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Lot Essay
This excellent Comex Sea-Dweller remains crisp even 40 years after it was made. The case retains sharp angles and very well preserved bezel insert. The matte dial is unblemished and the luminous material has an attractive even deep cream tone. The present watch with Comex issue number 3009 is an early example from the matte dial series which commenced with issue number 3000.
The Sea-Dweller, reference 16660, also known as the ‘Triple Six’, was introduced in 1978 and made until 1988. It replaced the reference 1665 with an increased depth rating of 1220 meters instead of the previous 610 meters, sapphire crystal, larger helium escape valve and caliber 3035 movement.
Over the course of its brief ten-year production run there were a total of two different batches delivered to COMEX. Issue Nr. 3000 to 3099, of which the present watch is number 3009, were fitted with a matte dial with luminous indexes directly on the surface and caseback engraved “Original Gas Escape Valve”. Issue Nr. 3100 to 3199 featured a gloss dial with luminous indexes in white metal surrounds and a case back with only “Rolex” and “Comex” engraving.
COMEX
As of the late 1960s, Rolex supplied different Submariner models featuring the patented gas escape valve to COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise) in Marseille, a professional diving operation for the oil industry.
Watches supplied to Comex include following references:
Ref. 5513 Submariner 660ft=200m: approx. 1971 - 1973
Ref. 5514 Submariner 660ft=200m: approx. 1974 - 1977
Ref. 1665 Sea-Dweller, 200ft=600m: approx. 1977 - 1982
Ref. 1680 Submariner Date, 660ft=200m: approx. 1978 - 1979
Ref. 16600 Sea-Dweller 4000ft=1220m: approx. 2003
Ref. 16610 Submariner Date 1000ft=300m: approx. 1986 - 1997
Ref. 16660 Sea-Dweller 4000ft=1220m: approx. 1980 - 1984
Ref. 16800 Submariner Date 1000ft=300m: approx. 1982 - 1986
Ref. 168000 Submariner Date 1000ft=300 m: approx. 1988 - 1989
Founded in 1961 in Marseille by Henri-Germain Delauze, Comex or Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise pioneers in professional diving in the commercial field, requiring tool watches designed for conducting safe diving operations at greater depths, known as saturation diving. The successful collaboration between Comex and Rolex started in the early 1970s when all divers were progressively equipped with watches especially made for Comex: the improved ‘Submariner’ model meeting the most stringent technical and professional demands of the professional deep-sea diver.
The Sea-Dweller, reference 16660, also known as the ‘Triple Six’, was introduced in 1978 and made until 1988. It replaced the reference 1665 with an increased depth rating of 1220 meters instead of the previous 610 meters, sapphire crystal, larger helium escape valve and caliber 3035 movement.
Over the course of its brief ten-year production run there were a total of two different batches delivered to COMEX. Issue Nr. 3000 to 3099, of which the present watch is number 3009, were fitted with a matte dial with luminous indexes directly on the surface and caseback engraved “Original Gas Escape Valve”. Issue Nr. 3100 to 3199 featured a gloss dial with luminous indexes in white metal surrounds and a case back with only “Rolex” and “Comex” engraving.
COMEX
As of the late 1960s, Rolex supplied different Submariner models featuring the patented gas escape valve to COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise) in Marseille, a professional diving operation for the oil industry.
Watches supplied to Comex include following references:
Ref. 5513 Submariner 660ft=200m: approx. 1971 - 1973
Ref. 5514 Submariner 660ft=200m: approx. 1974 - 1977
Ref. 1665 Sea-Dweller, 200ft=600m: approx. 1977 - 1982
Ref. 1680 Submariner Date, 660ft=200m: approx. 1978 - 1979
Ref. 16600 Sea-Dweller 4000ft=1220m: approx. 2003
Ref. 16610 Submariner Date 1000ft=300m: approx. 1986 - 1997
Ref. 16660 Sea-Dweller 4000ft=1220m: approx. 1980 - 1984
Ref. 16800 Submariner Date 1000ft=300m: approx. 1982 - 1986
Ref. 168000 Submariner Date 1000ft=300 m: approx. 1988 - 1989
Founded in 1961 in Marseille by Henri-Germain Delauze, Comex or Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise pioneers in professional diving in the commercial field, requiring tool watches designed for conducting safe diving operations at greater depths, known as saturation diving. The successful collaboration between Comex and Rolex started in the early 1970s when all divers were progressively equipped with watches especially made for Comex: the improved ‘Submariner’ model meeting the most stringent technical and professional demands of the professional deep-sea diver.