Ryan5446
517
Comex
Dec 19, 2009,10:01 AM
Here are some pictures of my most recent watch which I have been fortunate to find & buy (or actually found an owner willing to sell it).
It is a 2.8 mil 5513 with HEV. Caseback reads 1970, Bexely letter states it was issued to Comex in 1972. The watch has been a real workhorse and from reading the diver letter that came with the watch, it has been used as a tool to the diver. Only relief the watch got was when the diver had to use thermic cutting equipment. The watch then remained in the diving bell hanging on one of the spare valves. The watch could tell some stories I guess. From the diver logs, I can see it has been in action all over the world. From the warm waters in the Persian Gulf to the freezing cold water in Norway. It was used during the salvage of a US Navy P3 Orion close to the coast of Oman.
The rough life shows on the watch. Case is reasonable. The original 9315 folded is being restored at the moment, but will be re-united with the watch soon. It wears very comfortable and looking at it makes me realize how rare this watch is and what a life it has been through. A true tool watch, a true grail for me.
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Comex
By: Ryan5446 : December 19th, 2009-10:01
Here are some pictures of my most recent watch which I have been fortunate to find & buy (or actually found an owner willing to sell it). It is a 2.8 mil 5513 with HEV. Caseback reads 1970, Bexely letter states it was issued to Comex in 1972. The watc...
Another unbelievable catch, Steven.
By: amanico : December 19th, 2009-10:12
How many do you own of these Comex? You may open a Museum! What a superb collection you're a building! Very Best, my friend nicolas
HAPPY for YOU!!!
By: Philipps : December 19th, 2009-14:06
Great addition & truly stunning Comex! Well done, enjoy it!!!!! Rgrds.Philipp
I also like....
By: MiniCooper : December 19th, 2009-14:38
the faded bezel... indicated usage & character..... Cheers
Wew...
By: kbc.2222 : December 19th, 2009-18:54
What the great catch...Congrats... Thanks for sharing... Best Chung
A rare find...
By: fernando : December 19th, 2009-19:23
and a watch with so much character! fernando
Yeah Steven !
By: DrStrong : December 20th, 2009-00:33
Comex at its best. Rolex at its best. Enjoy the great find, you lucky man ! ...
Wauw
By: hans_jorgen_1968 : December 20th, 2009-03:18
...That is the most beautiful evenly faded dial I have seen. True magnificent Comex with a great history Well done and congratulations BR Hans
Very nice ....
By: bimbeano : December 20th, 2009-04:03
this faded bezel really looks awesome ! Filip
Biggest Congrats Steven....
By: kaiserfranz : December 20th, 2009-06:06
......another fantastic watch in your outstanding collection !! Really a heartbeater - enjoy it. Regards Matthias
Great
By: eparisini : December 21st, 2009-06:14
Watch and pics!!!
Grail!!!!!!!!!!!
By: bas.nl : December 21st, 2009-12:36
I love it, really beautiful comex. I hoop to see it soon in real live. Enjoy it Cheers, Bas.nl
Congrats
By: kevincosta85 : December 21st, 2009-16:01
Wear it in good health.
Big congrats Steven!!!!! You got it!
By: bullibeer : December 22nd, 2009-00:03
Happy it found a great new owner..... the best Comex ref. for me. Found out some interesting stuff about 5513's... And it's so nice.... they are the true watches of the beginning of the Comex conquest to me!!!! Enjoy this beauty! It's just a killer!!!! Be...
5513's
By: DrStrong : December 22nd, 2009-09:43
you're welcome to share your informations my friend ;-) I agree concerning the early Comex....I love them ! Cheers Jeff
What a watch!!
By: DDW : December 22nd, 2009-10:17
Looks like this one had a hard but interesting and fulfilling life! Great that it ended up on your wrist Ciao, D
Great post as always. Quick question
By: Bill : October 22nd, 2013-15:16
Any chance you can give us an indication of the number on the back. If not the exact number at least range 50-75 75 and over. I imaging it is the small number. Thanks for sharing. Best Bill
hi Bill
By: Ryan5446 : October 23rd, 2013-10:53
It is a small number in the very low 100's Cheers
Thanks for the Rolex Comex info
By: Bill : October 23rd, 2013-11:24
It seems that there a few good examples in 283 serial range. So we are still searching for the upper limit its seems - there is in 2.83 mil Mike woods 1969 5513 #51 Matt logo dial - I live between Mike and the #102 with no logo with full provenance - 102 ...
if you insist
By: Ryan5446 : October 23rd, 2013-11:53
Thank you for your post. The number is 103. It still has the orginal small logo dial. When I m back home next week I ll have a look at the paperwork of the diver again. I think the delivery of these early Comex watches was not perfect science. The batch m...
