Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, gas escape valve, bracelet, original Guarantee and invoice
Lot 387 THE PROPERTY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER

Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, gas escape valve, bracelet, original Guarantee and invoice

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SEA-DWELLER, SUBMARINER 2000, 2000FT=610M, SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED, "DOUBLE RED" MODEL, REF. 1665, CASE NO. 2'926'867, MANUFACTURED IN 1972

Closed14 November 2011

Price Realised

CHF 32,500

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Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, gas escape valve, bracelet, original Guarantee and invoice
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000, 2000ft=610m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, "Double Red" model, ref. 1665, case no. 2'926'867, manufactured in 1972
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, case, dial and movement signed
39.5 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Rolex original Guarantee, product literature in German and an unspecified invoice from a German retailer dated 2 March 1974. Furthermore delivered with a green Rolex presentation box.

Consigned by its first owner, the present watch stands out by its highly appealing, original overall condition.

Launched in 1967, the celebrated Sea-Dweller reference 1665 was the first wristwatch designed for use in saturation diving, fitted with a Rolex patent valve in the band and guaranteed waterproof to 610 meters depth. The valve was first developed on the Submariner model and allows helium and other gases to escape, enabling the watch to stand compression.

The present watch is from so-called "Mark III" or "Mk 3" series of the "double red" Sea-Dweller, in production between around 1970 to 1973, and distinguished by the printing on its dial:

The "double red" designation is written directly on the dial and often darker and less intense than on the "Mk 2" for example. The two double red lines show different sizes: the second line, "SUBMARINER 2000", is smaller than the first line "SEA-DWELLER". The 5 tips and the oval at the base of the Rolex crown are clearly defined. The overall impression of the fonts is thinner and less distinct than on the earlier versions.