Introduction
Debuting in 1967, with the specific aim of bolstering Rolex's dive watch offering, the Rolex Sea-Dweller built upon the industry-leading dive watch credentials that the Submariner had earned Rolex over the previous 14 years. Created specifically with professional divers in mind, Rolex collaborated with diving companies like COMEX to perfect the Sea-Dweller's design and ensure it would be the ultimate dive watch. Featuring the ingenious Helium-Escape Valve that Rolex had patented the same year, a hugely impressive water resistance, and a sizeable case design, the Sea-Dweller rightfully toppled the Submariner as Rolex's most hardcore dive watch. Today offered in a few separate styles such as two-tone, with various dials, and in two different case sizes (43mm and 44mm), the Sea-Dweller has taken a leaf from the rest of Rolex's offerings and merged its tool-watch focused design with tasteful aesthetics, to create one of the most sought-after and best-equipped dive watches that any diver might ever need.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
V 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Watch Only
Est. value range
$10,000 – $15,000
The Details
Brand
Rolex
Dimensions
40mm
Model
Sea-Dweller
Movement
Automatic cal. 1575
Reference
1665
Bracelet
Stainless steel Oyster bracelet
Year
1979
Condition
Excellent
Material
Stainless steel
Included
Watch only
Dial Color
Black
THE DIAL
Boasting a beautiful matte black dial, this example's original tritium hands have aged to the exact same tone of a light creamy yellow as the tritium indexes of the dial.
THE CONSTRUCTION
Featuring a famously robust construction, the ref. 1665 was a large watch when it was first released but today, it wears like a modern diver with its 40mm diameter filling the wrist like so many other contemporary timepieces.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
The watch is in overall excellent condition. The steel case is well defined with crisp chamfers shows some scratches and light marks as expected of a watch of this vintage. The case back has some scratches and marks. The bezel is excellent, with some light marks and scratches on the insert. The dial is excellent, with crisp text and minute markers, and the lume is very clean. The hands have lume that is of a similar tone. The folded link Oyster bracelet is in excellent condition with light play between the links. The bracelet currently fits a 7" wrist and has 10 links.
Our Perspective
Nicknamed "Great White" due to the all-white text of the dial, the present example belongs to the production of Sea-Dweller that replaced the ref. 1665 dials that featured red text.
Justin Gruenberg
Co-founder
