THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 1665
YEAR: 1975
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
The Sea-Dweller is to this day, the only sports Rolex that was born out of necessity. Unlike the Millsub which was effectively an altered 5513, the Sea-Dweller was created because the current dive model Rolex had to offer just wasn't up to the ever changing sub-sea landscape.
In the 60s sub-sea exploration was developing at a rate of knots. Rolex found themselves in a horological race to the bottom, going head to head with Omega. They needed to produce the first 'professional' dive watch, capable of being used by saturation divers that were often diving beyond 300m.
Omega won the battle with the Seamaster 600 or PloProf as its known, with the help of Comex and their divers, but it's fair to say Rolex won the war. With help from the SEALAB Divers known as Aquanauts in the US Navy, they initially modified a 5513 to include a valve that allowed Helium to escape from the case once decompression occurred. It wasn't totally successful, this lead to a completely new design and a new case. By 1971 Rolex had formed a partnership with Comex after Omega's rocky relationship with the French Diving company ended. Rolex agreed to supply all watches to Comex for free in return for detailed real works reporting and testing of their products.
The 1665 reference was produced from 1967 to 1983, (with the 'Red' variants specifically between 67 and 77) but technically the watch didn't retail until 1971, with most of the watches made prior to 71 not being intended for civilian use.
This particular example is the most common variant, the MK4, this dial is seen between the 3 and 5.2m serial range, this watch being 4.2m serial.
The dial and hands have survived in great condition, apart from a chip on the 25 hash marker the dial is spot on, the hands have some very slight oxidisation. The bezel is a Mk3 as people call it with the regular 5, bang on for this generation. Its has some wear as you would expect. The date wheel is the correct brushed silver wheel.
The watch retains a correct T39 domed crystal that has some wear on the top edge. The case has been polished in the past but shows signs of wear and remains thick and even including the crown guards. The 93150 bracelet is VE coded denoting it was made in 1980.
The movement is running well at +5 secs per day, 265 amps with a 0.3 beat error. The watch flew through a 5bar pressure test also.
This is an extremely well priced example of an iconic and highly collectible watch.