Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 369

Ref. 1665, "Sea-Dweller 2000" Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea-Dweller, 2000 ft./610 m., Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, Ref. 1665. Case No. 3306127. Made in 1973. Fine, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with gas-escape valve, date and a stainless steel Oyster "Fliplock" bracelet.

CHF 9,000 - 11,000

EUR 5,500 - 7,000 / USD 7,200 - 9,000

Sold: CHF 10,620

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and ?Trip-lock? crown, first generation helium escape valve at 9, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, winding-crown protected by the "crownguard". D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, aperture for the date. Luminous steel ?skeleton? hands. M. Cal. 1570, 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.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-7

Good

Oxidized
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Period

Notes

The ?Sea-Dweller 2000? was one of the first watches to use a gasescape valve that allows the interior of the watch to decompress. A similar watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, pp. 316-317.