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Rolex Sea-Dweller Citizen of the deep
Rolex created the Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller in 1967 to meet the challenge of prolonged underwater missions. The Sea-Dweller is specifically designed for saturation diving. Thanks to its helium escape valve, it can withstand decompression on ascent and master the return to the surface – the final phase of deep-sea exploration.
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Guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 610 metres (2,000 feet) when it was launched in 1967, then to 1,220 metres (4,000 feet) from 1978, the Sea-Dweller combines all the attributes of the modern divers’ watch.
Tested in real-life conditions as part of the Tektite programme, initiated jointly by NASA, the US Navy and the US Government in 1969, the Sea-Dweller was employed during the first major experiments with underwater habitats.
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In the 1960s, so-called “saturation” diving made it possible to remain at great depths for extended periods. It consists of housing divers in a pressurized habitat, so as to reproduce the pressure that prevails in their underwater working environment. This means that they need only undergo a single decompression process, at the very end of the mission.
This process can damage the watch. Divers breathe a mix of gases composed mainly of helium, whose extremely fine atoms can penetrate the case. On returning to the surface, the helium trapped inside can create a phenomenon of excess internal pressure liable to compromise its integrity.
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In order to overcome this problem, in 1967 Rolex introduced the Sea-Dweller, a divers’ watch with a helium escape valve. It is screwed to the case and consists of a hermetic cylinder, a piston, a gasket and a spring, acting as a safety valve. When the internal pressure in the case is too high, it opens automatically, allowing the helium atoms to escape.
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The Chromalight display, exclusive to Rolex, gives the Sea-Dweller optimal legibility in any circumstances. The hour markers, hands, capsule and bezel are filled or covered by hand with a luminescent material that emits an intense blue glow in the dark that lasts up to two times longer than traditional phosphorescent materials.
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The Sea-Dweller is equipped with a Triplock winding crown. This screw-down crown was invented in 1970 and comprises three waterproofness zones. It reinforces the impermeability of the Sea-Dweller’s 43 mm Oyster case, whose middle case is crafted from a solid block of Oystersteel, a particularly corrosion-resistant alloy.
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Explorers and oceanographers, like Sylvia Earle, and underwater photographers, such as David Doubilet, are committed to preserving the ocean and know that it is our most precious resource. They wear a Sea-Dweller to reflect their passion and commitment.
Rolex has also partnered with Comex (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises) since 1971. For several decades, the Sea-Dweller has equipped the divers of this French company, which specializes in underwater engineering, technology and intervention.
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![Rolex - Sea-Dweller - Oyster, 43 mm, Oystersteel and yellow gold](https://www.lepage.fr/img/rolex/product/upright/m126603-0001_desktop.png)