FROM A PROMINENT ASIAN COLLECTOR
819
Rolex
Ref. 1665
Sea-Dweller, “Double Red”
A rare and highly attractive stainless steel wristwatch with date, bracelet and helium escape valve
- Estimate
- HK$240,000 - 400,000€26,400 - 44,000$30,800 - 51,300
HK$375,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1974
- Reference No
- 1665
- Movement No
- D396’886
- Case No
- 4’030’340, also repeated inside the caseback
- Model Name
- Sea-Dweller, “Double Red”
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, stamped 93150, end links stamped 580, max length 200mm.
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp, stamped 93150 S CL1
- Dimensions
- 40mm. Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed, outer caseback signed “Rolex Patent Oyster Gas Escape Value”
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present example with Mk III dial features the “D” in Sea-Dweller lining up with the “R” in Submariner 2000. One of the finest examples of these rare watches to come to auction, the case is in extraordinary condition with clean lug bevels and wonderfully original dial. Today, the Sea-Dweller has become mythical amongst collectors of vintage tool watches. It masculine appeal and technical prowess make it a robust watch that has an intriguing historical background, and sought by passionate collectors.
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.
Browse Maker