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Lot Essay
Created in 1961, Comex (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises) specializes in engineering and deep diving operations with pioneering work in saturation diving. Pantaleon Astiazaran, the owner of this watch, began working for Comex in 1980 in Brazil and from there was sent to the company's headquarters in Marseilles, France. He served as an Equipment/Operational Doctor, in charge of the decompression chambers and also general equipment maintenance. He also worked in Africa for the firm on decompression.
Pantaleon was on the Tanio from 1980-1981, an aircraft carrier, that famously extracted oil from an amazing depth of 70 meters below sea level. After his time onboard he returned to Brazil to work further for Comex. He was given the opportunity to purchase this watch and interestingly Rolex would check on these watches periodically to maintain quality control. At its greatest depth this watch has been to 294 meters under the sea.
Reference 5514 is illustrated in Rolex Collecting Modern and Vintage Wristwatches, by O. Patrizzi, vol. II, p. 228.
Pantaleon was on the Tanio from 1980-1981, an aircraft carrier, that famously extracted oil from an amazing depth of 70 meters below sea level. After his time onboard he returned to Brazil to work further for Comex. He was given the opportunity to purchase this watch and interestingly Rolex would check on these watches periodically to maintain quality control. At its greatest depth this watch has been to 294 meters under the sea.
Reference 5514 is illustrated in Rolex Collecting Modern and Vintage Wristwatches, by O. Patrizzi, vol. II, p. 228.