Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, bracelet, original guarantee, invoice and box
Lot 26

Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, bracelet, original guarantee, invoice and box

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SEA-DWELLER, SUBMARINER 2000, 2000FT=610M, SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED, "DOUBLE RED" MODEL, REF. 1665, CASE NO. 5'286'816, MANUFACTURED IN 1977

Closed15 November 2010

Price Realised

CHF 30,000

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Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, bracelet, original guarantee, invoice and box
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000, 2000ft=610m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, "Double Red" model, ref. 1665, case no. 5'286'816, manufactured in 1977
Cal. 1570 nickel-finished lever movement, 26 jewels, black matte dial, luminous dot, baton and dagger numerals, luminous mercedes hands, sweep centre seconds, window for date, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, revolving black bezel calibrated for 60 units, gas escape valve in the band, screw back engraved Rolex Patent Oyster Gas Escape Valve, screw down crown, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and deployant clasp stamped 3.71, case, dial and movement signed
39.5 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Rolex Guarantee dated 3 January 1978, invoice of the same date and original fitted green presentation box with outer packaging.

The present watch is from the last, so-called "transitional" series of the Double Red Sea-Dweller, distinguished by the designation "Rolex Patent Oyster Gas Escapement Valve - Rolex" engraved around the case back as opposed to the inscription across the case back of the earlier models. The transitional version is believed to have been in production between 1977 and 1978, the serial numbers ranging from 5.1 to 5.2 million.

The dial is from the "Mark IV" or "Mk 4" series of the Double Red Sea-Dweller, distinguished by the printing on its dial. The "double red" colour is of light red shade, when closely inspected the printing appears to be made up of a series of dots, rather than direct brush strokes or application. The two double red lines show different sizes: the second line, "SUBMARINER 2000", is smaller than the first line "SEA-DWELLER". The crown is large, the 5 tips and the large oval at the base of the Rolex crown are clearly defined.

The present watch is furthermore distinguished by its very good, original overall condition, most notably the beautifully aged, uniformly ivory-coloured luminous material to numerals and hands.