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217 - ROLEX Submariner ‘Comex SA’, ref. 1680, no. 5114447 Circa 19…
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Estimate €10,000 - €15,000
Sale commission
Description
ROLEX Submariner ‘Comex SA’, ref. 1680, no. 5114447 Circa 1977 Steel diving wristwatch supplied to Comex. Round case, graduated rotating bezel, screw-down caseback, signed. Black dial, luminescent hour markers and hands, central seconds hand, date window, signed. Calibre 1570 automatic movement, chronometer-certified, signed. Oyster bracelet, ref. 93150, end links 580. Folding clasp, ref. 93150/S.V8, signed. Diameter 40 mm Accompanied by its original ‘stamped’ warranty dated 17 February 1978 confirming delivery to Comex Services SA, presentation box and outer box, a Rolex anchor, a COSC tag, a Rolex card holder, a service warranty issued by Atelier Jacques Bianchi in Marseille, and a ‘black’ digital passport issued by Watch Certificate detailing the complete history of known servicing. Provenance: kept within the original owner’s family. We would like to thank Mr Jacques Bianchi and his workshop for their technical assistance and kind cooperation. At first glance, the only thing that sets this Submariner 1680 apart is that it is a very fine vintage piece… Yet it is a genuine collector’s item. This watch is in fact distinguished by its provenance: it was delivered by Rolex to Comex (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises de Marseille) in 1978, as attested by its original warranty card, stamped with the signature of Jean-Paul Mary. A former mine-clearing diver with the French Navy, he joined Comex in the mid-1960s before moving to the Personnel Operations department at Comex Services in Marseille, where he was notably responsible for the management and allocation of Rolex watches intended for the company’s staff. In this capacity, his handwritten signature sometimes appears on certain period certificates. Whilst the watch presented here has neither a Comex-marked dial nor a case back bearing a serial number specific to the Marseille-based company, it is nevertheless possible that it was delivered to Comex in its current state. The existence of Submariner 1680 models without the Comex logo or four-digit numbering is, in fact, well documented: a series known as the ‘Comex Awards’ was delivered to Marseille the previous year. Awarded in early 1978 to a diver at Comex Services SA, a division specialising in offshore operations, this watch can be linked to the Submariner 1680 that belonged to diver Jesse Sanders (Comex USA), sold by Sotheby’s on 9 June 2023 at the Important Watches auction (lot 117). Appearing on the market for the first time, this watch is also accompanied by a digital passport issued by Watch Certificate detailing the complete history of known servicing. CONDITION REPORT: Movement operational at the time of catalogue compilation. Good overall condition. Service history available on request (last serviced in December 2025 at Mr Jacques Bianchi’s workshop in Marseille). Service clasp (circa 1996). Service insert with Luminova pearl. Strap with minimal stretch. Please note that all watches are sold as is. No guarantee is given as to their working condition. Most watches have been opened to identify the type and quality of the movement, including water-resistant watches. Buyers are advised to consult a watchmaker to check the watch’s water resistance. Any information provided regarding restoration, damage or the condition of the watch remains subject to the buyer’s own judgement. The absence of any indication of replacement parts, restoration or damage does not in any way imply that an item is free from any existing defects. All items presented may have undergone previous servicing and may contain non-original parts. The dimensions and weight of the items are given as approximate figures.
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About the sale Summer Selection: Jewellery & Watches
Auction location
Auction time 07/03/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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