Pre COMEX

Ah yes the Pre COMEX Dial...

The first question many of you might ask is, “Who gave it that name and why?” Well here is your answer. Ed Delgado posted the following on VRF on October 24, 2008, “The term Pre COMEX I used initially a few months ago to refer to watches with very similar characteristics to some of the COMEX 5514 dials..(not all) Usually associated with watches in the 5 mil serial. no. It was not intended to be a term to be used for people to ask premiums on their watches, just to describe watches with similar characteristics..” Well there you have it from the guy who coined the term, and I think when you understand the context in which he intended it to be used, it is as helpful as calling a certain dial a Serif Dial and another a Non Serif Dial. Thank you Ed!

So what are the characteristics that Ed was talking about?

• A coronet that would best be described as somewhat smudgy and very fat at the bottom.
• The top of the letter “L” in “ROLEX” has a tremendous amount of serif and sits to the left of center under the coronet.
• Open 6‘s
• This dial features an “=” sign in the depth rating that is above and to the left of center of the “A” in “SUBMARINER” rather than in the center or slightly to the right of center as seen in the other dials.

Helpful hints to recognize the Pre COMEX dial: If there is a smudge like coronet and “L” with lots of serif underneath it, the depth rating is above “SUBMARINER”, and the “=” sign in the depth rating is above and slightly to the left of the “A” in “SUBMARINER”, then it is a Pre COMEX dial.

Click thumbnails below to view full-size images:

Pre COMEX DIAL photo courtesy of whiskyguy

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