I have some interesting diver stories of the Santa Barbara Cowboys.
By: Bill : October 23rd, 2013-12:07
These guys were like rock stars bringing in big buck based on depth and time of the dive. I have an original Doxa watch from a diver in 1968 telling abouit fighting through the narcosis to complete his dive constantly trying to convince himself that thing...
if only these watches could talk
By: Ryan5446 : October 23rd, 2013-12:22
From all the stories I ve heard and were shared over the years, I think we can only image the kind of life these guys lived. Many of them today are still difficult to approach. They are just a different breed. Can only imagine the bar fights, the drinking...
What a picture and what a life
By: Bill : October 23rd, 2013-14:15
Thanks for sharing that one. Looks like a couple of guys may have been Rolex men. Bill
Just stunning in all respects....
By: Baron - Mr Red : October 24th, 2013-01:21
......I can understand why you consider this a grail. Also love the faded insert.....adds that realism of "lived-in" look. Congratulations to you. J
If the question is....
By: DrStrong : October 23rd, 2013-23:02
...what is the highest Comex number one has seen for a 2.83mil 5513....then I will play with 172 But again, just my personal experience.
lowest and highest ...
By: marcello pisani : October 24th, 2013-00:42
in my records ( with pictures ) are numbers 13 and 197.
You win....LOL !!
By: DrStrong : October 24th, 2013-07:14
I have pictures of 172 though ;-)
Great picture
By: Bill : October 24th, 2013-08:55
The dial would have been received at service? Thanks Bill
of course ...
By: marcello pisani : October 24th, 2013-09:11
it's a later glossy replacement dial ( late 80s- early 90s ).
Higher reference Rolex Comex 5513 #197
By: Bill : October 24th, 2013-08:24
So we have a pretty good range to assume that there may have been as much as 200 units of the Rolex Comex 5513. The all seem to fall in the 2.83 mil range. Thank you Marcello for the excellent information. Bill
yes ...
By: marcello pisani : October 24th, 2013-09:05
the first batch of 5513 ( 1972 delivery ) consists of 200 watches. there is also a 2nd and much smaller batch of 5513 delivered in 1973.
I am always wondering about the Comex delivery.
By: Bill : October 24th, 2013-09:13
about the dates. It seem some divers have the watches in their possession sometime between 1970 and 1972. I am curious if watches were delivered slowly over time which means some divers would have them in 1970 while the last batch may have been delivered ...
according to infos received ...
By: marcello pisani : October 24th, 2013-09:20
in the south of France these watches were given in two times ( both in 1972 ) . 5513 ( with valve ) given in a previous time ( for ex. 1970 ) had no delivery number in the back. the 5513 " comex nr.1 " have in fact a case in the 2.83 range ( so produced a...
see my answer to Bill and
By: marcello pisani : October 24th, 2013-09:26
btw it's not possible that a case in the 2.83 range could be from 1969 ( which has an upper limit a little above 2.2 ).
it's simply a mis-labeling question....
By: marcello pisani : October 25th, 2013-00:59
as the 2.2 range is roughly equally shared between 1969 and 1970 , while 3.5 range is shared betwen 1973 and 1974., according to internal Rolex production tables. the problem is that you use " selfmade tables " you find on the net usually the mistake may ...
WOW!!
By: vernon : October 24th, 2013-01:59
I'm getting a tingle just looking at the photos and reading about it - how excited must you be!! Best wishes, Vernon
thanks
By: Ryan5446 : October 24th, 2013-08:19
keep in mind this is a topic of 2009 !!
Still very relevant today
By: Bill : October 24th, 2013-17:00
I am always intrigued by what we can learn over time. The real catalyst for my bring this back was the picture of Mike W pictures with a 1969 Comex noted as 2.83mill which was curious. Could just simply be mis labeled. Best Bill
only one way to find out
By: Ryan5446 : October 25th, 2013-07:30
I ve asked Mike to join the discussion and clear up the mystery :-)