ROLEX. A RARE STAINLESS STEEL LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET, MADE FOR GROUPE SECURITE PRESIDENCE REPUBLIQUE

The present Rolex Submariner reference 16610 is number 21 of the special edition of only 30 pieces made for the French Presidential Elite Protection Units or GSPR (Groupe Securite Presidence Republique). The unit was founded in 1983, and charged with the security of the French President and his close relatives and associates in France and abroad. The unit was composed of 50 policemen, 30 military personnel and 30 police officers. The unit was disbanded in 2007 under President Sarkozy.

Rolex authorized the production of 30 Submariners that were each engraved on the back with the emblem of the GSPR, the commemoration dates 1983-2007 and the individual edition number, unique among Rolex watches. These special edition watches were available only to serving GSPR members and were retailed through Dubail in Paris. Interestingly, some of the 30 watches, such as the present watch were engraved on the caseback only whereas others feature the GSPR emblem on the dial. According to research, the dial emblem was optional and not done by Rolex, but privately commissioned on behalf of the retailer.