Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2008

LOT 79

Ref. 1665, Mark III Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea-Dweller, 2000 ft./ 610 m., Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified", case No. 5870492, Ref. 1665. Made in 1978. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver?s wristwatch with helium escape valve, date. Accompanied by the original box and guarantee.

HKD 90,000 - 110,000

USD 12,000 - 14,000 / EUR 7,000 - 9,000

Sold: HKD 102,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, helium escape valve at 9, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, Triplock winding crown protected by the crown guard. D. Black with luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, aperture for the date, outer minute division. 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 5 positions, shock absorber, selfcompensating 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

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 1665: The Sea Dweller has captivated Rolex collectors like no other watch. Created as a tool watch in 1967, it incorporated everything Rolex knew about diver?s watches into one watch. The French diving company COMEX had successfully used Helium Escape Valves (HEV) in the 5513 and later 5514 Submariners made for them. In late 1967, before the HEV patent had been accepted, a distinctive Rolex went into production as a specialized diving watch. Initially based on a thin submariner case, it led to the very desirable patent-pending Sea Dweller which was able to withstand depths of over 2000 feet or 610 meters. Regular production soon followed and the watch was produced with several different variations for the next forty years as model 1665, 16660 and 16600. A small batch of these Sea Dweller was made to the specifications of COMEX, the company that originally helped with its development and testing.
In 1974 the ref. 1665 Sea Dweller was made with an all-white printed dial. The words 'Submariner 2000' were no longer included on the dial. To the best of our knowledge, the so-called ?rail? dial was produced between 1978 and the late 1980?s by Stern, Rolex?s dial supplier. The name referred to the alignment of the white letters at 6.
Similar watches are illustrated in ?1908-2008, 100th anniversary of Rolex?, by Franca and Guido Mondani, pp. 128-130.