912
Rolex
Ref. 1665
Sea-Dweller, “Rail Dial”
A rare and attractive stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, date, gas escape valve, “rail dial” and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$120,000 - 250,000€13,900 - 28,900$15,400 - 32,100
HK$127,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1978
- Reference No
- 1665
- Movement No
- D837’612
- Case No
- 5’804’625, repeated inside caseback 1665
- Model Name
- Sea-Dweller, “Rail Dial”
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “93150”, endlinks stamped “580”, max length 190mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 40mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Enhancing its rarity, the present example Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 features a MK II “rail dial” that was only in production for a mere two years from 1977 to 1979 with its serial ranging from 5.7 million to 6.2 million. These “rail dials” were made by the famous Stern Company instead of Singer. Distinguished by subtle details on the dial, the “C” of “CHRONOMETER” lines up perfectly with the “C” from “CERTIFIED” creating an unusual vertical corridor or rail between the last two lines of the designation. Another trait of that separates it from the rest is that it features “T SWISS T <25”.
The present example Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 with a 5.8 million serial from circa 1978 features the rare and elusive MK II Rail Dial that is well-preserved with attractive lume plots and a ghost bezel that elevates its vintage appeal.
The present example Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 with a 5.8 million serial from circa 1978 features the rare and elusive MK II Rail Dial that is well-preserved with attractive lume plots and a ghost bezel that elevates its vintage appeal.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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