ROLEX, REF. 1665, SEA-DWELLER, “DOUBLE RED”, A FINE STEEL DIVER’S WRISTWATCH WITH DATE

Originally launched in 1967, the Rolex Sea-Dweller was the result of a collaboration between the Rolex and the French deep sea dive company COMEX. Beginning in the 1960s, the joint operation began to test and develop a watch that could withstand ever increasing working depths and remain intact during ascent and decompression. The primary issue with dive watches at extreme depths had been the buildup of helium gas within the case which would increase during decompression to the point of the crystal exploding from the case. The solution to this problem, and born from this collaboration, was the creation of a helium escape valve. The patented escape valve ultimately allowed for a substantial increase in water resistance up to 600 meters or 2000 feet, and the creation the Rolex Sea-Dweller line.