Reference:5514: Difference between revisions

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[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] -> '''5514'''

The 5514 is the COMEX Submariner: a 5513-derived case fitted with a helium escape valve (HEV) and supplied to Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises, the Marseille saturation-diving outfit that supplied divers to the offshore oil and gas industry. The dedicated 5514 reference exists from circa 1972, codifying the Submariner-HEV-COMEX product after a 1970–71 prototype run on modified 5513 cases. Production ran roughly 1972 to 1978. Total program output is genuinely contested across the corpus — the often-repeated "approximately 154 pieces" figure is challenged by Corrado Mattarelli, who documents at least three production batches with distinct caseback engraving sizes and argues the true number is materially higher. Phillips New York Watch Auction SIX (April 2022) lot 153 hammered at USD 252,000 against a USD 60,000–120,000 estimate for COMEX 377 with a Henry Hudson letter — the documented top of the public auction market.

The 5514 is the COMEX Submariner: a 5513-derived case fitted with a helium escape valve (HEV) and supplied to Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises, the Marseille saturation-diving outfit that supplied divers to the offshore oil and gas industry. The dedicated 5514 reference exists from circa 1972, codifying the Submariner-HEV-COMEX product after a 1970–71 prototype run on modified 5513 cases. Production ran roughly 1972 to 1978. Total program output is genuinely contested across the corpus — the often-repeated "approximately 154 pieces" figure is challenged by Corrado Mattarelli, who documents at least three production batches with distinct caseback engraving sizes and argues the true number is materially higher.

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=== Prototype "stealth" non-logo (1972) ===

Earliest 5514s carry a non-logo matte dial with painted indexes — sometimes with a serif "ROLEX" wordmark — without any COMEX logo at all. Antiquorum NY 2009 lot 223-373 documents the configuration on case 3,804,841: a 1972 prototype-batch example with no COMEX logo, ~~hammered at~~ USD 72,000 against a 40,000–60,000 estimate. The prototype batch is approximately 20 pieces.

Earliest 5514s carry a non-logo matte dial with painted indexes — sometimes with a serif "ROLEX" wordmark — without any COMEX logo at all. Antiquorum NY 2009 lot 223-373 documents the configuration on case 3,804,841: a 1972 prototype-batch example with no COMEX logo, sold for USD 72,000 against a 40,000–60,000 estimate. The prototype batch is approximately 20 pieces.

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 <small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] -> '''5514'''</small>
-The 5514 is the COMEX Submariner: a 5513-derived case fitted with a helium escape valve (HEV) and supplied to Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises, the Marseille saturation-diving outfit that supplied divers to the offshore oil and gas industry. The dedicated 5514 reference exists from circa 1972, codifying the Submariner-HEV-COMEX product after a 1970–71 prototype run on modified 5513 cases. Production ran roughly 1972 to 1978. Total program output is genuinely contested across the corpus — the often-repeated "approximately 154 pieces" figure is challenged by Corrado Mattarelli, who documents at least three production batches with distinct caseback engraving sizes and argues the true number is materially higher. Phillips New York Watch Auction SIX (April 2022) lot 153 hammered at USD 252,000 against a USD 60,000–120,000 estimate for COMEX 377 with a Henry Hudson letter — the documented top of the public auction market.
+The 5514 is the COMEX Submariner: a 5513-derived case fitted with a helium escape valve (HEV) and supplied to Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises, the Marseille saturation-diving outfit that supplied divers to the offshore oil and gas industry. The dedicated 5514 reference exists from circa 1972, codifying the Submariner-HEV-COMEX product after a 1970–71 prototype run on modified 5513 cases. Production ran roughly 1972 to 1978. Total program output is genuinely contested across the corpus — the often-repeated "approximately 154 pieces" figure is challenged by Corrado Mattarelli, who documents at least three production batches with distinct caseback engraving sizes and argues the true number is materially higher.
 <span id="core-facts"></span>
@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 === Prototype "stealth" non-logo (1972) ===
-Earliest 5514s carry a non-logo matte dial with painted indexes — sometimes with a serif "ROLEX" wordmark — without any COMEX logo at all. Antiquorum NY 2009 lot 223-373 documents the configuration on case 3,804,841: a 1972 prototype-batch example with no COMEX logo, hammered at USD 72,000 against a 40,000–60,000 estimate. The prototype batch is approximately 20 pieces.
+Earliest 5514s carry a non-logo matte dial with painted indexes — sometimes with a serif "ROLEX" wordmark — without any COMEX logo at all. Antiquorum NY 2009 lot 223-373 documents the configuration on case 3,804,841: a 1972 prototype-batch example with no COMEX logo, sold for USD 72,000 against a 40,000–60,000 estimate. The prototype batch is approximately 20 pieces.
 <span id="serif-and-non-serif-comex-signed"></span>