Rolex

1979 Rolex Sea-Dweller (Ref. 1665) Mk. I "Great White"

In the early part of the 1960s deep-sea diving and in particular mixed gas diving was advancing. The Submariner became the quintessential diver born out of the late 1950s, with its iconic design which set the standard for almost all dive watches to come thereafter its launch in 1953. The Rolex SeaDweller was born in the 1960s out of the collaboration with COMEX a French deep-sea diving company. Comex is sometimes referred to as the NASA of the deep seas and was the pioneer in mixed gas diving.

In typical Rolex fashion, meaning form following function. Most of the SeaDwellers design was born out of the need to comply with the commercial ISO 6425 diving standard, which defines test standards and features for watches suitable for diving with underwater breathing apparatus in depths of 100 m (330 ft) or more. Rolex developed a rather simple and practical mechanism to solve this issue by developing a helium escape valve on the side of the case that allowed the helium particles to escape while still maintaining an ISO 6425 diving standard and water resistance rating.

1979 Rolex Sea-Dweller (Ref. 1665) Mk. III "Great White"

In 1977 the Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 received an updated dial configuration. This new dial configuration is sometimes referred to as the "Great White". This updated dial differs from the previous variants, as the dial states the model as the writing "SUBMARINER 2000" which was located below "SEA-DWELLER" of previous models is now absent from the dial. In addition, "SEA-DWELLER" is now in white text as opposed to red text, which was the standard on all Sea-Dweller dials since the model's first introduction in 1967.

The Sea-Dweller is one of the most advanced amongst the diving watches of its time. Featuring a bidirectional bezel, a tropic super domed crystal to withstand greater pressure, and date complication. Fully certified and guaranteed waterproof to 2000ft - 610m. 

Stock # RLXSD166579-3
Brand Rolex
Style Sea-Dweller
Model 1665
Serial 61XXXXX
Size Men's
Material SS
Dial Black Matte Mk. I
Millimeters 40
Bracelet Rolex 93150 Oyster bracelet W/ 585 End Pieces

 

CASE & BRACELET

The HEV case remains very strong and is believed to only be lightly polished once in the past, retaining sharp chamfers with some light signs of use. The original black bezel insert shows some patina but is in overall great vintage condition and retains its tritium pearl at the 12 o'clock position, which matches the dial perfectly. The later Rolex 93150 Oyster bracelet with 585 end pieces is in wonderful unpolished condition, retaining 12 links and showing very light stretch with minor wear.

DIAL & HANDS

The matte black Mk. I Sea-Dweller dial is exceptional and remains very clean with some light signs of aging. The tritium lume plots have taken on a nice creamy patina and show no degradation under U.V. light inspection. The original tritium hour and minute hands match the dial perfectly, under U.V. light inspection the sweep seconds hand has been restored to match the dial and the hour hand shows some cracking which is normal for this era, the minute hand remains fully intact. The metallic date wheel is era correct with open 6's and 9's.

ACCESSORIES 

None. Watch is keeping time at spec, previous service history is unknown.