Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 'Rail Dial'
SoldRolex Sea-Dweller 1665 'Rail Dial'
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The 'Rail Dial' appeared on the market in 1977 and was in production for only two years. It's called this way because the two lines of text - Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified - above the 6-hour position are displayed in a certain way in which the Cs of Chronometer and Certified line up as straight as a train rail.The Rolex Sea-Dweller reference 1665 is also nicknamed 'Great White' because of the four lines of text above the 6-hour position. The first line says SEA-DWELLER, then 2000ft = 610m and below that the two lines Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified. It is probably rarer than the 'Double Red' Sea-Dweller yet more wallet-friendly. The dials were made by Stern, which was a manufacturer for Rolex dials. The 'Rail Dial' can not only be found on the Sea-Dweller but also on certain GMT's (reference 1675), the Explorer (reference 1655) and Milgauss (reference 1019).This example dates back to 1978 and is in very good condition. The case is sharp maintaining its bevelled edges. Especially the dial is superb! The tritium plots have developed a nice, warm patina and are matching with the hands. The bezel is slightly faded, showing hints of dark blue and grey in certain light. This might be one of the coolest Sea-Dwellers we have had so far!
Introduction
Rolex Submariner Sea-DwellerVisionary Hans Wildorf set out to make the world’s first waterproof and dust proof wristwatch and so in 1926 the ‘Oyster case’ was created. Then later on in 1953, the Rolex Submariner was born, with a water depth rating of 330ft/100M making it one of the world’s first wristwatches designed for the upcoming sport of scuba diving. The wristwatch was created for divers who needed a precise watch which could scale to such depths and be a reliable and accurate way of measuring (with the turning bezel) the time spent underwater. A major aspect of creating such a time piece was to make it easily legible yet aesthetically pleasing, hence the large contrasting white tritium hour markers and Mercedes hand on the black dial.During the 1960s, the needs of professional divers working at great depths led to the development of the first ‘ultra water resistant’ tool watches designed for conducting safe diving operations at 300 m (1,000 ft) depths.The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 that became available in 1967 was developed from the Submariner for the Comex S.A. (industrial deep-sea diving company). By increasing crystal thickness and was produced in several variations. It had a depth rating of 610 metres (2,000 ft) and its Rolex reference number was 1665, powered by calibre 1575.Most Sea-Dweller watches incorporate a helium escape valve for saturation diving. (Early Sea-Dwellers did not always have the helium escape valve.) The model is also distinguished by the absence of the date magnifier (‘cyclops’) present on most other Rolex models.
Specifications
- SKU 4716
- Bezel material
- Bracelet
- Caliber
- Case Dimensions
- Case Material
- Clasp
- Dial
- Glass
- Index
- Inlay
- Model
- Movement
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Reference
1665
- Year