The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Old 29 November 2019, 05:33 PM   #61
uncleluck
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: England
Posts: 518
Take it this was a nothing watch? Someone that worked their or a later gift?



uncleluck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 November 2019, 07:41 PM   #62
Haywood_Milton
"TRF" Member
 
Haywood_Milton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Yes, it is !
Location: Cheshire & Mersey
Watch: Military issue Sub
Posts: 1,330
That Submariner at Fellows appears to have been correct and I bid a little less than the winning bid. It may have had a fascinating professional diving history, but there was no provenance with it.

Its dial was not brilliant and, with 27.6% buyer's commission on top, it was probably around the right money for a watch with non-logo dial in that condition.

Insta : haywood_milton_rolex
__________________
*Comex:5513,5514,1665x2,16800x2,16600 *Mil sub:5517x2,5513x9,5512 *Submariner:6536/1x2,5508,5513 PCG u/line & double SWISS (America's Cup),5513 giltx2, 5513 m-firstx2,5513 gloss WGx2,1680 Red,1680 White Mk1 & Mk2 *Sea-Dweller:1665 DRSDx3,Great Whitex3 *GMT-Master:6542x2 (1 Bakelite),1675x8 (2 gilt), 16750 & SeaKing 116710LN *Explorer:1016x6 (1 gilt),5500x3,14270 Blackout, Orange 1655 x4 *Milgauss 1019x3 *Cosmo 6263 *RNCD DSSD 116660.
Haywood_Milton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 November 2019, 08:21 PM   #63
Haywood_Milton
"TRF" Member
 
Haywood_Milton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Yes, it is !
Location: Cheshire & Mersey
Watch: Military issue Sub
Posts: 1,330
While writing, I see that my original photos have now been blurred by Photobucket, RIP.

As they provided a reference that some found useful, I reproduce them here in the order in which they appeared on the thread.

1665 :



5513 with Helium Escape Valve :



16800 :



16600 "Indiana Jones" (a specific connection to this watch) :



My 1665 twins :



Insta : haywood_milton_rolex
__________________
*Comex:5513,5514,1665x2,16800x2,16600 *Mil sub:5517x2,5513x9,5512 *Submariner:6536/1x2,5508,5513 PCG u/line & double SWISS (America's Cup),5513 giltx2, 5513 m-firstx2,5513 gloss WGx2,1680 Red,1680 White Mk1 & Mk2 *Sea-Dweller:1665 DRSDx3,Great Whitex3 *GMT-Master:6542x2 (1 Bakelite),1675x8 (2 gilt), 16750 & SeaKing 116710LN *Explorer:1016x6 (1 gilt),5500x3,14270 Blackout, Orange 1655 x4 *Milgauss 1019x3 *Cosmo 6263 *RNCD DSSD 116660.
Haywood_Milton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1 December 2019, 04:09 AM   #64
uncleluck
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: England
Posts: 518
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
That Submariner at Fellows appears to have been correct and I bid a little less than the winning bid. It may have had a fascinating professional diving history, but there was no provenance with it.

Its dial was not brilliant and, with 27.6% buyer's commission on top, it was probably around the right money for a watch with non-logo dial in that condition.

Insta : haywood_milton_rolex
Ah right, thanks. I did wonder as knew I’d read before (probably from yourself) about non logo dials.

I thought the case back engraving looked nice and old so was assuming it was going to fly and when I saw the sale price I thought it maybe meant some uncertainty or perhaps it was nothing to do with Comex or maybe just an employee gift or something.

ps apologies for ‘their’ in my post. Funny how you read stuff back and think WTF did I write that for. Can’t edit it now but it was definitely auto spell rather than me being old
uncleluck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 January 2020, 03:07 AM   #65
Mcroft
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: London
Posts: 1
Recent find - Comex Sub

Hello forum

Hope you are all well. I found my dad's rolex in our store cupboard recently and wanted to ask if I could pick your brains.

Some photos are attached but as you can see it's a comex sub that I believe he would have acquired from his days flying helicopters from singapore to oil rigs in indonesia in the 1970s. Exactly how it came into his ownership is a mystery but I've read that comex did work inspecting and maintaining offshore oil platforms.

It's been a wonderful find and I will be bringing it back to the UK with me. In the meantime I'll give it a clean but have been told that I shouldn't polish the crystal or service it.

Is this true?

Many thanks
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20200115_142909_4.jpg (279.7 KB, 704 views)
File Type: jpg 20200114_162635_1.jpg (203.9 KB, 708 views)
File Type: jpg 20200115_143039_2.jpg (141.2 KB, 708 views)
Mcroft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 January 2020, 02:10 PM   #66
hkbufga
"TRF" Member
 
hkbufga's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Macao
Posts: 24
Thanks for information!

