Would you trade a COMEX 16600 for a Patek 5990?

[Dr. Robert]

No, non, nyet, nein!

[mykii]

It's collectability vs. a better watch.

Do you use your watch as an investment, or as a watch?

If you want to wear it, I'd do the trade.

If you keep the COMEX in a draw or safe due to the investment value, and you only care about money, then I'd keep the COMEX.

Personally, I'd keep the COMEX if there is some kind of personal connection to the watch. If there is none, I'd do the trade.

PP is in a different league to Rolex and that will never change.

[Seo]

Wow what an interesting thread. For me the 5990 is a grail for me and I would swap for it in a heart beat. I do not understand the value of the comex text but it appears that it is very important. I’ll go read up on it.

[jinikari01]

So many "NO." I'd say "YES."

[huncho]

i don't really see how you would regularly wear that rolex because it's so rare and valuable and every little scratch or dent will significantly ruin it. think this just comes down to the investment aspect. would you rather keep the comex knowing it's actually rare or do you trade for a watch you'll enjoy wearing possibly every day

personally i'd pick the latter but i just don't know if nows the right time to do it. i don't follow vintage prices but a lot of current models are still sitting on huge premiums so the trade might blow up in your face in the coming months

[Driver8]

IMO the interesting thing about this thread is that it really shows the changing profile of the average Rolex buyer. I bet if this question was asked 10, or maybe even 5 years ago on a dedicated Rolex forum such as this, and a Comex Sub was pitted against whatever the comparable PP 5990 of the day was, I bet it would’ve been more like 90% against the trade, instead of the approx 50/50 we’re seeing today.

I’m not saying one viewpoint is necessarily better than the other, but the world of Comex Rolex watches is actually incredibly niche and specialised that’s very rewarding for those who take the time to immerse themselves in it. Once you learn a bit about them, they become far more than “just a standard SD with 5 letters painted on the dial”. I’ve read quite widely about them over the years, but sadly I’ve missed the boat for ever owning one as I refuse to pay the crazy prices they go for these days.

Personally (as I said in post 32) I’d never do the trade… even though functionally the 5990 is by far the better watch and one that I’d take over almost any other watch around today.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Driver8

IMO the interesting thing about this thread is that it really shows the changing profile of the average Rolex buyer. I bet if this question was asked 10, or maybe even 5 years ago on a dedicated Rolex forum such as this, and a Comex Sub was pitted against whatever the comparable PP 5990 of the day was, I bet it would’ve been more like 90% against the trade, instead of the approx 50/50 we’re seeing today.

I’m not saying one viewpoint is necessarily better than the other, but the world of Comex Rolex watches is actually incredibly niche and specialised that’s very rewarding for those who take the time to immerse themselves in it. Once you learn a bit about them, they become far more than “just a standard SD with 5 letters painted on the dial”. I’ve read quite widely about them over the years, but sadly I’ve missed the boat for ever owning one as I refuse to pay the crazy prices they go for these days.

Personally (as I said in post 32) I’d never do the trade… even though functionally the 5990 is by far the better watch and one that I’d take over almost any other watch around today.

Good points

[MrMercedes]

not in 1000 years!!!

[subtona]

Originally Posted by MrMercedes

not in 1000 years!!!

That’s a long time

[Drand]

It's a NO from me

[DoctorsOrders]

Depends what else is in your collection, I would hold onto the comex as its much rarer as has a unique story.

[NachoNeal]

A lot of vociferous nos. But the poll is almost 50\50.

[rmlovett1]

Originally Posted by mykii

It's collectability vs. a better watch.

Do you use your watch as an investment, or as a watch?

If you want to wear it, I'd do the trade.

If you keep the COMEX in a draw or safe due to the investment value, and you only care about money, then I'd keep the COMEX.

Personally, I'd keep the COMEX if there is some kind of personal connection to the watch. If there is none, I'd do the trade.

PP is in a different league to Rolex and that will never change.

