Rolex Diver’s Watch could make a Splash

A rare Rolex diver’s watch could fetch up to £35,000 when it goes under the hammer at Glasgow’s McTear’s auctioneers on September 24.

The Rolex 1974 Submariner Comex 5514 will be sold at an auction of Rolex timepieces and other wristwatches.

The Swiss watchmaker worked with French diving company, Comex, from the early 1960s to produce a limited number of branded timepieces for its employees.  The Rolex diver’s watches were not available for sale commercially and the current seller bought his from a North Sea diver in the early 1980s.

The rare timepiece has a black dial with black enamel bezel and comes on a stainless steel Jubilee strap.

Other lots in the sale, which will feature watches from Rolex and its sub brand Tudor, include a platinum Rolex Daytona, which could sell for £40,000, a 2019 Yachtmaster which has an estimate of between £12,000 and £16,000 and a Rolex GMT Master II ‘Batman’ that is expected to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000.

Commenting on the auction, McTear’s Head of Watches, Sarah Fergusson, said: “There are many beautiful timepieces in the sale with the Submariner Comex undoubtedly one of the top lots. Rolex produce some of the finest watches in the world, however, there are a few models that raise the bar to another level and are highly sought after by collectors due to their historical significance. The Submariner Comex is one such model and we are expecting a lot of interest in the timepiece.”

Read our essential guide to buying vintage watches here.