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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Diver's wristwatch

Rolex Comex Submariner Ref: 5514/5513 Automatic Diver's Wristwatch

Partially verified

This lot features a Rolex Comex stainless steel automatic diver's wristwatch, reference 5514/5513, dated by the auction house to January 1972. The source states the watch features a 40mm stainless steel case equipped with a helium escape valve at the 9 o'clock position, screw-down Triplock crown with crown guards, and a bi-directional black rotating bezel. The black dial bears luminous round, triangular, and baton indexes with Mercedes hands, signed Rolex Oyster Perpetual 660ft-200m Submariner, without a Comex dial logo. According to the catalog, it houses a 26-jewel rhodium-plated Calibre 1520 movement, bears case serial number 4089874 engraved inside, and is mounted on a stainless steel Oyster bracelet coded 93150.

Rolex Comex Submariner Ref: 5514/5513 diver's wristwatch on an Oyster bracelet
Rolex Comex Submariner Ref: 5514/5513 diver's wristwatch on an Oyster bracelet — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bonhams.com
Category
Wristwatch · Diver's wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Rolex
Reference
5514/5513
Catalogue / lot identifier
202
Source-reported date
Made in January 1972
Country
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
4089874

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Case Configuration

In direct frontal observation, the watch exhibits a black dial set with painted luminous round, triangular, and baton hour indexes, paired with Mercedes-style luminous hands. The dial is printed with 'ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / 660ft=200m / SUBMARINER' and bears the 'SWISS - T < 25' marking below 6 o'clock. As noted in the catalog description, the dial does not feature a Comex logo.

The stainless steel case is described as 40mm in diameter and is fitted with a screw-down Triplock winding crown protected by crown guards, alongside a graduated bidirectional revolving black bezel for decompression timing. The watch is mounted on a fitted stainless steel Oyster bracelet coded 93150 with 580 end pieces and a locking clasp.

Evidence for this section
  • “black dial with painted luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, Mercedes hands, dial signed Rolex Oyster Perpetual 660ft-200m Submariner”
  • “they did not feature the Comex logo on the dial as this came on later production model 5514's”
  • “screw-down Triplock winding crown protected by the crown guard, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times”
  • “fitted stainless steel Oyster bracelet coded 93150 with 580 end pieces with locking clasp, case, dial and movement signed 40mm.”

Source-Reported Internal Features and Movement

According to the auction catalogue, the watch houses a rhodium-plated Calibre 1520 movement featuring 26 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, and a self-compensating flat balance spring. Because the case back remains closed in the available frontal photograph, mechanical details rely strictly on the cataloguer's text.

The catalog describes a polished case with a screw-down case back bearing a 'ROLEX COMEX inscription straight across', the case serial number 4089874 engraved inside, and an additional stamping of 'I.72'. A helium escape valve is also reported at the 9 o'clock position on the case flank.

Evidence for this section
  • “26-jewel Cal. 1520 rhodium-plated movement with straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring”
  • “polished case with screw-down case back with ROLEX COMEX inscription straight across and the case serial number 4089874 engraved inside, also I.72”
  • “helium escape valve at 9”

Reported Provenance and Documentary Context

Footnotes in the catalogue state that the watch was consigned by its original owner, who began working for Comex Services Marseilles in 1976 as an Operations Supervisor and Air Diving Supervisor, where he assisted with Moana class submersibles and tethered manned systems to 1,000 meters. The text asserts that the watch was given to him in 1976 by Comex and worn as a daily timepiece for 34 years.

The catalogue notes that early reference 5514 watches were essentially reference 5513 models fitted with a valve for saturation divers to resolve crystal failure during decompression, and this specific early batch lacked the Comex dial logo. However, internal case engravings, movement specifics, and the side helium valve are not visible in the provided frontal image and remain unverified beyond the auctioneer's narrative.

Evidence for this section
  • “This watch is been sold by the original owner who started working for Comex Services Marseilles in 1976 through to 1979.”
  • “This watch was given to him in 1976 by Comex and has been used a daily wearer for the last 34 years”
  • “The Comex reference specific 5514 was essentially a 5513 equipped with a valve and a very limited series of Submariners were delivered to Comex Saturation Divers for testing.”

Open research questions

  • What markings, if any, are engraved on the exterior face of the case back versus inside the case back?
  • Does any original Comex employment documentation, diving logbook, or delivery paperwork accompany the lot?
  • What is the exact physical format and size of the helium escape valve located at the 9 o'clock position?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Rolex Comex Submariner Ref: 5514/5513 Automatic Diver's Wristwatch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement26-jewel Cal. 1520 rhodium-plated movement“26-jewel Cal. 1520 rhodium-plated movement with straight line lever escapement”
Case Serial Number4089874“case serial number 4089874 engraved inside”
Case Back InscriptionROLEX COMEX and I.72“ROLEX COMEX inscription straight across and the case serial number 4089874 engraved inside, also I.72”
Helium Escape ValvePositioned at 9 o'clock“helium escape valve at 9”
BraceletStainless steel Oyster bracelet coded 93150 with 580 end pieces“fitted stainless steel Oyster bracelet coded 93150 with 580 end pieces with locking clasp”
Case Diameter40mm“case, dial and movement signed 40mm.”
Winding CrownScrew-down Triplock winding crown protected by crown guards“screw-down Triplock winding crown protected by the crown guard”
Bracelet and ClaspStainless steel Oyster bracelet coded 93150 with 580 end pieces and locking clasp“fitted stainless steel Oyster bracelet coded 93150 with 580 end pieces with locking clasp”
Case Back Engraving Date CodeI.72“and the case serial number 4089874 engraved inside, also I.72”

Visible details

  • Frontal view showing a black dial with circular, triangular, and baton luminous hour markers and Mercedes-style hands
  • Graduated black rotating diver's bezel with a luminous pip at 12 o'clock
  • Stainless steel case with crown guards flanking the screw-down winding crown, mounted on a three-link Oyster bracelet
  • Dial text reads 'ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / 660ft=200m / SUBMARINER' with 'SWISS - T < 25' below 6 o'clock

Research qualifications

  • Case back inscriptions and internal engravings (such as ROLEX COMEX and serial number 4089874) are not visible in the provided frontal photograph and rely entirely on source reporting
  • Movement condition, caliber markings, and the 9 o'clock helium escape valve cannot be verified from the single frontal view

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Bonhams : Rolex. A fine and very rare stainless steel automatic diver's wristwatch with helium escape valve and Oyster bracelet Comex, Ref:5514/5513, Made in January 1972

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record add12fdc53

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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