VIDEO: Rolex Sea-Dweller “Double Red”
One Minute Watch with John Carter
Pre-Owned Rolex Sea-Dweller “Double Red” Ref. 1665
Introduced in 1967, the Sea-Dweller is the deeper diving counterpart to the Submariner. While the Submariner was water resistant to 660 feet, the Sea-Dweller could dive to 2,000 feet underwater. It was specifically designed for a very narrow market of professional saturation divers. It served a specialized purpose for a narrow market so the Sea-Dweller wasn’t a watch that an average person would have purchased.
Saturation divers lived in high helium environments at depth underwater and as they would resurface, the helium gases inside the watch would pop off the crystal. So Rolex developed the helium escape value as a mechanical exit for those helium atoms to escape and keep the watches intact. The watch also includes a date function, which was a very important feature for a saturation diver who would spend days or weeks underwater.
The Sea-Dweller is characterized by its domed crystal without the cyclops, and a thicker case fitted with a helium escape valve. To help differentiate the Sea-Dweller from the Submariner, Rolex used two lines of red text which led to the nickname “Double Red”. This example dates to 1978 so it is among the last of the Double-Reds. It features its original hands and dial that display an outstanding patina that is well balanced and very attractive. The watch also includes the original box and certificate, making this a real rarity and a true grail for a discerning Rolex collector.
As the deeper diving cousin of the Submariner, the Sea-Dweller was specifically designed by Rolex for professional saturation divers. It is characterized by its domed crystal without the cyclops, and a thicker case fitted with a helium escape valve.
Saturation divers lived in high helium environments underwater and as they would resurface, the helium gases inside the watch would pop off the crystal. So Rolex developed the helium escape value for those helium atoms to escape and keep the watches intact.
To help differentiate the Sea-Dweller from the Submariner, Rolex used two lines of red text which led to the nickname “Double Red”. This example dates to 1978 so it is among the last of the Double-Reds. It features its original hands and dial that display an outstanding patina. The watch also includes the original box and certificate, making this a real rarity and a true grail for a discerning Rolex collector.
See more details on this pre-owned 1978 Rolex Sea-Dweller “Double Red”(Ref. 1665)