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 SM-N9700 發送
hkbufga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 January 2020, 09:19 PM   #67
Haywood_Milton
"TRF" Member
 
Haywood_Milton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Yes, it is !
Location: Cheshire & Mersey
Watch: Military issue Sub
Posts: 1,330
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mcroft View Post
Hello forum

Hope you are all well. I found my dad's rolex in our store cupboard recently and wanted to ask if I could pick your brains.

Some photos are attached but as you can see it's a comex sub that I believe he would have acquired from his days flying helicopters from singapore to oil rigs in indonesia in the 1970s. Exactly how it came into his ownership is a mystery but I've read that comex did work inspecting and maintaining offshore oil platforms.

It's been a wonderful find and I will be bringing it back to the UK with me. In the meantime I'll give it a clean but have been told that I shouldn't polish the crystal or service it.

Is this true?

Many thanks
It's sensible advice. You'll be better placed when you've had someone familiar with Comex watches examine the watch.

Insta : haywood_milton_rolex
__________________
*Comex:5513,5514,1665x2,16800x2,16600 *Mil sub:5517x2,5513x9,5512 *Submariner:6536/1x2,5508,5513 PCG u/line & double SWISS (America's Cup),5513 giltx2, 5513 m-firstx2,5513 gloss WGx2,1680 Red,1680 White Mk1 & Mk2 *Sea-Dweller:1665 DRSDx3,Great Whitex3 *GMT-Master:6542x2 (1 Bakelite),1675x8 (2 gilt), 16750 & SeaKing 116710LN *Explorer:1016x6 (1 gilt),5500x3,14270 Blackout, Orange 1655 x4 *Milgauss 1019x3 *Cosmo 6263 *RNCD DSSD 116660.
Haywood_Milton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 January 2020, 06:28 AM   #68
capital
"TRF" Member
 
capital's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Europe
Posts: 276
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
It's sensible advice. You'll be better placed when you've had someone familiar with Comex watches examine the watch.



Insta : haywood_milton_rolex
Just browsed through your IG. Mindblowing!! Congrats
Are these all yours? It would be great to read about your journey from start to now!
capital is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 February 2020, 04:46 AM   #69
bosevelt
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Seattle
Posts: 28
Very Cool!
bosevelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 August 2020, 11:13 PM   #70
VincentG
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 19
Mr Milton, what a treasure trove of pics and info on COMEX watches, astounding collection. Here is a pic of the only COMEX watch I ever owned, I never wore the watch even once since it was still asNIB when I purchased it. I noticed you have refrained from posting caseback pics so I will as well. I am thinking you might have known the gentleman I purchased the watch from, he was the owner of an upscale shoe store in Aix-en-Provance near Marseille and he had the largest collection of COMEX I had ever seen. This watch and several like it were sold when COMEX had been bought by a Norwegian diving company, if memory serves approx 2001-2. I sold this watch which going through a divorce in 2005. On my way back to Italy (where I was living at the time) with this watch I already had buyers remorse, I had traveled there to purchase a COMEX 1665 SD which had been sold just a day or so before I arrived. Of the other watches for sale a 5514 and a 1680 neither had COMEX dials, but I really liked their patina, the 5514 inside caseback was originally marked 5513 which had lines engraved through it and 5514 engraved underneath. That is the watch I wish that I had purchased while driving home, but in the end it did not matter as I would have sold it off as well, but it was a watch I could have worn while owning it. "safe queens" were never my thing. My personal opinion of the ultimate "grail" watch would be a toss up between a 5514 and a RN 5517. Neither is in my future unless my wife wins the lottery (i don't play it) lol. Awesome collection sir, hat is off to you.
Thank you,
Vince
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Comex.jpg (49.2 KB, 567 views)
File Type: jpg Comexbox.jpg (58.9 KB, 568 views)
VincentG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 August 2020, 03:30 AM   #71
Zdenek
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 357
That is a story I read years ago on a forum. I don't know if it is true, but it´s interesting story. Maybe you'll like it, too.

"He walked into the shop when I already about to close down. It was one of those slow winter days that
makes you want to take a holiday somewhere warm instead of getting out in the chilly drizzle.

He was wearing a very old but clean brown coat, its' collars dripping with rain. A wave of cold air, and
indeed darkness from the street, sneaked in with him, making me shiver.

'Good evening', he said and took of his hat. I was surprised at how grey his hair was.

'Good evening', I replied, 'How can I help you?'

He did not look like the antique shopping type, common here Only in summer. If anything, he looked like an antique Himself ? 65 maybe 70, although he could be even older. His hands were clutching his wrinkle felt hat, and I noticed They were slightly shaking.

