Rolex Sea-Dweller

In 2022 the dimensionally large Deepsea Challenge Sea-Dweller variant with an official depth rating of 11,000 metres (36,090 ft) was added to the line.

Launched in 1967 with a depth rating of 610 metres (2,000 ft), the first Sea-Dweller available to the public featured a gas escape valve, developed by the brand specifically for saturation diving, which allows the helium trapped in the watch while decompressing to be released at a given pressure during decompression, while preserving the watch case's water resistance.

[1][2] The Deepsea models come equipped with the brand's patented Ringlock system, which was designed to provide a higher degree of pressure resistance.

Until the 2017 introduction of the reference number 126600, Sea-Dweller's were also distinguished by the absence of the (plano-convex) date magnifying lens ("cyclops") present on most other Rolex models as it was impossible to attach a cyclops with Ultraviolet (UV) light curing adhesive at the top of a (domed) watch crystal exposed to the pressure encountered at its test depth.

The first version was the prototype non-valve Reference 1665 Sea-Dweller, the so-called "Single Red" with a depth rating of 500 metres (1,640 ft).

Most of the ten prototype non-valve watches were awarded to pioneers in underwater exploration like Robert Palmer Bradley,[3] who was a pilot of Deepstar 4000.

The delay was probably caused by issues with obtaining the patent for the helium escape valve filed by Rolex on 6 November 1967 and granted on 15 June 1970.

In late 1967, an archeological diver named T. Walker Lloyd approached Rolex with the idea for the valve as watches used in saturation diving experienced problems during decompression.

[10] In the past, it was wrongly assumed the Sea-Dweller was developed in cooperation with Comex S.A. industrial deep-sea diving, but the French company became a partner of Rolex only in late 1971.

The Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 versions were made between 1967-1983 and had an increased depth rating of 610 metres (2,000 ft) and so-called Double Red dials.

It was the first Rolex tool watch to receive a sapphire crystal, thicker case and a reworked larger more reliable helium escape valve.

[22] Several semi-custom production runs of Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 and 4000 models were produced with and without helium escape valves and differing watch dial patterns for the Comex S.A. company.

With an official depth rating of 3,900 metres (12,800 ft), the Sea-Dweller deepsea represented in its launch year the most water resistant mechanical watch in serial production.

[26] Normal surface air filled watch cases and crystals designed for extreme depths must be large to cope with the water pressure.

[27] Other features which came with the Deepsea at 2008 was the "Ringlock System" for sealing the sapphire crystal to the case, a weight reducing caseback made of grade 5 titanium alloy,[28] the "Glidelock-clasp" and Fliplock diver extension link, "maxi-dial", engraved rehaut, ceramic bezel with platinum-filled numbers, calibre 3135 with antimagnetic Parachrome-Blue-hairspring and blue "Chromalight" lume.

It also uses the Calibre 3235, a redesigned folding clasp that omitted the ‘fliplock extension link’, an 8% enlarged date wheel and window, and slimmer bezel ring.

Marcel Auda, R. Peilho, P. Raude, L. Schneider) of the Comex S.A. industrial deep-sea diving company performing pipeline connection exercises at a depth of 534 metres (1,752 ft) of seawater (msw) in the Mediterranean Sea.

In 1992, Comex diver Théo Mavrostomos achieved a record of 701 metres (2,300 ft) of seawater (msw) in an onshore hyperbaric chamber.

[35][36][37][38][39] The complexity, medical problems and physiological limits, such as those imposed by high pressure nervous syndrome, the accompanying high costs of professional saturation diving to extreme depths and the development of deep water atmospheric diving suits and remotely operated underwater vehicles in offshore oilfield drilling and production effectively ended the need for ever deeper, non-atmospheric crewed intervention in the ocean.

These practical factors make watch depth ratings of more than 1,000 to 1,200 metres (3,300 to 3,900 ft) marketing and technical show off curiosities.