My favorite Rolex blog, Rolex Passion, brings me to the fascinating story of a Rolex Seadweller Ref 1665 “Patent Pending” watch. Turns out this story is not Rolex Passion’s, but rather a Mr. Daniel Bourn, a vintage Rolex Watch Dealer who runs Vintage DB blog. In December 2011 Vintage DB presented a pair of Rolex 1665 Double Red PATENT PENDING Sea-Dwellers with consecutive serials, which were originally delivered to 2 divers for testing purposes while they were working for dive exploration companies other Comex in the late 1960s. The general consensus among collectors is that Rolex developed the Helium Gas Escape Valve (HEV) in conjunction with Comex during the late 1960s via testing of the HEV & non HEV model ref.1665 Patent Pending Sea-Dwellers. Shortly after acquiring the aforementioned pair of 1665 Patent Pending Sea-Dwellers, Vintage DB serendipitously discovered another original owner example of the Rolex ref. 1665 ‘PATENT PENDING Sea-Dweller’, but of a slightly different provenance….issued by Rolex for testing purposes to a US Navyman in the late 1960s….and so the story goes…loaded with pics, original letters from Rolex, and on and on…RECOMMEND!
Rolex 1665 Double Red Seadweller “Patent Pending”
© Copyright Daniel Bourn www.vintage-db.com
The only thing better than the history of a watch is the history behind one of its examples. We all must agree that military watches, Rolex or otherwise, share a unique place in history. They have been present at places in time that many of us can only read about or watch in documentaries or hear our grandparents tell stories about. But when the opportunity arrives to own one of these military watches, the desire to know where it has been present in history becomes overwhelming.
Vintage Rolex dealer Robert Maron has been known to offer a few well known but “rarely seen in the wild” Rolex’s — such as the 1665 Double Red Sea-Dweller Submariner, Red 1680 Submariner, “Paul Newman” Daytona, and 16610 COMEX, to name a few. But the one piece that recently attracted my attention the most is the military Submariner, ref. 5513, shown below. This MilSub stood out because it is being sold with a letter written by a Major in the British Special Forces that relates about some of the action the watch was present for, and photographs of the watch in action. Click through to RobertMaron.com for more info and pics on this incredible timepiece with and its fascinating provenance.
Rolex MilSub Ref 5513
offered by Robert Maron, Inc.
Photo used with permission from RobertMaron.com
DEEP SEA HISTORY MADE!
UPDATE: National Geographic images confirm of Jim Cameron emerging from the Deepsea Challenger with the Rolex was “on board” — see images below
WOW — this is so exciting on so many levels — far beyond Rolex — but given what this blog exists for, I will maintain my focus: National Geographic now reports: Stuffed into a “vertical torpedo”, Filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron has become the first person to make a solo dive to the deepest place on Earth, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. AND — if all went according to plan — the Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch went with him! UPDATE: I believe that the first photo shown below confirms that the Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch did indeed make the journey on the outside of the vessel!
As of 5:52 p.m. ET (7:52 a.m. on Monday, local time), James Cameron has arrived at the Mariana Trench’s “Challenger Deep” — the deepest place on Earth. His depth on arrival: 35,756 feet (10,898 meters)—a figure unattainable anywhere else in the ocean. In follow up to my prior extensive look at the Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch produced for this mission, here are some follow up photos of the watch on Cameron’s vessel, the 24-foot-tall (7-meter-tall) DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. http://deepseachallenge.com for more det’s.
PERPETUELLE EXCLUSIVE REPORTS: The Rolex DEEP Sea Special (1960). The Rolex DEEPSEA CHALLENGE (2012).
Photos of the Rolex Deepsea Challenge Affixed to the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER
As seen upon Jim Cameron’s successful exit from his vessel — confirming that the Rolex Deepsea Challenge was along for the ride!
Cameron wearing a Rolex Deepsea
Photos of the Rolex Deepsea Challenge Affixed to the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER
Video / Photos by National Geographic
(please note that these photos are from training dives, not the actual mission)
VIDEO
The DEEPSEA CHALLENGER
Photograph by Mark Thiessen, National Geographic
Comparison of the TRIESTE (1960) and the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER (2012):
In Follow up to our earlier photo and video overview of the new Rolex Deepsea Challenge Watch (see it all here): here is some technical information about this fantastic marvel of engineering! Well done Rolex!
Too bad the Challenge is “Experimental” only. This baby would sell like water in the desert. (hint, hint, Rolex)
Rolex water resistance: 12,000 meters / 39,370 feet…
52 years after a Rolex watch accompanied the Trieste on its historic descent to 10,916 metres (35,800 feet) in the Mariana trench, National Geographic explorer-in-residence James Cameron, on board the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, prepares to go even deeper. This time again, a Rolex watch, the Rolex Deepsea Challenge, is part of the expedition. As always, Perpetuelle is here bringing you the first look. Enjoy these shots of the new Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch — rated to 12,000 meters, or 39,370 feet — Images and VIDEO, below (note: official specs and details are yet to be released now posted below).
