Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, Mar 29, 2009

LOT 474

Sea-Dweller Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea-Dweller, 2000 ft.=610 m., Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified", case No 5297998, Ref. 1665. Sold on November, 1978. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver's wristwatch with helium escape valve, date and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster Fliplock bracelet. Accompanied by a garantee (now void).

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

USD 6,000 - 7,700 / EUR 4,700 - 6,000

Sold: CHF 13,200

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, case back with engraving « Rolex Patent Oyster Gas Escape valve », 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. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 1570, rhodiumplated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 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. Approx. overall length 175 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-02

Good

HANDS Service hands

Notes

Ref. 1665 The "Sea-Dweller 2000", launched in 1971, was the first water-resistant watch to bear a helium valve for the decompression time ndication, it is guaranteed water-resistant down to 610m./2000ft. The first generation of this reference had no helium gas escape valve, which caused great inner pressure to bear upon the case when the diver rose to the surface. This problem was solved by Rolex and the COMEX engineers.