Description

The present watch is a result of an extremely rare collaboration between Rolex and the Royal Navy (UK).
It is the SEA-DWELLER DEEPSEA (reference 116660) produced by Rolex in 2013 for the 60th anniversary of the Royal Navy Clearance Branch – a special unit of professional divers of the British Navy tasked with clearing underwater obstructions using explosives and removing explosive traps laid by the Germans during WWII.
Only 50 units were produced to commemorate this special event, featuring a case-back with the engraving of the ‘Clearance Diver’ crest, the limited edition number (XX/50) and in some cases the initials of the clearance diver to whom the watch was presented.

It is perhaps one of the most valuable modern Rolex, considering that there’s hardly any such commemorative timepiece coming out of the Rolex Manufacture in recent times.

The watch itself is a piece of technical marvel featuring a helium escape valve and the patented Ring Lock System, with the automatic Cal. 3135 – all encased in a 44mm oyster case and secured on an oyster bracelet, sealed with a titanium alloy case-back and a 5mm thick sapphire crystal, offering an astonishing depth rate of 12,800ft.
Offered as a complete set with original box and papers, including original tags and a few extras.

Rolex – bio

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, initially as Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd. Renamed Rolex by 1908 and moved its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919.  Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary “Oyster” case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
The most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
The company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
One story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”, meaning “exquisite clockwork”.