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Lot Essay
Examples of the COMEX Sea-Dweller reference 1665 in such appealing condition are exceedingly rare. Beautifully preserved, the luminous ascents have aged to an attractive uniform tone and provide warmth to the dial.
The Sea-Dweller reference 1665 is one of the most desirable of all the Rolex references used by COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertise). As of the late 1960s, Rolex supplied different Submariner and Sea-Dweller 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.
The defining characteristic of reference 1665, beyond the HEV, is the case back engraved with the watch issue number. In addition, most of the dials of reference 1665 are signed Comex. The present watch features the so-called ‘rail’ dial. Its name is derived from the symmetric division of the two lines below the centre, 'Superlative' and 'Officially' to the left, clearly separated by a vertical space (thus ‘rail’), and 'Chronometer' and 'Certified' to the right.
Never available to the public, these watches were only issued to professional divers, reflecting their status as professional diving equipment. Thus, COMEX divers were required to sign a document or Certificat de Reception upon receipt of their individually issued Rolex.
The Sea-Dweller reference 1665 is one of the most desirable of all the Rolex references used by COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertise). As of the late 1960s, Rolex supplied different Submariner and Sea-Dweller 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.
The defining characteristic of reference 1665, beyond the HEV, is the case back engraved with the watch issue number. In addition, most of the dials of reference 1665 are signed Comex. The present watch features the so-called ‘rail’ dial. Its name is derived from the symmetric division of the two lines below the centre, 'Superlative' and 'Officially' to the left, clearly separated by a vertical space (thus ‘rail’), and 'Chronometer' and 'Certified' to the right.
Never available to the public, these watches were only issued to professional divers, reflecting their status as professional diving equipment. Thus, COMEX divers were required to sign a document or Certificat de Reception upon receipt of their individually issued Rolex.