The ultimate watch for divers, the Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller was born for use in the most extreme depths of the ocean. Many luxury watches are water resistant, and some are even capable of being used as a diver’s timepiece. However the Deepsea Sea-Dweller takes these boasts to an entirely different stratosphere, with a purposely optimised design that can shrug off the most astonishing of underwater exploits.
When Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard steered the bathyscaphe Trieste into the 10,916 meter deep abyss of the Mariana Trench in 1960, it was revolutionary to think that an experimental wristwatch, specifically the bubble-shaped Rolex Deep Sea Special, would be able to withstand the water pressures assailing the exterior of the submersible. When Rolex repeated the feat in 2012 alongside James Cameron during his deepest ever solo dive, Rolex was forever cemented atop the pinnacle of waterproof horology. The style of these consummate diving watches has altered over time, but their peerless engineering has only become ever more inconceivable.
First and foremost, the Deepsea Sea-Dweller is a giant among wristwatches. Its 44mm case diameter would already be considered large, yet the extraordinary depth of the timepiece and 5mm thick domed sapphire crystal mean that this watch is one of the largest of its kind. Highly impressive in appearance, the Deepsea Sea-Dweller is nonetheless remarkably easy to wear upon the wrist, and the superb Glidelock clasp allows such precise adjustments that there is never any sense of it becoming cumbersome; in spite of a substantial weight of 220 grams.
The aesthetic of the Deepsea Sea-Dweller is superb, and the scratchproof ceramic unidirectional bezel and 44mm 904L stainless steel casing are polished to perfection. The titanium caseback is also minutely flexible to provide additional resilience, protecting a 3135 movement that is one of Rolex’s most prominent mechanical inventions, excelling in the areas of durability and reliable accuracy in an almost unmatched fashion. This movement has been refined for decades as a part of Rolex’s ongoing deep sea programme, and it is difficult to surmise how the mechanism could possibly become more suited to its intended environment.
In terms of visibility, the Deepsea Sea-Dweller is unparalleled, with especially luminous Chromalight hands and hour markers that shine forth with a striking blue colour when the timepiece is submerged in darkness. When measured against the water resistances of most other wristwatches, the Deepsea Sea-Dweller emerges as nothing short of astounding. A unique Ringlock System allows the timepiece to stand firm in the face of crushing water pressures that are equivalent to three tonnes, and the capabilities of this actually watch outstrip all but the hardiest of dedicated submersibles.
The case architecture is also purposed for use within the deepest of seas, with aerospace-grade materials being utilised to provide an extra level of toughness. To combat the potential complications that can arise from decompression following a dive, Rolex have also equipped this wristwatch with a gas escape valve to expel any helium which might otherwise displace the crystal. Rolex sought out the maritime expertise of COMEX when guaranteeing the water resistance of the Deepsea Sea-Dweller, and this renowned underwater engineer has ensured that the timepiece remains reliable even within depths of a scarcely believable 3,900 metres.
The Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller is a fundamentally unique wristwatch, and the lengths that Rolex has gone to in order to ensure this watches performance are extremely difficult to totally comprehend. Here at Banks Lyon, the Deepsea Sea-Dweller can be yours today for 12 monthly payments of £536.66 and a 20% deposit. As the undisputed masters of their craft, we are also proud to stock many other Rolex watches within our long established collections. Please call our professional team on 01524 38 48 58 if you would like to receive any more detailed information.
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