{"product_id":"rolex-sea-dweller-as04471","title":"Rolex Sea-Dweller","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy We Love It \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1978, the original Sea-Dweller (Reference 1665) was replaced by the Reference 16600. This new model boasted an even greater depth rating: an impressive 4000 feet (or 1220 meters). This was possible, in part, due to a larger Helium Escape Valve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVisually, the 16600 stands apart from its predecessor with a glossy dial featuring applied luminous markers. The internals were also upgraded with the Calibre 3035 movement. Rugged, dependable, and beautiful the Reference 16600 is the last 'Dweller with classic Oyster dimensions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular D-serial example dates to circa 2005 and features an outstanding case with a rich black glossy dial and handset. It also comes with its inner and outer boxes, polishing cloth, and papers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a rugged and beautiful watch from the last era of \"classically sized\" Rolex sports watches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Sea-Dweller Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn many ways the development of the Rolex Sea-Dweller mirrors the technological advances that occurred during the 1960s and 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the Sea-Dweller was introduced in 1967, NASA had launched over fourteen manned space missions and was just two years from putting a man on the Moon. Yet deep sea explorers (in many ways the astronauts of the deep) had only descended to the Marianas Trench once, in 1960.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut the divers of COMEX (for whom the Sea-Dweller was originallt designed) pushed the envelope, operating at depths that had never been possible before the introduction of commercial saturation diving in 1965.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the time, the divers at COMEX were already using watches by Rolex, specifically the Submariner Reference 5513. However, since the divers of COMEX employed a new diving technique called saturation diving (in which the divers used a mix of hydrogen, helium and oxygen) the Reference 5513 was poorly designed for the purpose. When not working, the divers would rest in a pressurized chamber, breathing helium-infused air and allowing the built-up helium to leave their bodies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince saturation diving decreases a diver's decompression interval, the helium molecules left their bodies faster than they left their watches, causing a build-up of pressure that would blow the crystals off their watches. COMEX approached the Manufacture with this problem, and Rolex presented a solution: install a titanium Helium Escape Valve on the case at 9:00, which would allow the helium molecules to escape the watch faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA waterproof O-Ring secured a spring-loaded piston to the outside of the case, which pressed against the O-Ring when the watch was exposed to increased water pressure. Rolex gave COMEX a few of these special prototype 5513 Submariners with Helium Escape Valves, and the problem was solved. Later, in 1967, when COMEX requested a hundred more, Rolex issued a new Reference number, 5514, and placed the COMEX logo on the dial. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese Reference 5514 Submariners proved such a success that Rolex decided to release them to the public in a brand-new Reference: 1665, the Sea-Dweller. This first Reference of Sea-Dweller was equipped with the Calibre 1575 movement and a thicker crystal. Now recreational divers could buy a watch capable of descending to the punishing depth of 2000 feet (or 610 meters) at which the COMEX professionals worked. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sea-Dweller has continued to evolve, with each generation becoming a more capable and robust tool, in keeping with its original mandate. Today, the Sea-Dweller is a metric by which every other professional grade diving watch is measured – and while very few of them will ever be subjected to the pressures they are capable of withstanding, they prove the old adage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnything worth doing is worth\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eover\u003c\/em\u003edoing!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolex","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39363058761815,"sku":"40920392","price":13450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/AS04471_40920392_ROLEX_SEA-DWELLER_16600-7.jpg?v=1628604023","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/rolex-sea-dweller-as04471","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}