Manufacturer: Rolex
Year: 1967
Reference No: 1665; inside caseback stamped IV.67 and 232
Movement No: 384’155
Case No: 2’128’232
Model Name: Sea-Dweller “Double Red Patent Pending”
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Later stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped 93150, endlinks stamped 585, max overall length 225mm
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex fliplock deployant clasp stamped 93150, and OP3
Dimensions: 39.5mm Diameter
Signed: Case, dial, bracelet and clasp signed.
Accessories: Accompanied by a scan of a provenance letter written by the son of the original owner.
Catalogue Essay
The Sea-Dweller is now one of the most appreciated Rolex timepieces, possibly because of its genesis as one of the ultimate tool watches, born out of true necessity and grown to become an iconic piece of watchmaking. Its history begins in the mid-1960s. At the time, a number of international experiments were developed with the goal of demonstrating the possibility of living for an extended period of time (sometimes weeks) in underwater habitats. Rolex began developing timepieces which would resist very deep dives, and underwater habitat conditions where a pressurized mixture of helium and oxygen was used for breathing.

The helium escape valve was an ingenious invention because when working in helium-rich atmospheres, tiny helium molecules would seep through the crystal and rubber gaskets into the watch and create pressure once the diver had surfaced. This would usually result in the crystal popping off. The development of the valve was meant to prevent this issue by letting the gas escape the watch case and easing the pressure. Today, it is well established that Rolex worked with a number of divers and organizations around the world to aide in the Sea-Dweller's development. For example, the scientists of the American underwater habitat, Tektite, wore such watches in 1969 and 1970, and the same is true for the scientists working the Sealab III project. The name Sea-Dweller itself is a direct nod to the fact that the model had been developed to meet the demands of scientists living - or “dwelling” - under the sea. Following the positive results obtained with these companies, Rolex went on to publicly commercialize the model.

The earliest iterations engraved with “Patent Pending Rolex Oyster Gas Escape Valve” on their casebacks (such as the present example) are highly sought after. These early models were, in effect, prototypes, and their caseback interiors feature the last three digits of the watch’s serial number - stamped 232 on the present example, as well as IV.67 indicating production in the fourth quarter of 1967. The Mark 1 dial is a second defining feature of these prototype models; the double red printed Sea-Dweller on the first line, and Submariner 2000 on the second – all words in an equal font size. The vividness of the red color found on the present example is especially noteworthy since these designations consisted of the red print placed on top of white, that over time, would often fade to a light pink tone. Almost as exceptional as the history and rarity of this piece is its well-preserved condition and provenance.

In addition to the rare details on the caseback, the watch is engraved with two names. Originally purchased through an authorized Rolex dealer in the early 1970s by a Charlottesville, Virginia school teacher, according to the letter provided by his son, “the salesman told him it was a ‘floor model’ display to provide context of similar watches he hoped to sell to prospective buyers.” After wearing the watch “with some regularity”, he gave the watch to his son in the early 2000s, who wore it on special occasions, and finally decided to sell it late last year to a private dealer, who has kept it ever since.
Artist Biography
Rolex
Swiss • 1905
Founded 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.
View More Works