RolexSea-Dweller

Please note: The description has been updated as of the 19th of December

KEY FACTS

• The Sea-Dweller first appeared in the late 1960s and was created to extend the underwater utility of Rolex’s existing Submariner line
• The 1665 was the very first Sea-Dweller that Rolex ever produced, and it also represented the first time that a helium escape valve ever appeared on a Rolex watch
• One of the distinguishing features of these early models was the dial’s text
• The initial models, known as the ‘Double Red Sea Dweller’, featured a unique dial with two lines of red text reading ‘SEA-DWELLER’ and ‘SUBMARINER 2000’
• Post 1977, Rolex adopted an all-white text dial, eliminating the ‘SUBMARINER 2000’ line and therefore making this double red text an incredibly important part of Rolex’s dive watch lineage
• It’s also the one and only time the Sea-Dweller and Submariner text would appear together on a dial
• With this kind of provenance, it’s no surprise the ref. 1665 has become one of the most highly sought-after and collectable vintage Rolexes 
• This example is offered by a UK-based trade seller
• It features its original Mark II ‘tropical’ dial with characterful patina on the tritium markers and hands that has aged evenly to a warm ecru tone
• The original bezel insert has also faded, giving it a ghost effect
• The watch was serviced in 2022 by the Rolex Service Centre and is under Rolex’s service guarantee until the beginning of April 2024
• It’s accompanied by a Rolex display box, outer sleeve, the original purchase receipt, booklet and Rolex Service Centre card
• The purchase receipt indicates the watch was retailed in 1976, with the serial number dating the approximate year of production to 1974
• Graded as ‘Vintage’ with the vendor noting the watch is in good working order

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Any watch not covered by a current sales or service warranty should be considered as potentially requiring a service, even if in full working order on the date of purchase. 

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