Rolex Sea-Dweller vs. Rolex Deepsea Comparability
Although the Submariner is effectively its most well-known and best-selling dive watch; Rolex manufactures two completely different timepieces which have been notably designed to outperform the Submariner at conquering the depths of the ocean. Initially conceived by means of the Sixties, the Rolex Sea-Dweller is a bunch of ultra-capable expert dive watches that objectives to pick out up the place the Submariner left off, enabling its prospects to dive deeper and preserve at depth longer.
The Rolex Sea-Dweller assortment consists of every the standard Sea-Dweller and its way more extreme brother, the Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller. Whereas the Deepsea holds the title of being Rolex’s most waterproof watch, every timepieces are among the many many largest and most succesful dive watches that Rolex has ever put forward. Although they’ve been every designed for a similar supposed goal, the Rolex Sea-Dweller and the Rolex Deepsea are surprisingly fully completely different watches.
Rolex Sea-Dweller
Sea-Dweller ref. 12660x Quick Specs
- References: 126600, 126603
- Introduction Yr: 2017
- Case Dimension: 43mm
- Case Provides: Oystersteel (904L Stainless Metallic Alloy) or Yellow Rolesor (Two-Tone Metallic and Yellow Gold)
- Bezel: Cerachrom (Ceramic), Unidirectional, 60 Minute Scale
- Dial: Black
- Crystal: Sapphire Crystal with Cyclops Date Lens
- Bracelet: Oyster with Oysterlock and Glidelock
- Options: Hour, Minute, Second palms; Instantaneous Date, Timing Bezel
- Water Resistance: 1,220 meters (4,000 ft)
- Helium Escape Valve: Certain
- Caliber: 3235 Computerized Movement
- Retail Prices: $12,950, $17,000
Rolex Deepsea
Deepsea ref. 136660 Quick Specs
- Introduction Yr: 2022
- Case Dimension: 44mm
- Case Provides: Oystersteel (904L Stainless Metallic Alloy)
- Bezel: Cerachrom (Ceramic), Unidirectional, 60 Minute Scale
- Dial: Black or D-Blue
- Crystal: 5.5mm Thick Domed Sapphire Crystal
- Bracelet: Oyster with Oysterlock and Glidelock
- Options: Hour, Minute, Second palms; Instantaneous Date, Timing Bezel
- Water Resistance: 3,900 meters (12,800 ft)
- Helium Escape Valve: Certain
- Caliber: 3235 Computerized Movement
- Retail Prices: $13,850, $14,150
Assortment Decisions: Rolex Sea-Dweller vs. Rolex Deepsea
Between the essential Sea-Dweller and the Deepsea, all the current Rolex Sea-Dweller assortment now consists of 4 watches. The essential Rolex Sea-Dweller is obtainable in every stainless-steel (ref. 126600) and two-tone steel and 18k yellow gold (ref. 126603).
Furthermore, the Rolex Deepsea can be supplied in two fully completely different variations, every of which are crafted solely from stainless-steel. The same old mannequin of the reference 136660 Rolex Deepsea is fitted with a primary black dial, whereas the alternative (nicknamed the “James Cameron”) has what Rolex calls the ‘D-Blue’ dial, which fades from darkish blue to black and choices the DEEPSEA title in vivid inexperienced textual content material.
The above reference numbers are for the current-production Sea-Dweller and Deepsea fashions. The latest Sea-Dweller watches obtained right here out in 2017 (Oystersteel mannequin) and 2019 (two-tone Yellow Rolesor mannequin). Conversely, the newest Deepsea model was solely not too long ago launched in March 2022.
- Sea-Dweller ref. 126600 (Launched 2017)
- Sea-Dweller ref. 126603 (Launched 2019)
- Deepsea ref. 136660 Black Dial (Launched 2022)
- Deepsea ref. 136660 D-Blue Dial (Launched 2022)
Nonetheless, it’s nearly important to make an observation of discontinued Sea-Dweller and Deepsea references. Significantly given that Sea-Dweller has been spherical since 1967 and the Deepsea since 2008.
- Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 (Launched 1967)
- Sea-Dweller ref. 16660 (Launched 1978)
- Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 (Launched 1989)
- Deepsea ref. 116660 (Launched 2008)
- Sea-Dweller ref. 116600 (Launched 2014)
- Deepsea ref. 116660 D-Blue (Launched 2014)
- Deepsea ref. 126660 (Launched 2018)
Rolex used to go well with the Sea-Dweller watch with 40mm circumstances; nonetheless, that changed with the discharge of the 43mm fiftieth Anniversary Sea-Dweller in 2017. Alternatively, the Deepsea has always had a 44mm case.
Design: Rolex Sea-Dweller vs. Rolex Deepsea
Although the Sea-Dweller has traditionally been a 40mm watch, the most recent period of Sea-Dweller watches has seen an increase in dimension to a 43mm case diameter. Furthermore, whereas earlier variations of the Sea-Dweller have traditionally had flat crystals, the newest period offers Rolex’s iconic Cyclops magnification lens to the ground of the crystal. Excluding a few small particulars on the dial and bezel, the newest period of Rolex Sea-Dweller largely resembles a much bigger mannequin of the updated Rolex Submariner.
