex. In his letter, Mr. Thomson also explains his career and experiences as a diver.
This fine example of a COMEX ref. 5513 Submariner is preserved in extremely appealing original overall condition. Its dial shows attractively discoloured luminous material to numerals and hands, the case has evidently not been exposed to careless polishing and impresses with its full body and sharp angles to the facets of the lugs. The attractive metallic grey colour of the bleached bezel further enhances the appealing look of this rare timepiece.
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 and 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. The case back of the present watch bears reference 5513 and 567, the last three digits of the serial number.