When the Rolex Submariner was launched in 1953, it represented Rolex’s answer to the demands of the fast-growing community of recreational scuba divers, at the time a novel sport. Soon, however, the company realised that it could also provide diver’s watches to professional institutions - such as COMEX - and began a joined Research & Development process with these companies to adapt the Submariner to the stricter requirements of professional diving endeavours. The results of this process is a series of “upgraded” Submariner watches featuring improved water resistance and the ingenious addition of a helium escape valve developed to avoid the glass popping out of the watch during decompression. In 1971, a civilian version of these timepieces was launched with the Sea-Dweller line, taking its name by the underwater habitats into which the scientists, and their watches, would dwell for extended periods of time.

The present piece belongs to this line of highly advanced divers’ wristwatches, and it is a specimen from the so-called “Double Red” series, featuring two lines of red text. This detail would later be replaced by full white graphics: the so-called “Great White” Sea-Dweller in 1977. Interestingly, the early examples of reference 1665 bear either the last three digits or - such as the present watch - the full serial number inside the caseback, a highly unusual detail for a standard production Rolex wristwatch. Normally, such a practice was adopted by the company for special order timepieces. The dial of the Double Red Sea-Dweller presents an evolution over time, each iteration identified as a Mark. This specimen features a Mark 4 dial– characterised by the grainy print and perfectly aligned D and R of “Dweller” and “Submariner" as well as having the “Double Red” letterings vivid and clear with the font of the red lettering notably larger on the top line. Manufactured in 1975, the present watch is a true testament of Rolexes advanced research technologies and forward thinking, it is further accompanied by its original box and punched papers and preserved in incredible condition with the remainders of the sticker still present on the caseback.