For collectors of vintage Rolex sports models, few models have captured their attention as much as COMEX models over the recent past. The Submariner reference 5514 was specifically developed by Rolex for Compagnie Maritime d’Expertise or “COMEX”, a specialist diving company within the oil industry. Watches were issued to their specialist divers with commonly the dial and caseback watch marked COMEX. Each inside caseback, would bear the full serial number that should, like in the present watch, correspond to the number found between the lugs at the 6 o'clock position. The outside caseback is further engraved with the COMEX issue number, this very light three-digit engraving would most often have been polished off, but in the present watch remains crisp and very legible.
A special gas escape value was fitted to their cases, designed to release built-up pressure from the case during a diver's resurfacing and decompression. While working inside pressure-controlled diving chambers, the tiny helium atoms of the air mixture that COMEX divers breathed would penetrate the case and get trapped inside, causing their watches to burst upon resurfacing. The helium escape valve was a brilliantly simple solution that allowed the helium to easily escape. The COMEX offered here is part of the family of some of the rarest of all Submariner models. All COMEX watches and all reference 5514 were exclusively reserved for the firm and never available to the public for commercial sale. It’s preserved in overall excellent condition, with a charismatic dial with lovely and consistent latte colored aging on its hour markers and hands.