26 Rolex Comex “double Red” Sea-dweller,  Ref. 1665, Fresh to the Market, for the Expedition Janus iv, Stainless Steel With Box, With Janus iv Book Dedicated by Vito Lentini, Original Newspaper Articles, Comex Medal, Comex Face Mask, Comex Divin

Estimate: € 80,000 –⁠ 100,000

Sold € 100,100

Model: Sea-Dweller
Material: Stainless steel
Reference N°: 1665
Year: Circa 1976
Case N°: 4205306
Caliber: 1570 automatic
Bracelet: Rolex stainless steel Oyster, ref. 93150, end-links 585
Dimensions: 40 mm
Signed: Dial, case, movement and bracelet
Accessories: Outer box, box, metal original COMEX medal engraved, Vito Lentini copy of ID (without numbers). Declaration of Mr. Vito Lentini, JANUS IV book, original old newspaper articles COMEX face mask, COMEX diving suit and copy of archive photographs.

When the Rolex Submariner was launched in 1953, it represented Rolex’s answer to the demands of the fast-growing community of recreational scuba divers, at the time a novel sport. Soon, however, the company realized that it could also provide divers watches to professional institutions – such as COMEX – and began a jointed research & development process with these companies to adapt the Submariner to the stricter requirements of professional diving endeavors such as testing them in new underwater habitats which were being developed at the time. The result of this process is a series of “upgraded” Submariner watches featuring improved water resistance and, at times, the helium escape valve, developed to avoid the glass popping out of the watch during decompression. In 1971, a civilian version of these timepieces was launched with the Sea-Dweller line, the name inspired by the underwater habitats into which the scientists, and their watches, would dwell for extended periods of time. The present piece belongs to this line of highly advanced divers’ wristwatches, and it is a specimen from the so-called double red series, featuring two lines of red text. Interestingly, the first examples of reference 1665 bear either the last three digits or – such as the present watch – the full serial number inside the caseback, a highly unusual detail for a standard production Rolex wristwatch. Normally, such a practice was adopted by the company for special order timepieces. Highly increasing its appeal and collectability, the present watch is fresh on the market, very well preserved and was formerly the property of Mr. Vito Lentini for more than 40 years. This is a rare opportunity for collectors of professional timepieces to own a wristwatch which truly lived through the hardships of deep-water diving; further to its appeal is also accompanied by a metal medal received by COMEX, a JANUS IV book dedicated by Mr. Lentini, declaration of sale, original 1970s newspaper articles, COMEX face musk, COMEX suit dive and archives copy photos.

Montre Rolex en acier modèle COMEX, « Double Écriture Rouge », Sea-Dweller, utilisée pour l’expédition JANUS IV. Montre personnelle de M. Vito Lentini, un des six explorateurs de l’expédition JANUS IV, en sa possession depuis plus de 40 ans. Accompagnée de sa boite, de la médaille COMEX, d’un livre JANUS IV avec texte/facture manuscrit par Mr Lentini, articles de journaux originaux d’époque, masque facial COMEX, combinaison plongée COMEX et photocopie d’archives. Très rare opportunité de posséder une montre-bracelet qui a vraiment traversé les épreuves de la plongée en eau profonde.