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Lot Essay
The present timepiece is a most appealing example of the rare reference 168000 made for COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise). Preserved in very good, original overall condition, the timepiece is offered by the family of the original owner. Furthermore, the inside case back of the present watch bears reference 168000 and R381574, the entire serial number.
COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise), a professional diving operation for the oil industry was founded in 1961 in Marseille by Henri-Germain Delauze, Comex or Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise pioneered 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. Over the years, the watches featuring the legendary Comex name have undergone major technological innovations, the most famous still today remaining the gas escape valve, a crucial feature on diver's watches.
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=300m: approx. 1988 - 1989
COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise), a professional diving operation for the oil industry was founded in 1961 in Marseille by Henri-Germain Delauze, Comex or Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise pioneered 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. Over the years, the watches featuring the legendary Comex name have undergone major technological innovations, the most famous still today remaining the gas escape valve, a crucial feature on diver's watches.
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=300m: approx. 1988 - 1989