Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Nov 12, 2006

LOT 367

Ref. 1665 ?Double-Red Sea-Dweller Submariner? Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000, 2000 ft./610 m., Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, Ref. 1665. Case No.5034427. Made circa 1974. Fine, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with ?Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000? in red, gas-escape valve, date and a stainless steel Oyster "Fliplock" bracelet.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 13,000 - 18,000 / USD 16,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 21,830

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and ?Triplock? crown, first generation helium escape valve at 9, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, winding-crown protected by the "crown-guard". D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, aperture for the date. Luminous steel "skeleton" hands. M. Cal. 1570/ 1575, rhodium-plated, "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and five positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 17 mm. Property of a Genevan Gentleman


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2-22

Very good

Later original
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-03

Good

HANDS Period

Notes

The so-called ?Double-Red? Sea- Dweller ref.1665 appeared in the Rolex general catalogue from 1973 until 1975. The ?Sea-Dweller 2000? was one of the first production watches to employ a gas-escape valve which allows the interior of a watch to decompress and avoid injury caused when the crystal of the watch pops. Crystals ?popping? was not an uncommon problem during decompression after deep diving, this happens when the internal pressure of a watch is higher that the ambient pressure in a decompression chamber. It can be very hazardous for the divers in the chamber, as the chamber cannot be opened until decompression is complete, or the divers could get the ?bends?. Examples of the ?Sea-Dweller? without gas escape valve are known. One was sold by Antiquorum New York on the 1st of December 2004, as lot 98. A simular watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, pp. 316, 317. Similar watches are published in ?Rolex, Collecting Modern and Vintage Wristwatches? by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore, 2005, vol. I, pp. 371-373.