No matter being a part of the Sea-Dweller assortment, the Deepsea is a significantly fully completely different watch from a case construction standpoint.
Whereas the case design of the widespread Sea-Dweller is very like a normal Rolex timepiece, the 44mm case of the reference 136660 Deepsea makes use of Rolex’s patented Ringlock System that permits the Deepsea to survive depths as a lot as 3,900 meters (12,800 ft). Attributable to this extraordinarily specialised case design, the Rolex Deepsea is chunkier than the widespread Sea-Dweller, and its extra thick, domed sapphire crystal (with out Cyclops magnification lens) presents the watch a noticeably fully completely different look every on and off the wrist.
Actions: Rolex Sea-Dweller vs. Rolex Deepsea
The sooner period of every the Rolex Sea-Dweller and the Rolex Deepsea was powered by the tried-and-true Caliber 3135 movement, which has been used to vitality almost all of Rolex’s date-displaying watches given that late Nineteen Eighties. Nonetheless, in 2017, Rolex began updating its quite a few Sea-Dweller watches with its all-new period of in-house date displaying movement, the Caliber 3235.
No matter their variations, right now all Rolex Sea-Dweller and Deepsea watches are fitted with Caliber 3235 actions. Protected by fourteen patents, and boasting a 70-hour vitality reserve, the Caliber 3235 moreover incorporates Rolex’s new, extraordinarily atmosphere pleasant Chronergy escapement, throughout which every the redesigned pallet fork and escape wheel are constructed from nickel-phosphorous to be insensitive to magnetic interference.
Prices: Rolex Sea-Dweller Vs Deepsea
The retail prices of the Sea-Dweller and Deepsea are as follows:
- Sea-Dweller ref. 126600 in Oystersteel: $12,950
- Sea-Dweller ref. 126603 in Yellow Rolesor: $17,000
- Deepsea ref. 136660 with a black dial: $13,850
- Deepsea ref. 136660 D-Blue Dial (Launched 2022): $14,150
As you might even see, the steel Sea-Dweller is barely cheap than the steel Deepsea. Unsurprisingly, the most expensive of all of them is the two-tone Sea-Dweller attributable to its mixtures of steel and 18k yellow gold.
Given the current state of the pre-owned Rolex watch market, current-production Sea-Dweller watches, like primarily all Rolex sports activities actions fashions, are valued above retail on the secondary market.
- Pre-owned Sea-Dweller ref. 126600 in Oystersteel: Prices start at $14,500
- Pre-owned Sea-Dweller ref. 126603 in Yellow Rolesor: Prices start at $19,995
Since Rolex solely launched the Deepsea ref. 136660 a few months once more, its market value hasn’t been established however. Nonetheless, if we take a look on the earlier reference, which is analogous to the newest model, we observe the following prices on the secondary market:
- Pre-owned Deepsea ref. 126660 with black dial: Prices start at $15,995
- Pre-owned Deepsea ref. 126660 with D-Blue dial: Prices start at $17,595
However as soon as extra, we see that pre-owned Deepsea watches, even the simply these days discontinued ones, are valued larger on the secondary market than their urged retail prices.
Delicate Variations: Rolex Sea-Dweller vs. Deepsea
Even with case diameters which will be merely 1mm apart, the Rolex Sea-Dweller and the Rolex Deepsea have significantly fully completely different appearances as a consequence of their inside bezels.
The same old Rolex Sea-Dweller follows the essential inside bezel design, whereas the one on the Deepsea is method greater and has the phrases “Genuine Gasoline Escape Valve” and “Ring Lock System” visibly displayed beneath the crystal.
The distinguished inside bezel on the Deepsea is a structural ingredient of the watch’s specialised case design. The extra thick, domed sapphire crystal sits in opposition to the inside bezel ring, which is constructed from a further arduous, nitrogen-alloyed steel. As the massive pressures found deep beneath the ocean’s ground press down on the crystal of the Deepsea, the ingredient is supported by the inside ring, allowing the watch to withstand water pressure equal to a weight of larger than 3 tons on the crystal.
Furthermore, the caseback on the Rolex Deepsea is a design notably engineered to allow the watch to withstand extraordinarily extreme pressures that can in another case deform standard casebacks. Whereas the caseback on the standard Rolex Sea-Dweller is the usual, secure, stainless-steel choice, the caseback on the Deepsea is a multi-part system, throughout which a barely versatile titanium cowl sits in opposition to the choice facet of the inside bezel help ring, whereas a stainless steel, donut-shaped piece screws on prime of the titanium cowl to hold all of it collectively. As depth will enhance, the water pressure forces the crystal and the titanium rear cowl into the gaskets of the watch, pressing them in opposition to its extra arduous, nitrogen-alloyed steel help ring. This design permits the seal of the Deepsea to boost as pressure will enhance, enabling even greater attainable depths.
Every the Rolex Sea-Dweller and Rolex Deepsea are among the many many most sturdy and waterproof watches that Rolex has ever produced. For lots of, the Submariner provides far more moisture security than they’re ever vulnerable to be required; nonetheless, for many who actually require the utmost water resistance, there aren’t any greater decisions than these found inside the Rolex Sea-Dweller assortment.
