Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 96

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. 4062999. Made in 1975. 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 - 16,000 / USD 16,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 23,600

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.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Sea-Dweller 2000 The ?Sea-Dweller 2000? was the first production watch to employ a gas escape valve, this allows the interior of a watch to decompress and avoid injury if the crystal of the watch explodes. Crystals ?popping? was not an uncommon problem during decompression after deep diving, this is caused 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 it is not possible to open the chamber until decompression is complete, otherwise the inhabitants can contract 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.