We’re back with another installment of Vintage of the Week. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Sea-Dweller 1665 Great White. Vintage Rolex: www.bobswatches.com/vintage-r...
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00:00 Intro
00:35 Wrist Check
01:48 Vintage Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665
03:52 Value
04:27 Rail Dial
10:36 Case Back
11:02 Helium Escape Valve
11:22 Condition
11:38 Patina Dial
12:05 Availability
12:59 Outro
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Although Rolex was not the first company to develop a diver’s watch, they did release the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. It was the Rolex Oyster, released in 1926, and it is the foundation upon which all dive watches are made.
The Submariner is arguably Rolex’s most well-known dive watch. However, their catalog also boasts the Sea-Dweller and the Deepsea, both of which are innovations of their time with ever-increasing water resistance.
The Sea-Dweller came to market in 1967 via ref. 1665. When it was released, the Submariner boasted a depth rating of up to 200 meters/660 feet. To compare, ref. 1665 is waterproof up to 610 meters/2,000 feet.
Eventually, Rolex would improve upon that design, offering water resistance up to 1,220 meters/4,000 feet alongside ref. 1665’s successor ref. 16660.
What makes the Sea-Dweller more waterproof than the Submariner, anyway?
Like the Submariner, the case is outfitted with a waterproof screw-down crown. However, it also features an innovative Helium Escape Valve on the left side of the case. This mechanism allows the case to properly release the gasses that accumulate during deep saturation dives, thus keeping the crystal intact and protecting the movement.
DOUBLE RED
When the Sea-Dweller first came to market, the dial featured a striking red Sea-Dweller logo. This watch has since been named the “Double Red” or the “Double Red Sea-Dweller - aka DRSD.
It was produced between 1967 and 1977, during which numerous dial variations were introduced. The dials are categorized into “Marks,” each representing differences in the font and order of the text.
The Double Red Sea-Dweller boasts 7 Marks, with the last three being replacement dials.
GREAT WHITE
In 1977, Rolex released the Great White Sea-Dweller ref. 1665, featuring all-white text on the dial. Just like its red font predecessor, it too boasts a handful of dial variations categorized into four different Marks, all with feet first text.
RAIL DIAL
One of the most sought-after 1665 dials is the Mark 2, the Rail Dial. It earns its name after the spacing of the chronometer rating lines. Those with the Comex logo on them are even more sought-after and trade hands for far more than most Great White Sea-Dwellers.
In this video, the example we are examining is a coveted Rail Dial Sea-Dweller. Looking closer at the text, the “E” in the word “Superlative” lines up with the “Y” in the word “Officially.”
Additionally, the “C” in “Chronometer” lines up with the “C” in “Certified.”
Other defining characteristics of a Rail Dial Sea-Dweller include italicized font on the depth rating, the “T SWISS 25” distinction at the bottom of the dial, the minute hashes are longer, and the dots above each hour marker are closer to the minute track.
Serial numbers include 5.7 million to 6.2 million.
If you have a Rail Dial Sea-Dweller like our Vintage of the Week, you’re quite lucky as these editions of the famed deep saturation dive watch are very rare.
The lume on our example has since faded to a stunning creamy patina, and the hour and minute hands have been color corrected to match the hour markers. The hands also show some signs of cracking.
Taking a closer look at the seconds hand, you will also see that the lume matches the rest of the lume on the dial.
CASE
Our example of the 1665 Rolex features an excellent 40mm case with normal signs of wear. The HEV valve appears to have been polished, and the pip on the bezel seems to have been replaced.
The bezel is outfitted with a black 60-minute aluminum insert and shows some typical signs of wear. The case is also equipped with an acrylic crystal that exhibits some minor wear.
The case on our example features 1665 stamped on the case back with the serial and reference numbers clearly visible between the lugs.
BRACELET
Lastly, we examine the 93150 Oyster bracelet, which features 11 links, 580 end links, and a diver’s extension clasp. It shows signs of wear, such as light stretch. The clasp appears to have been polished and is stamped with “VD,” signifying that it was produced around 1979.