Rolex Sea-Dweller watch 40 mm 1990 Ref. 16600

The pitch

The Sea-Dweller was designed to accompany the pioneers of deep-sea life and experimental underwater life programs developed in the 1960s. At that time, scuba diving was also in the midst of a technical revolution with the use of gas mixtures that allowed to push human limits even further. The Sea-Dweller is aesthetically close to the Submariner but is 10 times more waterproof!

The origins of the Sea-Dweller

The Rolex Sea-Dweller was born in 1967 and was specially designed to be used during saturation dives. The Sea-Dweller differs from the Submariner by its thicker case, helium exhaust valve, its nickname Sea-Dweller and its glass without cyclops loupe. Launched at the end of 1988, the reference 16600 - also named Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000, is the third generation in the line of the great divers of the brand, after the ref. 16660 and the very first 1665.

What you need to know

This Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 is powered by the star caliber of the brand's : the Rolex 3135. This caliber is also one of the main differences between the 16600 and its ancestor, the 16660, which was also waterproof to 1,220 meters but equipped with the Rolex 3035. Launched in 1988, the same year as the new case of the Sea-Dweller, the Rolex 3135 caliber is still used by the brand and remains technically very advanced. Since its creation, Rolex has regularly improved it with, for example, the addition of the Parachrom balance spring or the Paraflex shock absorber. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and equipped with 31 jewels, this COSC-certified chronometer movement is equipped with an inertially-adjustable balance and benefits from Rolex's remarkable expertise in high-precision adjustment.

The package

This watch is in excellent condition. The dial is starting to age to take very nice shades of beige as well as the aluminum disc of its bezel. The hands have been modified during the last service of this piece. This Rolex Sea-Dweller watch of 1990 has been authenticated and revised by our Rolex watchmaker. The package contains its original case but not its papers.