Fellows and Sons concluded their sale of fine timepieces on Monday (July 5). Concentrating on the period from 1940 to 1970, the auction offered a range of the greatest names in the world of watches, with Rolex featuring particularly strongly.
The three decades beginning with the Second World War were a period of great innovation among watchmakers, who tried to keep track of the needs of an adventurous generation of explorers and pioneers.
They needed watches which performed in extreme conditions - high in the skies or deep under the sea.
Today, the intricacy and design of these marvellous timepieces places them among the most collectible and sought-after timepieces on the market.
 Rolex Comex Diver Superlative Chronometer |
An excellent example is the 1977 rare Rolex Comex (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise) Diver Superlative Chronometer.
This special version of the 1665 Rolex Sea-Dweller model was created for a French commercial diving company after they experienced a technical problem with a previous model.
This special line of watch is suitable for some of the greatest sea beds with a depth rating of 2000 feet, and was also unique for its Triplock crown which protects the movement. This 1977 stainless-steel example displays the iconic 'COMEX' logo.
Listed at £20,000-30,000, the watch excited bidders sufficiently to be taken home for £37,000 - a great example of the growing strength of rare timepieces as both a collectible and an investment.
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