Rolex Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA
The Rolex Sea-Dweller, always my favorite Rolex, debuted at Baselworld 2008 with the new designation, "DEEPSEA". Its name comes from the "Deep Sea Special", the experimental prototype that in 1960 reached a depth of 10,916 metres in the Mariana Trench. For 2008 the engineers at Rolex SA made the Sea-Dweller bigger, more water-resistant and essentially changed about everything, except the ultra reliable 3135 in-house movement.
Here is a full list of the changes made to the original Sea-Dweller:
- The updated case is slightly larger at 43mm in diameter.
- The crystal is now a domed sapphire.
- An all new ceramic bezel was added, the numerals and the graduations are filled with platinum through the use of a PVD technique patented by Rolex.
- The zero marker of the graduated bezel, represented by a triangle, is visible longer due to a capsule containing a new luminescent material that emits a blue glow.
- To enhance legibility, the indexes and hands are wider and partially coated with the same new luminescent material and also emit a blue colour.
- The movement features a new Parachrom hairspring with high resistance to shocks and magnetic fields.
- The case back is made of a titanium alloy, an extremely resistant stainless material. It is held in place against the high-performance ring by means of a 904L-steel ring.
- A nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel ring was added to help withstand the pressure exerted by water on the crystal and the case back.
- A new Glidelock clasp allows for fine adjustments to the bracelet length, up to 18 mm by increments of 1.8 mm, without removing the watch. (pictured above)
Retail $8999