ROLEX - a gentleman's Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller bracelet watch. Issued by COMEX, number 2205. Circa 1979. Reference 1665, serial 6176932. Signed automatic calibre 1570. Black dial with luminous hour markers, date aperture to three. Calibrated bezel, stainless steel case fitted to a stainless steel Oyster bracelet with Fliplock clasp. 39mm. Box, papers and diving log.

COMEX or COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'EXPERTISE to give them their full name are experts in deep sea engineering and exploration and have worked closely with Rolex since 1970. They provided a test-bed for the development of the Submariner, the helium escape valve and the subsequent Sea-dweller watch.

Rolex supplied COMEX with watches with the company name on the dial and the issue number on the case back. These were not available through retailers but only issued to divers or officials of the company.

Any COMEX watch will demand a significant premium over a commercially available example of the same model even if it has never been used but examples such as this one that are accompanied by dive logs, work records and issue letters create a package that is of particular interest.