As of the late 1960s, Rolex supplied different Submariner models featuring the patented gas escape valve to the side to COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise), a professional diving operation for the oil industry.

Founded in 1961 in Marseille by Henri-Germain Delauze, Comex or Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise pioneered in professional diving in the commercial field, requiring tool watches designed for conducting safe diving operations at greater depths, known as saturation diving. The successful collaboration between Comex and Rolex started in the early 1970s when all divers were progressively equipped with watches especially made for Comex: the improved "Submariner" model meeting the most stringent technical and professional demands of the professional deep-sea diver.

The present watch is from the reference 16800 series, in production from 1982 until 1986, with the COMEX designation on the outside of the screw back and on the dial. Part or the entire serial number was repeated to the inside of the case back, a feature only seen on this model and reference 5513 which was supplied to COMEX and to military forces.

The engraving on the caseback J.C. Keith and 30-11-84 and the accompanying Comex Houlder Diving Ltd. Card suggests that the watch was presented to J.C. Keith in recognition of 10 years of service.