You can also read all about the Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge, here, at http://deepseachallenge.com/. AND >>>> if you missed it, a MUST SEE: Perpetuelle.com Rolex Deep Sea Special – An Exclusive Report in which I spent some time with Lt. Don Walash and the Rolex Deep Sea Special from his 1960 mission.
Rolex DEEPSEA Challenge Watch (w/ Video)
experimental watch
51.4mm stainless steel case (28.5mm thick), 5.3mm screw down, grade 5 titanium caseback, 14.3mm sapphire crystal, Triplock crown, Rolex Caliber 3135 (automatic mechanical), Chromalight lume, Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert with numerals coated in Platinum (Pt) via PVD
water resistant: 12,000 meters / 39,370 feet
look at the AMAZING profile on this watch: 28.5mm thick CASE, 14.3mm sapphire CRYSTAL!!
note the thickness of the case in the watchmaker’s hand:
VIDEO: Making of the Rolex Deepsea Challenge Watch
*** PERPETUELLE FLASHBACK***
“This is Trieste. We are on the bottom of Challenger Deep. . . . Over.”
– U.S. Navy LT Don Walsh, on January 23, 1960
The Rolex that proved water-resistant to 35,840 feet…in the metal…
click through to visit Perpetuelle’s Exclusive Report on the Rolex Deep Sea Special
Baselworld 2012: Round four with Rolex brings us the Datejust II, Ref. 116300. It is understated in appearance thanks to the entire case made from 904L steel and crafted in to a 41mm diameter.
At the heart of the 116300 is Rolex’s 3136 in-house movement with the Parachrom hairspring. This Datejust II model is fitted with a 904L steel OYSTER bracelet with a folding Oysterclasp. Developed and patented by Rolex, this elegant solid-link bracelet offers remarkable comfort and ease of use. It also features the ingenious Easylink rapid extension system that allows the wearer to easily increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, for additional comfort in any circumstance.
Baselworld 2012: Continuing on with Rolex, we look at the new Yacht-Master, a couple new models (Ref 116622) in steel+platinum case (aka “Rolesium”), with choice of sand-blasted platinum dial or blue sunray. I like the direction Rolex has gone with the Yacht-Master this year, I just looks good, well balanced to me. Rolex notes an “entirely rethought” bezel — and this is the major improvement (in addition to the bracelet) in that it does 120 clicks in both directions (should be smoother/crisper than before). As for the bracelet, this Yacht-Master has a solid link bracelet with the spring-loaded Oysterlock clasp. The polished numerals against the sand-blasted finish of the bezel — all in platinum, mind you — looks sharp. Given a choice, I would certainly take the model with the blue sun-ray patterned dial — beautiful.
Rolex Yacht-Master Steel and Platinum (Ref 116622)
40mm steel and platinum case, choice of dial colors, oyster bracelet
Baselworld 2012: Moving on to new 2012 Rolex models actually worth resting your eyes on (I still can’t get over the Sky-Dweller)….the classic Rolex no-date Submariner has been upgraded. Bearing number reference 114060, the Rolex Submariner \THE reference when it comes to a dive watch now boasts a Cerachrom bezel and updated Oyster bracelet with Glidelock clasp. Also, the bracelet now has solid links and the spring-loaded Oysterlock clasp. The hands, dial indices and bezel pip have the blue glowing Chromalight luminous material (see photo below). The movement remains the same cal. 3130 as the 14060M. Respect.
Rolex No-Date Submariner (Ref 114060)
40mm steel case, automatic mechanical Rolex movement, ceramic bezel, 300m water resistance
Annual Calendar…
Baselworld 2012: Well, the rumors have proven true — the Rolex Sky-Dweller is here. But my immediate first reaction based was, well, let’s just say that I am not a fan (OK, now let me be blunt, and don’t hate on me for this: the Sky-Dweller looks awful to me). But first, here’s how the watch — with dual time zone and annual calendar works: the Rolex Sky-Dweller displays the local time via center hands and a chosen reference time via a rotating disc visible on the dial. The date is shown under a cyclops lens. Note also the month — displayed by means of 12 discreet aperatures around the circumference of the dial. Rolex claims reference time and date can be rapidly set via an innovative interface between the rotating “Ring Command” bezel and movement. The wearer uses the bezel to select the individual functions to be set, and then uses the crown to make the adjustment. Three references are being produced — white gold Ref 326939, yellow gold Ref 32693, and Everose gold Ref 326935.
Unfortunately, the Sky-Dweller sure isn’t what I thought it might be — the watch doesn’t look all that impressive to me. Sure the mechanical aspects of it might be impressive, but the dial design is not good. The Arabic and Roman Numerals really clash, the subdial seems too big and out of proportion. I dunno — really curious as to how Rolex aficionados will react to this….please weigh in with a comment below. There’s much better in the 2012 Rolex lineup…coming soon, so stay tuned in here @ Perpetuelle.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller
42mm white/yellow/Everose gold case, automatic mechanical Rolex Caliber 9001 (COSC)
Baselworld 2012: After rampant speculation over the release of a new Rolex Sky-Dweller watch, Rolex has teased with a screenshot of a new watch on its website. Is this the new Rolex Sky-Dweller? Less than 48 hours we will know…
Rolex 2012 Sky-Dweller ?
