Rolex

Sometimes patience is important for a collector…. After declining and missing Comex watches for the past ten years, my day also had to come... So last tuesday, I took a short car trip to meet an ex Comex diver.... This gentleman entered the Comex in ear...  

the before and after is a world of difference and not to mention the immaculate provenance from the original COMEX diver, your patience paid off handsomely. more than congratulations! Great Job!

when I saw the watch for the first time ! Cheers Jeff

Jeff what a great story and what an amazing watch! That's what is called an old barn find for a car. I know some retired divers. I am going to call them! Cheers Dje

Good luck !

Patience really did pay off for you. I cannot imagine a better way to get such a historical piece like this. I love that it was kept in a teapot for 20 years. Hmmmm.... that gives me some ideas. LOL. Getting this from one of the COMEX divers, and having t... 

except for the mandatory service....20 years without running !

20 years without running should be no problem. It is a Rolex after all. LOL. I hope it is not gone for long, and I am delighted to hear it is attached to your wrist. respo

and it's quite amazing for a watch that has suffered so much and then has been forgotten for 20 years. But that's why we like Rolex, or ? I will only have it serviced because it would damage the movement to keep it running that way I guess... And I also h... 

aaaa, euuuuuh, hmmmmm I am very sorry Jeff, I just can't think correctly any more. Best regards A completely stunned Francois

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Thanks for sharing Jeff. Does Rolex authenticate or verify such watches? - SJX

...there is not much to authentificate here. But I can try to learn more from Rolex about these early deliveries in general. Cheers Jeff

I can't imagine the whirl of emotions you had after your friend told you about opportunity to have such rare beast and after becoming new owner Great thank you for sharing damian

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Great shoot...Great watch...Great story... Everything Goooood!!! Thanks for sharing... Best Chung

A great find and with such provenance! I can see the grin on your face from here Thanks for sharing a wonderful story. cheers fernando

right on spot ! Cheers Jeff

In addition the story is beautiful. Congratulations Mr Strong 

welcome on board ! Cheers Jeff

.....what an amazing catch !!! Wonderful watch with an unbelievable nice provenance........BREATHTAKING !! Enjoy this rarity every second. Best Matthias

...I'm sure you appreciate the brown dial as much as I do ;-) Cheers Jeff

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love to have a beer with that diver...

...and ask him another bunch of questions ! Cheers Jeff

And what a great watch, I love the coler of those tropic MK2 dials. Enjoy!!!!!! Cheers, Bas.nl

....and when you know the history of the first 1665's - which were really experimental watches - you think that maybe there are some even earlier Comex SD's somewhere ! Cheers Jeff

Very interesting story Jeff! Thanks for sharing! -MW

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Congrats on a beautiful piece. Godspeed A

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Congratulations Jeff ! Seems like your long patience finally gave some fruit, and what a Comex. I have only seen one other 1665 DRSD Comex and that was on an auction. But what I am searching and looking after is in many cases more the history / provenance... 

but commemorative watches given to famous divers after depth records. They have mk4 dials and no Comex issue numbers. (Photos: Daniel Bourne) Cheers Jeff This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2009-11-25 01:36:56...  

Respect for this discovery! Enjoy it to the fullest, rgrds.P

a brown dial Comex.....would you have imagined that ? Cheers Jeff

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what a nice post!. I´m really happy because you found this Rare Bird. Thanks for the interesting and great reading and big congrats! Best Emilio

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Also fantastic to see one of these that has been used and used hard.

...it also would have amazing stories to tell ! Cheers Jeff

the watch is obviously beautiful and a rare find. but its the story that really makes it special. as always, wear in the very best of health kevin

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Wow, Jeff...That's crazy! I didn't know that the DRSD may come as a Comex Watch, I always thought it was a jocke! The Deep Brown dial and the patina of the indexes are pure madness, and in this context, the red writings are nothing else than the cherry on... 

really tiny, like on the early 5513 Comex. Cheers Jeff

I love it, and it has a great history!!!

thanks !

my friend... ;-)

Jeff, You lucky, lucky guy! I just love reading these stories. The history is worth even more than the watch. That is why I love vintage! Enjoy Rene

that's exactly what makes these toolwatches so exciting ! And I hope to get more informations and pictures from the diver. Cheers Jeff

What a beauty !!!!! Finnaly it happened , straight from the diver owner All the best Jay

I know that you're happy for your old friend ;-) By the way, how about a post about your single red SD sometime ? Or your stunning brown 5513 ? Cheers Jeff

Dr. Strong I think this rolex waked up to find you ! great story, it gives me confidence that my tornek rayville will find me some days ;-) keep on surfing Stephan

as you cannot imagine how many coincidences it took for me and the watch to find each other ! Cheers Jeff

… how protective the antioxidants in tea are! And the tannins obviously seeped into that dial. J Wonderful colours and a lovely looking watch. All topped off by a fantastic story. Great to see your new watch; congratulations, Jeff. Andrew

all the Mk2 DRSD dials turn to brown....I love paint issues ;-) Cheers Jeff

... my computer untill i read your story ! My congrats too Jeff, a truly remarkable find, something you probably never even dreamed off ! PS. Don't leave it in YOUR tea-pot the comig 20 years Filip

watches are not important for Comex divers....can you imagine that the guy litteraly threw the watch at me when we had a deal ? Amazing people.... Cheers Jeff

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Fifty Fathoms, Submariner,....the same human challenge ! Cheers Jeff

Congrats on a great find and thanks for sharing this rarity with us! HAGWE Asi

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I was lucky to find one ! Cheers Jeff

That's an amazing find. The watch on its own is already an exceedingly attractive piece, but coupled with its provenance becomes even more desirable. I'm really happy for you! Thanks for sharing your good fortune! May you enjoy the watch for many years to... 

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I am not sure that we fully realize the importance of the ten 1665 DRSD along with some 5513 from the first ever Rolex batch delivered to Comex in january 1971. This batch started it all. Maybe one day collectors will start to understand the importance of... 

...I'm also a big fan of the first batch: no box, no papers, no logo dial....but the only 200 Rolex Comex that have for sure all been tested in extreme conditions during the fascinating experimental time of the pioneers.... Thanks again for the kind words... 

....what a delicious story...but moreover.....what a delicious watch. Indeed a treasure but also of utmost importance....! Thanks for sharing. Best, Mark

I was just flooding in this beautiful place when I sw that ! The watch is just a dream, the provenance is incredible...! I respect a lot this sort of catch, not just a money story ! Enjoy your dreamcomexwatch Jeff ! Quentin

stupendo.

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Congratulation!

...you've captured with this watch. It is absolutely beautiful. thankyou for sharing this with us!! Cheers Tony

.....it seems like ages ago...

I was refreshing my screen when I saw this "New" post. I love it when they surface. There is so much information on the site that we need to share. Best Bill

...have to write something someday about the second watch I got from the same source....;-)

The Comex DRSD is a real beast. This divers really had a wild life. This report is always a pleasure to read and enjoy. And we lern something new everyday. Many thanks Bill

...the watch with Rolex confirmation letter and more pictures from the diver... ...  

... with an awesome story and provenance!! I enjoyed so much your presentation, and read it with great interest. I´m happy for you with such an extraordinary finding, and I wish you´ll keep enjoying wearing it so much. Thank you so much for sharing! Cor... 

Let me just say: what a piece, what a man and what a story !! - simply AWESOME and Captivating Thank you - also today again, when coincidently browsed the forum and stumbled on the link.. Best, hs PS: being a humble rolex newbie, who has acculated several...