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Lot Essay
Accompanied by copy of e-mail letter from George D. Roy.
The present Rolex Submariner watch is perhaps one of the most historic “Red Subs” to ever come to market, for its provenance, history, and bracelet. According to the present owner and the e-mail that accompanies the watch, it was presented to George D. Roy from Rolex for use by him as a still photographer for the MacInnis Foundation’s first trip to the Canadian High Arctic. Dr. Joseph “Joe” MacInnis was a noted underwater explorer and was featured in multiple Rolex advertisements.
Dr. MacInnis is perhaps best known as the first man to dive and film in the waters below the North Pole. In addition, he designed the world's first polar dive station, a capsule for four people built beneath the floating ice in the Arctic Ocean. In 1976, Dr. MacInnis was awarded one of his country’s highest honors: membership in the Order of Canada.
The present watch is not only special for its Mark II “meters-first dial” and generally excellent and aesthetically-appealing condition, but also for its extremely rare rivet bracelet with flip-lock clasp, often described as a prototype and generally only found on watches issued by Rolex for testing on important missions, such as for the SEA-LAB. These bracelets could likely be considered the most desirable steel bracelets ever made by Rolex.
According to the correspondence from George Roy, the watch was in the company of other Rolex watches worn by Charles Windsor (Prince Charles of the United Kingdom), Scott Carpenter (the late legendary early American astronaut and underwater diver), and Pierre Trudeau (the late Prime Minister of Canada and father of the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau). Mr. Roy wore the watch as a diver and it accompanied him not only on important underwater Arctic exploration trips including to the North Pole, but also on trips around the world: both literally walking and swimming underwater around the North Pole, as well as to approximately 20 countries, from North America to Asia.
If watches could talk, this one would certainly be able to tell some magnificent stories. The present owner hopes that the next owner will add to the legendary history of this “Red Sub”.
The present Rolex Submariner watch is perhaps one of the most historic “Red Subs” to ever come to market, for its provenance, history, and bracelet. According to the present owner and the e-mail that accompanies the watch, it was presented to George D. Roy from Rolex for use by him as a still photographer for the MacInnis Foundation’s first trip to the Canadian High Arctic. Dr. Joseph “Joe” MacInnis was a noted underwater explorer and was featured in multiple Rolex advertisements.
Dr. MacInnis is perhaps best known as the first man to dive and film in the waters below the North Pole. In addition, he designed the world's first polar dive station, a capsule for four people built beneath the floating ice in the Arctic Ocean. In 1976, Dr. MacInnis was awarded one of his country’s highest honors: membership in the Order of Canada.
The present watch is not only special for its Mark II “meters-first dial” and generally excellent and aesthetically-appealing condition, but also for its extremely rare rivet bracelet with flip-lock clasp, often described as a prototype and generally only found on watches issued by Rolex for testing on important missions, such as for the SEA-LAB. These bracelets could likely be considered the most desirable steel bracelets ever made by Rolex.
According to the correspondence from George Roy, the watch was in the company of other Rolex watches worn by Charles Windsor (Prince Charles of the United Kingdom), Scott Carpenter (the late legendary early American astronaut and underwater diver), and Pierre Trudeau (the late Prime Minister of Canada and father of the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau). Mr. Roy wore the watch as a diver and it accompanied him not only on important underwater Arctic exploration trips including to the North Pole, but also on trips around the world: both literally walking and swimming underwater around the North Pole, as well as to approximately 20 countries, from North America to Asia.
If watches could talk, this one would certainly be able to tell some magnificent stories. The present owner hopes that the next owner will add to the legendary history of this “Red Sub”.