This exceptional Rolex Submariner COMEX reference 5514 is a rare and historically significant professional dive watch, produced in extremely limited numbers during the early 1970s exclusively for COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises), the pioneering French commercial diving company. This very example was featured on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow with Alastair Chandler in 2017, further cementing its provenance and collector appeal.
 
Created as an experimental and professional instrument, the reference 5514 occupies a unique position in Rolex history. While bearing the Submariner designation, it incorporates an early helium escape valve—an innovation developed specifically to withstand the extreme pressure variations encountered during prolonged deep-sea missions. This technical feature would later become a defining characteristic of the Sea-Dweller line.
 
Let’s take a look at the dial, featuring beautifully aged orange patina lume plots. Hard to miss is the massive COMEX logo that steals the show, with 660ft displayed just below, followed by ‘Submariner’ underneath.
 
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If you have any questions about this watch, don’t hesitate to reach out! Feel free to call or WhatsApp us at +44 7593 206257, or DM us via Instagram @fosterandsohne.