Rolex Sea-Dweller

History of the Sea-Dweller

Rolex introduced the Sea-Dweller in 1967 as a further development of the Submariner, and the first reference 1665 was water-resistant to 610 metres. Its dial initially read Submariner 2000, the number referring to 2,000 feet. From 1978 the Sea-Dweller was water-resistant to 1,220 metres, a figure it still has today. For its 50th anniversary in 2017 it received a larger case and once again the red lettering of the first models.

The helium escape valve

During saturation dives, divers live for days in pressure chambers breathing a gas mixture containing helium. The small helium atoms penetrate the watch case. During decompression, the overpressure inside could force the crystal out. The helium escape valve in the case side lets the gas escape in a controlled way. Rolex developed and patented the valve at the end of the 1960s.

Sea-Dweller 43 and Sea-Dweller 4000

The current Sea-Dweller has a 43 mm case, a date with Cyclops lens and calibre 3235 with around 70 hours of power reserve. Reference 126600 in Oystersteel bears the red lettering and is often called the Single Red, while the 126603 combines Oystersteel with yellow gold. The Sea-Dweller 4000, reference 116600, has a 40 mm case without Cyclops lens and was only made for a few years. That is precisely why it is popular with collectors.

Deepsea and Deepsea Challenge

The Sea-Dweller Deepsea is water-resistant to 3,900 metres. Its 44 mm case uses the Ringlock system, a ring of nitrogen-alloyed steel that distributes the pressure on crystal and case back. The D-Blue dial with its gradient from blue to black recalls James Cameron's dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 2012. The Deepsea Challenge in RLX titanium measures 50 mm and is water-resistant to 11,000 metres.

Sea-Dweller or Submariner

The Rolex Submariner is slimmer and, at 41 mm, easier to wear, and its 300 metres are more than enough for most divers. The Sea-Dweller is larger and heavier, but in return offers the helium escape valve and considerably greater water resistance. If you are looking for a robust tool watch with date and like a larger case, the Sea-Dweller is a good choice.

Buy a Rolex Sea-Dweller at HORANDO

New Sea-Dweller watches at HORANDO are unworn and come with box, papers and the international Rolex warranty. Before shipping we check every watch once more and compare the reference and serial number, and shipping is fully insured. The delivery time is shown on every watch, and after payment you can collect your watch from our showroom in Bamberg if you wish. Instalment payments are available via PayPal up to €5,000 and via Klarna up to €10,000.