107th Auction
2022/11/19
Lot 173
RolexSingle Red Sea-Dweller
A diver's heavy wristwatch in mint condition, with date, red writing on the dial and helium valve - with guarantee card and Rolex seal hang tag
Sold
From around 1967, Rolex developed a diver's watch in collaboration with the French deep-sea diving specialist COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises) that was intended to withstand tough underwater experiences and, compared to the existing Submariner, which was water-resistant to a depth of 200 metres, was designed even more for professional use.
The first prototype of the Sea-Dweller, improved for a depth of up to 500 metres, was used from around 1967 and is known today as the "Single Red", reference 1665. It bears the inscription "Sea-Dweller" in red and "Submariner 500 m-1650 ft" in white. Compared to the Submariner, it had a larger diameter and was equipped with a helium valve to allow the accumulated helium in the case to escape after a longer stay under water, thus relieving the plexiglass from being brutally pushed out. Only about 12 examples of the "Single Red" are known to exist today.
In the same year, Rolex presented the series version of the Sea-Dweller with the double red inscription "Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000", known today as the "Double Red Sea Dweller", or DRSD). It was rated to a depth of 610 metres or 2000 feet. The number range is between 1,700,000 and 5,200,000.
In 1977, Rolex presented the reference 1665 "Great White", as a successor with completely white printing and missing "Submariner 2000" lettering. It was in production until 1983. In 1978 it was replaced by reference 16660 (Triple Six) with date quickset, sapphire crystal and improved double escape valve, classified for water depth up to 4000ft/1220m. This reference was followed in 1989 by the fast-swinging Ref. 16600 with calibre 3135, followed in 2008 by the Deepsea Sea-Dweller Reference 116660 with water resistance to 12800ft / 3990m, and in 2014 by Reference 116600 with a Cerachrom ceramic lunette. Reference 116600 was replaced by the Sea-Dweller reference 126600, with improved calibre 3235, only a few years after its market launch in 2017.