15
Rolex
Ref. 16600
Sea-Dweller "Polipetto"
A fine and extremely rare automatic diver's wristwatch with center seconds, date, engraved caseback, bracelet, guarantee and box, made for the Italian Police Divers Corps
- Estimate
- CHF50,000 - 100,000€44,500 - 89,100$50,400 - 101,000
CHF137,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 2008
- Reference No
- 16600
- Movement No
- 32'608'487
- Case No
- V318985
- Model Name
- Sea-Dweller "Polipetto"
- Material
- Stainless Steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3135, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped ""PJ 93160A" to the end links, max length 215 mm (without extension)
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped "P17" and "93160A"
- Dimensions
- 40mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Rolex Guarantee card and cardholder signed by La Spezia, Italy retailer "Montres et Bijoux di Giorgini" dated December 2008 and issued to Mario Gianbalvo, diving table card and instruction in document holder, Italian Police Divers Corps DVD, Divers Corps emblem, sale tag, product literature, fitted presentation box and outer packaging
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its diving corps, the Italian State Police asked Rolex to produce this rare special edition, one of the last examples of a cooperation between Rolex and a police/military corp. 78 pieces were made in total, of which only 28 bear the certification number of the diver to whom it was given. In the case of this watch, this 'Brevet' number is 383, relating to diver Mario Gianbalvo, who was given the watch in December 2008.
The emblem of the Italian Police Divers Corps - the octopus - is immediately apparent on the dial and is the origin of the "Polipetto" nickname for the model (Italian for "small octopus"). The caseback engraving is executed using high-voltage electro-gravure and it reads, on the present piece, "POLIZIA DI STATO SOMMOZZATORI 1958 - 2008 BREV.SMZ N.383'.
The watch is offered in absolutely mint and unworn condition, and comes with its original box, guarantee, plastic guard for the bezel, chronometer tag, a leather folder containing a double-ended tool for adjusting the bracelet, extended link, a credit card sized Buehlman diving table, and a uniform patch, bearing the Octopus insignia.
The Sea-Dweller "Polipetto" can indisputably be considered one of the rarest and most collectible Rolex "tool" watches of modern times. Highlighting its importance in the pantheon of highly sought-after Rolex watches, the Octopus is featured on the cover of Mondani and Ravagnani's seminal work "Rolex Submariner Story". To find a Polipetto, furthermore one of the 28 bearing the brevet number, in absolutely mint condition and complete of such a wealth of accessories is without a doubt an outstandingly rare opportunity for the collector of rare timepieces.
The emblem of the Italian Police Divers Corps - the octopus - is immediately apparent on the dial and is the origin of the "Polipetto" nickname for the model (Italian for "small octopus"). The caseback engraving is executed using high-voltage electro-gravure and it reads, on the present piece, "POLIZIA DI STATO SOMMOZZATORI 1958 - 2008 BREV.SMZ N.383'.
The watch is offered in absolutely mint and unworn condition, and comes with its original box, guarantee, plastic guard for the bezel, chronometer tag, a leather folder containing a double-ended tool for adjusting the bracelet, extended link, a credit card sized Buehlman diving table, and a uniform patch, bearing the Octopus insignia.
The Sea-Dweller "Polipetto" can indisputably be considered one of the rarest and most collectible Rolex "tool" watches of modern times. Highlighting its importance in the pantheon of highly sought-after Rolex watches, the Octopus is featured on the cover of Mondani and Ravagnani's seminal work "Rolex Submariner Story". To find a Polipetto, furthermore one of the 28 bearing the brevet number, in absolutely mint condition and complete of such a wealth of accessories is without a doubt an outstandingly rare opportunity for the collector of rare timepieces.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
Browse Maker