To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Sea-Dweller, Rolex introduced the new Sea-Dweller reference 126600 at Baselworld 2017. The Sea-Dweller is arguably the least commercial model in the lineup as it is a highly professional tool watch initially developed for specialist deep-sea divers. The first model launched was the reference 1665 in 1967 and it was Rolex’s most capable diver’s wristwatch with a depth rating of up to 610 meters, which was roughly triple the depth rating of a corresponding Submariner reference 5512.

The Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 came as a surprise to many as there were newly updated features both aesthetically and technically. For the first time in decades, the new model featured the “SEA-DWELLER” designation in red writing, taking inspiration from early examples of the reference 1665 which appeared in the 1960s and 1970s with one line (Single Red) of red printing or two lines (Double Red). Furthermore, Rolex incorporated a magnifying lens on the surface of the crystal above the date aperture, initially witnessed in the Submariner reference 1680, and never-before-seen on a Sea-Dweller. Another interesting upgrade was its larger case dimension measuring 43mm in diameter, differing from all previous Sea-Dweller models with 40mm diameter cases. The new case provides water resistance capabilities of up to 1220 meters. The movement was upgraded to Rolex’s caliber 3235 providing enhanced efficiency and precision.

Highly sought after and technically advanced, the present Sea-Dweller reference 126600 is like new condition and accompanied with all its original accompaniments.