He glanced around at the shelves filled with old brass plates, used silverware, china dishes and books. His eyes stopped for a moment at the stand where I had three or four old pocket watches, Which were lying there long enough for a good discount.

'I would like to sell a watch', he said, 'I hoped you would be interested.'

'A watch? We don't normally buy watches anymore I'm afraid. Not enough demand.'

'Oh dear!', he sounded very disappointed. 'I was hoping you could at least take a look. I don't really know where else to take it.'

He was right. The only other two shops in the town never Dealt with watches. The days when this town was an upscale Ski resort were long gone, and now it was down to a few Eccentric collectors that would pop in looking for an old map occasionally, or mid-age couples buying each other unusual Anniversary presents, to keep us in business.

Still there was something in this mans' appearance that Triggered my curiosity. Perhaps it was his face ? deeply wrinkled, yet with barely noticeable traces of past strains and endurance. His eyes were colourless and full of tired Sadness. He looked awkward and out of place.

'Okay', I said, 'Let's take a look at it. Maybe we can sort something out.'

His left hand reached into the pocket of his coat, and came Out with something wrapped in a handkerchief. He put it on The counter and unwrapped it, his hands shaking visibly.

It was a Rolex. A Submariner. Not in mint condition to say The least. The crystal had obvious scratches and a few bezel marks were worn off. The oyster bracelet had seen its' better days too, and was in a bad need for cleaning. What caught my attention though, was the dial of the Watch. Right below the hands, in a wide rectangle, it said COMEX.

'How long have you had this watch?' I asked the man.

'Thirty-five maybe forty years.'

'Did ' ,I paused inspecting the watch closer in my hands. 'Did you work for ''COMEX?

Yes. I was a surveillance diver'

'And you wore this watch on your dives?' I asked without much thinking, with the watch still in my hands. For the first time he looked straight into my eyes.

'This watch I owe my life to this watch.'

'I looked at him. He glanced at the watch, as if he reconsidering his decision to bring it to the shop.

'In the Gulf. The timer on the platform broke', he explained, 'If I hadn't it on my wrist, I would have
remained there, on the sea floor.'

I stood there, not knowing if I should ask he more questions. I read about the legendary COMEX
exploration dives, but never met anyone who risked their lives for oil discovery and in effect wrote the
rules of modern diving with their own blood.

'May I ask', I said hesitantly, 'Why are you selling this watch? I mean, obviously it is of great value for
you.'

'I wish I could afford a sentimental value,' he replied, ' but my life's memory is more important to me.' He must have noticed my puzzled look, 'It's for the monument. For her grave ' His voice trembled and I regretted ever asking him these questions. But as a salesman, I had to ask him the obligatory one.

'I am sorry Sir', I said, 'How much would you like for this watch?' I was no watch expert but I knew these were rare.

'Well I was hoping a few hundred ', he looked at me hesitantly, ' A thousand maybe?'

I realised he had no idea of the true value of his watch. I Knew it would fetch a lot from some collector but at the Time I had no clue what I would do with it. Selling it here Would be almost impossible. I sighed.

'I tell you what Sir,', I said, 'I'll give you three thousand for it.' Last thing I wanted to do was to rip him off.

Seeing him off with a check in his hand and happy tears In his eyes made my day, although I preferred not to think What I should do next.

It has been five years since that day Rolex COMEX is still In my possession. I never got myself to display it in the shop or post it on the internet. Instead, it is on my wrist ? a mute hero of another mans life."
__________________
"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword, obviously never encountered automatic weapons." – General Douglas MacArthur

"I can resist everything except temptation." – Oscar Wilde
Zdenek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 August 2020, 04:44 AM   #72
capital
"TRF" Member
 
capital's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Europe
Posts: 276
Thanks for sharing!
Where does the story come from?

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk
capital is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 August 2020, 04:52 AM   #73
Zdenek
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 357
Quote:
Originally Posted by capital View Post
Thanks for sharing!
Where does the story come from?

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk
I do not know now. I saved the story from a forum (Timezone??, ...) about 15 years ago.
__________________
"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword, obviously never encountered automatic weapons." – General Douglas MacArthur

"I can resist everything except temptation." – Oscar Wilde
Zdenek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 September 2020, 03:23 PM   #74
hrobi
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 7
Seems like a tricky area of collecting hey, when there's so much money invovled and it can be faked so easily! I personally probably would only go full full full set with a clear path to the original purchaser.
hrobi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 September 2020, 10:08 PM   #75
Haywood_Milton
"TRF" Member
 
Haywood_Milton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Yes, it is !
Location: Cheshire & Mersey
Watch: Military issue Sub
Posts: 1,330
Quote:
Originally Posted by hrobi View Post
Seems like a tricky area of collecting hey, when there's so much money invovled and it can be faked so easily! I personally probably would only go full full full set with a clear path to the original purchaser.
What makes you think Comex watches can be faked easily?

