Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic centre seconds divers watch made for Comex together with original certificate, bracelet-setting tool and fitted box - Sea-Dweller, 'Comex 3177' Ref:16660, Case No.8509635, 1984

27-jewel Cal.3035 movement with hack seconds, black dial with luminous dot and baton hour markers, the dial printed Comex Sea-Dweller 4000ft=1220m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, date aperture, sweep centre seconds, polished case with calibrated revolving bezel, helium escape valve, screw down Oyster crown and screw on back stamped 8509635 on the inside and 'Rolex 3177 Comex ' on the rear, fitted steel Oyster bracelet with locking clasp, together with fitted Rolex box, bracelet setting tool, spare link, green wallet with printed sticker showing the serial number and Comex issue number original Rolex certificate, case dial and movement signed 40mm. Sold for £34,000 plus Premium and tax

Note : The Sea-Dweller and the Submariner models were all used by the French diving company Comex (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise) and were issued to their specialist divers with each watch marked Comex on the dial and numbered on the rear, this example been stamped 3177.

The 16660 was a transitional watch for Rolex, as it had a new case, sapphire crystal and larger helium escape valve, this meant that the new watch could be taken to depths up to 4000 feet or 1220 meters. The model also featured a new movement, the Cal.3035 that replaced the Cal.1575 in the previous 1665 Sea-Dweller model. The reference 16660's were delivered to Comex between 1980 and 1984 and the Comex serial numbers were between 3000 and 3200.

The current vendor of this watch was based in Norway and he started diving in the 1970’s, where he continued up until the 1990’s. He worked for Comex from 1980-1989 and was diving in some of the coldest waters in the world. The photograph illustrated shows the current vendor diving at a depth of over 300 meters in the Norwegian Sea.

Bonhams. Fine Watches and Wristwatches, 13 Dec 2007. New Bond Street