Rolex. A Rare Stainless Steel Automatic Wristwatch with Helium Escape Valve, Center Seconds and Bracelet

Reference 5514 is one of the most desired Submariner references. Realized in a small number of pieces, likely only a few hundred, it is one of the “custom references”: references denoting a watch made for a specific customer, such as reference 5517, made for the British military. Launched in 1972, reference 5514 was instead made for Comex, the French diving company. This is the very first reference denoting a watch with helium escape valve (HEV) in the band, after the proof of concept of some modified references 5513 made between 1970 and 1972. Their rarity, importance for the evolution of the Submariner model and truly “exceptional” classification qualify such pieces as among the most interesting and collectible Submariner watches ever produced.