Would you care to share some examples?

Instances where people have been fooled because they didn't know their subject should not bear much weight.

Insta: haywood_milton_rolex
__________________
*Comex:5513,5514,1665x2,16800x2,16600 *Mil sub:5517x2,5513x9,5512 *Submariner:6536/1x2,5508,5513 PCG u/line & double SWISS (America's Cup),5513 giltx2, 5513 m-firstx2,5513 gloss WGx2,1680 Red,1680 White Mk1 & Mk2 *Sea-Dweller:1665 DRSDx3,Great Whitex3 *GMT-Master:6542x2 (1 Bakelite),1675x8 (2 gilt), 16750 & SeaKing 116710LN *Explorer:1016x6 (1 gilt),5500x3,14270 Blackout, Orange 1655 x4 *Milgauss 1019x3 *Cosmo 6263 *RNCD DSSD 116660.
Haywood_Milton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 October 2020, 07:13 AM   #76
roundcubefifteen
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Nevada
Posts: 1
COMEX, is the French commercial diving company that commissioned Rolex to create dive watches. COMEX needed watches that could plunge down to extreme depths, handle pressurized chambers, and survive ensuing decompression periods.
roundcubefifteen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 October 2020, 01:52 AM   #77
Combine man
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 198
So interesting to read about the Comex/Rolex history,especially with the expert knowledge of Mr Milton.
Learnt more about Rolex in my short time on this forum than in 30 years plus ownership!
Combine man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 October 2020, 03:48 AM   #78
Combine man
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 198
Have just read Mr Milton's earlier post of the recollections of the former Navy CD,really fascinating and hugely informative on all sorts of subjects,these were special individuals and one should be proud to wear the same brand of timepiece as a lasting memory to their achievements.
Combine man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8 December 2020, 04:53 AM   #79
naci56
"TRF" Member
 
naci56's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: italy, Rimini
Posts: 62
Hi
naci56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 December 2020, 09:32 AM   #80
SubGMTExplorer2Fan
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: United States
Posts: 85
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zdenek View Post
I do not know now. I saved the story from a forum (Timezone??, ...) about 15 years ago.

Was the writer Truman Capote? The story had depth no pun. Great story though.
SubGMTExplorer2Fan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18 April 2021, 12:11 AM   #81
Skydwatch
"TRF" Member
 
Skydwatch's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 1
Love the Comex!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Skydwatch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 April 2021, 03:09 PM   #82
fightboy88
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: usa
Posts: 10
beautiful
fightboy88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 April 2021, 03:11 PM   #83
fightboy88
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: usa
Posts: 10
i love it
fightboy88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 May 2021, 05:24 AM   #84
capital
"TRF" Member
 
capital's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Europe
Posts: 276
Is there a sort of registry of all known Rolex Comex somewhere?
Also, is there a place where the price of previous comex sales are published?

I'm trying to purchase a 16610 Comex but finding reliable info seems harder than I thought.

Thanks!
capital is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 July 2021, 03:43 AM   #85
edward146
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: nottingham
Posts: 6



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
edward146 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 July 2021, 09:09 PM   #86
James8928
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 3
There is a beautiful Rolex comex for sale on the McTear’s auction house website. Anyone have a view on it? Thanks !
James8928 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 July 2021, 01:44 AM   #87
Goochy
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: UK
Watch: 6263, 1019, DSSD.
Posts: 155
Quote:
Originally Posted by James8928 View Post
There is a beautiful Rolex comex for sale on the McTear’s auction house website. Anyone have a view on it? Thanks !
It’s a mess.
Goochy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 July 2021, 05:27 AM   #88
James8928
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 3
Rolex comex

Why do you say it’s a mess? Fairly sweeping statement….
James8928 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 July 2021, 05:45 AM   #89
Oscar1971
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 149
Few weeks ago I had a conversation with the guy who runs a local car boot got talking about watches and Rolex watches.

Said oh I’ve got a Rolex I used to work for a diving company in the 80’s it’s got the name on the dial

Asked if was COMEX oh yes he replied then proceeded to tell me his dive story’s

Doesn’t wear the watch just sits in a box at his home
Oscar1971 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 July 2021, 05:52 AM   #90
James8928
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 3
Interesting. The early Rolex comex didn’t have comex on the dial. They are stunning watches and the story behind many of them adds a nice history.
James8928 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
comex


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches

Asset Appeal

Wrist Aficionado


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.