The history of the Sea-Dweller has its origin in the depths of the sea, as stated in the translation of the same name: "Inhabitant of the Deep." In particular , about the creation of this professional Rolex model belongs to COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise) , a French company specializing in underwater engineering and hyperbaric technologies.
Initially the divers of the French company using the Submariner Ref 5513 , waterproof to 200 meters , but then the use of new instrumentation techniques , needs change......
To avoid gas embolism in depth , in fact , we introduce the appropriate decompression chambers and divers , equipped with an artificial mixture of oxygen and helium , reach the depths underwater using a "bell" Submersible capable of maintaining the values ??obtained in the chamber decompression.
So to prevent the penetration of helium inside the watch creates a pressure sufficient to shatter the glass , the maison finalizes a special solution suited to the specific needs of COMEX.
Some models Submariner Ref 5513 begin to assemble , opposite to the winding crown , a small valve consists of a piston unidirectional spring sealed by an O-ring.
When the clock goes deep into the tight seal is ensured by the water pressure that pushes the piston against the seal , and as you ascend to the surface the pressure of helium inside the watch to open the valve and escape the gas.
The COMEX , satisfied by the patent Rolex , get a second supply of watches, with the reference 5514.
Both the Submariner Ref 5513 Submariner Ref 5514 that never enter in the official catalogs as used exclusively by the French company.
The first Sea-Dweller Ref 1665 , taken from the Submariner 5514 , appears in 1967 with caliber 1575 and date window at 3 o'clock. The first models are Patent Pending (patent pending) and are divided into two series:
- The first, a trial version for professional divers , has a black dial (matte) with white graphics and model name written in red , depth of 500 mt and bottom with the words Oyster Gas Escape Valve. A variant of the dial affects the Sea-Dweller Submariner , where the model name is printed in red on two lines and the depth reaches 610 mt.
- The second version has a different dial on which the name of the model , Rolex Oyster Gas Escape , and is printed in red on two lines , the depth of 610 mt and is written on the caseback (Rolex Oyster Gas Escape Valve) from the outside pass towards the center , in a circular position except for the word Rolex written in transverse.
The Sea-Dweller is equipped with special glass Tropic 39 from Convex (or super domed hesalite) that can better withstand the water pressure , the bracelet has reference 9315 , final 385 , safety latch and Flip-Lock Diver's Extension , namely the extension of the bracelet useful for wearing the watch over a wetsuit.
Probably the very first models were equipped with riveted bracelet with extendable reference 6636 and the final 80.
A few years later , in 1971 , is regularly marketed the final version of the model 1665 with some notable changes:
Thicker case , Rolex Patent written on the back , serial number engraved on the back (until 1973 only the last three digits from 1974 to 1977 all digits) , and end-9315 bracelet 385/285 and then bracelet 93150 and final 585.
In 1977 , further changes: only white lettering on the dial , the model becomes only Sea-Dweller , the back has no serial number engraved and the lettering are circular.
The following year , in 1978 , was joined to the reference 1665 , the new reference 16660 , which is also optimized for underwater use , so that the maximum depth reaches 1220 mt.
Among other changes:
Helium escape valve larger, exclusive sapphire crystal (Ref. 25-295) with flat profile and thickness evident Triplock winding crown with O-ring outer movement caliber 3035 with the snap calendar.
The dial until the early eighties has a matte finish and tritium indexes , and then adopt a lacquered version with indices glasses.
The bracelet has SEL , reference 93160 and 592 defined SEL (Solid End Links) , features of the Sea-Dweller.
Completing the watch is a special kit with leather case green (Tool Set) provides a tool to remove the links and loops spring , an extension to the extension of the bracelet and a table indicating the time decompression.
In 1981 cease production of the reference 1665 and the Sea-Dweller 16660 remains in the catalog until 1988 , the year in which the substitute model 16600.
In 2008 , the house presents the brand new model Sea-Dweller Deep Sea Ref. 116660, capable of reaching a depth of 3900 mt.
