Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2005 Reference No: 16600 Movement No: 549’036 Case No: F949’328 Model Name: Sea-Dweller Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3135, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 195mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Zurich Watch Co., LTD. Kowloon dated 10th May 2005, Buehlmann table, tool, anchor, extra diver’s extension link, green document holder, outer packaging and presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
With its design inspired from the Submariner, the Rolex Sea-Dweller was a result between a successful collaboration with COMEX. First introduced in 1967, the Sea-Dweller was the firm’s first professional diver’s wristwatch to incorporate a newly patented helium gas escape valve, allowing gas to escape in one outward direction enhancing a deeper depth rating.
In 1989, Rolex released the Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 replacing the short-lived ref. 16660. While most features remained very much the same as its old reference, the ref. 16600 encased an upgraded cal. 3135. The reference was produced for 19 years before it was discontinued in 2008 with the introduction of the ref. 116600.
The present Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 from circa 2005 is offered in excellent overall condition and is accompanied by its original guarantee and accessories.
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.
