Revolution: The Evolution of the Role...

New York, Apr 17, 2008

LOT 218

Ref. 1665, Rail Dial Sea-Dweller 2000 Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea-Dweller, 2000 ft / 610 m, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, Ref. 1665. Made circa 1980. Fine, center seconds, self-winding, water resistant to 610 m, stainless steel diver?s wristwatch with helium escape valve, date and a stainless steel Oyster Fliplock bracelet.

USD 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 13,000 - 17,000

Sold: USD 23,400

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, helium escape valve at 9, graduated bidirectional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding crown protected by the crown guard, screwed-down engraved case back and crown. D. Black with luminous round, baton and triangular 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 5 positions and temperature, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, 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

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-7-01

Good

Oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

The present ref. 1665 has the rare 'rail' dial. In 'rail' dials were produced for Rolex for only a two year period by the Stern Company that made the COMEX ref. 1665 dials. The distinctive characteristics of the 'rail' dial are as follow: (i) The text of 'Superlative Chronometer' and 'Officially Certified' is equally spaced so that the 'C' from 'Chronometer' is directly above the 'C' from 'Certified'; (ii) the font used for the depth markings is italicized; (iii) the minute markers are longer and closer to the tritium hour markers; (iv) the dial is marked 'T SWISS T <25'.