The technology is getting more innovative:
The new cash Ringlock System in 904L steel , figures and numbers of the bezel treated with platinum and a PVD finish with patent Rolex , triangle indicates the zero of the numerical scale visible in blue at considerable depths.
The movement used is the caliber 3135 COSC-certified and equipped with spiral Parachrom , more resistant to shocks and magnetic fields.
The bracelet , with double extension to the suit Fliplock , it features a clip Glidelock. The watch is also subject to a number of checks carried out by the French company COMEX special to commemorate the founding of the collaborative model.
It 'important to note that the model Sea-Dweller Deep Sea has a special predecessor, the Rolex Deep Sea Special , made in the fifties in a limited edition and experimental (not sold) to test the resistance of the Oyster case to greater depths.
But the story of this model deserves a mention............
ROLEX DEEP SEA SPECIAL
From the point of view of technical and aesthetic Deep Sea Special offers cash and crown of massive size , with no particular caseback knurling , black dial with tritium light , written Rolex (6 o'clock) and crown (at 12) converging towards the center , game ball sword.
The movement is the caliber 1000 , probably derived from the 1030 and the glass has a particularly rounded profile.
The history of this model is linked to performance , which became famous for their significant size advertising.
The first opportunity presents itself in 1953 when a specimen Deep Sea Special is fixed to the outside of the bathyscaphe Trieste , created in 1948 by the physicist Auguste Piccard's bathyscaphe diving off the island of Ponza reaches a depth of 3150 mt and after two hour clock rises to the surface in perfect conditions of use and operation...
In 1960 , the House continued its collaboration with Jacques Piccard's son , but this time in a completely different , even after the acquisition of the bathyscaphe by the U.S. Navy.
So on January 23 , 1960 Deep Sea Special dips, fixed to the bathyscaphe Trieste , in the Mariana Trench , the deepest point of the Earth's surface. After five hours immersion up to 10.908 mt , a record still unbeaten.
Even in this heroic feat the exemplary emerges fully intact and functioning , "at 11,000 feet as the surface" is the comment of Piccard.
Source : My Files
Translate with : English European 2012
Cheers
Junio :junio:
Initially the divers of the French company using the Submariner Ref 5513 , waterproof to 200 meters , but then the use of new instrumentation techniques , needs change......
To avoid gas embolism in depth , in fact , we introduce the appropriate decompression chambers and divers , equipped with an artificial mixture of oxygen and helium , reach the depths underwater using a "bell" Submersible capable of maintaining the values ??obtained in the chamber decompression.
So to prevent the penetration of helium inside the watch creates a pressure sufficient to shatter the glass , the maison finalizes a special solution suited to the specific needs of COMEX.
Some models Submariner Ref 5513 begin to assemble , opposite to the winding crown , a small valve consists of a piston unidirectional spring sealed by an O-ring.
When the clock goes deep into the tight seal is ensured by the water pressure that pushes the piston against the seal , and as you ascend to the surface the pressure of helium inside the watch to open the valve and escape the gas.
The COMEX , satisfied by the patent Rolex , get a second supply of watches, with the reference 5514.
Both the Submariner Ref 5513 Submariner Ref 5514 that never enter in the official catalogs as used exclusively by the French company.
The first Sea-Dweller Ref 1665 , taken from the Submariner 5514 , appears in 1967 with caliber 1575 and date window at 3 o'clock. The first models are Patent Pending (patent pending) and are divided into two series:
- The first, a trial version for professional divers , has a black dial (matte) with white graphics and model name written in red , depth of 500 mt and bottom with the words Oyster Gas Escape Valve. A variant of the dial affects the Sea-Dweller Submariner , where the model name is printed in red on two lines and the depth reaches 610 mt.
- The second version has a different dial on which the name of the model , Rolex Oyster Gas Escape , and is printed in red on two lines , the depth of 610 mt and is written on the caseback (Rolex Oyster Gas Escape Valve) from the outside pass towards the center , in a circular position except for the word Rolex written in transverse.
