ROLEX. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, GAS ESCAPE VALVE, DATE, BRACELET AND 'PATENT PENDING' CASE
ROLEX. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, GAS ESCAPE VALVE, DATE, BRACELET AND 'PATENT PENDING' CASE
ROLEX. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, GAS ESCAPE VALVE, DATE, BRACELET AND 'PATENT PENDING' CASE
ROLEX. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, GAS ESCAPE VALVE, DATE, BRACELET AND 'PATENT PENDING' CASE
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ROLEXSEA-DWELLER 'DOUBLE RED' 'PATENT PENDING' REF. 1665
ROLEX. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, GAS ESCAPE VALVE, DATE, BRACELET AND 'PATENT PENDING' CASE

SIGNED ROLEX, SEA-DWELLER, SUBMARINER 2000, DOUBLE-RED MODEL, REF. 1665, CASE NO. 2'117'441, CIRCA 1969

Details
ROLEX. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, GAS ESCAPE VALVE, DATE, BRACELET AND 'PATENT PENDING' CASE
SIGNED ROLEX, SEA-DWELLER, SUBMARINER 2000, DOUBLE-RED MODEL, REF. 1665, CASE NO. 2'117'441, CIRCA 1969
Movement: Automatic
Dial: Black
Case: 39 mm. diam.
With: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and deployant clasp stamped 'Pat. Pend', overall length approximately 200 mm.
Remark: Patent pending case

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Lot Essay

The helium valve, allowing helium and other gases to escape hence enabling the watch to withstand compression even at extreme depths, was developed by Rolex in cooperation with the French diving firm COMEX and used for the Submariner references 5513 and 5514. Following the success of these models, Rolex decided to commercialise their invention with the launch of the celebrated Sea-Dweller reference 1665 in 1967, the first wristwatch designed for use in saturation diving, fitted with a Rolex patent valve in the band and guaranteed waterproof to 610 meters depth.

The model was rushed to production while Rolex had not received the final approval for the patent of the helium valve, resulting in the very first models of reference 1665 being sold with the case backs engraved (Patent Pending) in parenthesis. Very few examples of these early examples were made with serial numbers ranging between 1.7 million and 2.2 million.

The present reference 1665 is one of these extremely rare examples, featuring a number of specific characteristics of this celebrated version, clearly distinguishing them from their 'patented' successors:

- Most evidently the so-called Mark I dial, standing out by Sea-Dweller on the first line, and Submariner 2000 on the second. The signature consists of red print on top of white that has faded to a light pink/yellow tone. The 's' of the Sea-Dweller is also aligned perfectly with the 'b' of the Submariner.

- 'Oyster Gas Escape Valve' and (Patent Pending) engraved around the case back.

- Inside case back stamped 1665, the last three digits of the serial number '441' and quarter and year of production 'IV.67'.

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