Originally Posted by huncho

i don't really see how you would regularly wear that rolex because it's so rare and valuable and every little scratch or dent will significantly ruin it. think this just comes down to the investment aspect. would you rather keep the comex knowing it's actually rare or do you trade for a watch you'll enjoy wearing possibly every day

personally i'd pick the latter but i just don't know if nows the right time to do it. i don't follow vintage prices but a lot of current models are still sitting on huge premiums so the trade might blow up in your face in the coming months

Agree along these lines….so my question would be….are you a collector, and cherish the Comex as a prized collectors watch? Or want a nice watch to wear?

[garyk]

I really like some of those high end Pateks but the most appeal would be something I could wear all the time and the Comex might not be the one!?

[Gab27]

Have you had the COMEX appraised?

On Chrono 24, prices range from $120,000 to $550,000. Obviously, the small sample size + the unknown nature of actual sale prices doesn't mean we can surmise a ton from this other than concluding that the value is likely quite high, but has someone specializing in vintage Rolex given an appraisal on it? (to ensure that if you do go forward with the trade you aren't leaving money on the table?)

[subprimero]

With your collection, I would keep the COMEX.

[ladd]

This is a bit complex, but No

[enjoythemusic]

[CFR]

I think the Nautilus is one of the least attractive mass-produced "hype watches" ever made. It always looked cheap and wrong to me. So no, I'd never make this trade!

But of course, that's my my own aesthetics. Other people think the Nautilus is a work of art. If you're one of them, then go for it!

[messikens]

I am probably less knowledgeable than others - but I would do the trade.

The one is really a top of the line PP, the other (to me) is just a Sub that has an extra line on the dial

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by messikens

I am probably less knowledgeable than others - but I would do the trade.

The one is really a top of the line PP, the other (to me) is just a Sub that has an extra line on the dial

True, but one (PP) you can very easily buy from any grey or be on a list, the other is rare and historical.

[brandrea]

The guys in the Patek forum are not surprisingly more in favour.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=888611

[MrGoat]

No way I’d even consider that trade. Personally, that Patek does nothing for me aesthetically. Then adding the significance, rarity and history that the Comex has makes this a ludicrous proposition IMO.


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[Vipes]

I love Patek but your Comex is special. You already have the 5726 and 5712 so I would keep the Comex.

[Driver8]

It does make me laugh when people say, "it's just a standard SD with an extra word on the dial".

Visually speaking that's objectively true of course, but when have minor variations ever been anything other than collectable and/or important when it comes to Rolex watches? Why does the turquoise OP41 command such a crazy premium over all other colours? After all, it's just an OP41 with a different colour dial. Why does the white dial 116500 command a premium over the black dial version? Again, it's the same watch, just with a colour change. Likewise the 16610LV - that's just a standard 16610 with a green bezel (and larger dial markers). And while we're on that one, how about the whole "Flat 4" thing? Or "rail dials" and "stick dials" that are just tiny printing variations? Or "spider dials" that are basically just damage to old lacquer finishes.

All of these things are just cosmetic differences compared to the standard model - nothing more - and yet the value is very different.

But when we come to the Comex pieces, what they have over and above just the simple cosmetic differences, is rarity and a historical significance that all those other variations I mention above could only dream about. Obviously it's absolutely fine if that means nothing to you, or you don't like vintage pieces, or whatever, but there is honestly a lot more to the Comex Rolexes than just the 5 letters on the dial.

[jb335]

I don’t know their values but I’d rather wear the Patek than the Sub with the word Comex on it.


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[Meyrin]

No, such a trade definitely makes no sense to me whatsoever. I don´t care how good a PP 5990 is supposed to be; to me personally it´s an extremely ugly watch. But I´m a great fan of PP´s Calatrava models...

[nachopc]

I would keep the Comex in your case.


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[Gerry62]

NO! Never.
COMEX is a practically unattainable watch and it is my GRAIL, my highest aspiration. Nothing could replace it but I'm an SD 16600/Deepsea/SD43 fan

..... Ah .... I forgot ..... Congrats !!!

[Nico81]

Um yea…
Basic rolex diver for work of art patek


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