The Sea-Dweller is equipped with special glass Tropic 39 from Convex (or super domed hesalite) that can better withstand the water pressure , the bracelet has reference 9315 , final 385 , safety latch and Flip-Lock Diver's Extension , namely the extension of the bracelet useful for wearing the watch over a wetsuit.
Probably the very first models were equipped with riveted bracelet with extendable reference 6636 and the final 80.
A few years later , in 1971 , is regularly marketed the final version of the model 1665 with some notable changes:
Thicker case , Rolex Patent written on the back , serial number engraved on the back (until 1973 only the last three digits from 1974 to 1977 all digits) , and end-9315 bracelet 385/285 and then bracelet 93150 and final 585.
In 1977 , further changes: only white lettering on the dial , the model becomes only Sea-Dweller , the back has no serial number engraved and the lettering are circular.
The following year , in 1978 , was joined to the reference 1665 , the new reference 16660 , which is also optimized for underwater use , so that the maximum depth reaches 1220 mt.
Among other changes:
Helium escape valve larger, exclusive sapphire crystal (Ref. 25-295) with flat profile and thickness evident Triplock winding crown with O-ring outer movement caliber 3035 with the snap calendar.
The dial until the early eighties has a matte finish and tritium indexes , and then adopt a lacquered version with indices glasses.
The bracelet has SEL , reference 93160 and 592 defined SEL (Solid End Links) , features of the Sea-Dweller.
Completing the watch is a special kit with leather case green (Tool Set) provides a tool to remove the links and loops spring , an extension to the extension of the bracelet and a table indicating the time decompression.
In 1981 cease production of the reference 1665 and the Sea-Dweller 16660 remains in the catalog until 1988 , the year in which the substitute model 16600.
In 2008 , the house presents the brand new model Sea-Dweller Deep Sea Ref. 116660, capable of reaching a depth of 3900 mt.
The technology is getting more innovative:
The new cash Ringlock System in 904L steel , figures and numbers of the bezel treated with platinum and a PVD finish with patent Rolex , triangle indicates the zero of the numerical scale visible in blue at considerable depths.
The movement used is the caliber 3135 COSC-certified and equipped with spiral Parachrom , more resistant to shocks and magnetic fields.
The bracelet , with double extension to the suit Fliplock , it features a clip Glidelock. The watch is also subject to a number of checks carried out by the French company COMEX special to commemorate the founding of the collaborative model.
It 'important to note that the model Sea-Dweller Deep Sea has a special predecessor, the Rolex Deep Sea Special , made in the fifties in a limited edition and experimental (not sold) to test the resistance of the Oyster case to greater depths.
But the story of this model deserves a mention............
ROLEX DEEP SEA SPECIAL
From the point of view of technical and aesthetic Deep Sea Special offers cash and crown of massive size , with no particular caseback knurling , black dial with tritium light , written Rolex (6 o'clock) and crown (at 12) converging towards the center , game ball sword.
The movement is the caliber 1000 , probably derived from the 1030 and the glass has a particularly rounded profile.
The history of this model is linked to performance , which became famous for their significant size advertising.
The first opportunity presents itself in 1953 when a specimen Deep Sea Special is fixed to the outside of the bathyscaphe Trieste , created in 1948 by the physicist Auguste Piccard's bathyscaphe diving off the island of Ponza reaches a depth of 3150 mt and after two hour clock rises to the surface in perfect conditions of use and operation...
In 1960 , the House continued its collaboration with Jacques Piccard's son , but this time in a completely different , even after the acquisition of the bathyscaphe by the U.S. Navy.
So on January 23 , 1960 Deep Sea Special dips, fixed to the bathyscaphe Trieste , in the Mariana Trench , the deepest point of the Earth's surface. After five hours immersion up to 10.908 mt , a record still unbeaten.
Even in this heroic feat the exemplary emerges fully intact and functioning , "at 11,000 feet as the surface" is the comment of Piccard.
Source : My Files
Translate with : English European 2012
Cheers
Junio :junio:
