The Rolex Deepsea 116660: The update of the legendary Sea-Dweller
How to improve perfection? This is the exact question Rolex perfectly responded to in 2008 with the
Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea 116660, which was designed as an update to the Sea-Dweller. When the watch was presented at Baselworld 2008, it quickly became the star of the show and polarized the fan community. The ripple that the Deepsea caused was so great it even met with a media response outside the watch market. At that time, the Deepsea was by far the watch with the highest
water resistance of 3,900 metres (and a "reserve" of 1,000 metres) produced in series. The region from 1,000 metres to 4,000 metres into which the Deepsea can reach is called Bathypelagial. While divers have to struggle with the complete absence of light and 400 times higher pressure, they also face temperatures that are around the freezing point.
This was not the first time Rolex had ventured into these depths. In 1960, a diver was able to dive down to 3,350 metres with the Rolex Deep-Sea Special. The start for the Sea-Dweller was the
Rolex Comex (Ref. 5514), which is now traded second hand for around €50,000. This watch was produced at the beginning of the 60s in cooperation with the French diving company Comex. At that time saturation diving had more or less established itself, as they searched for oil in the sea. During decompression, the watches could no longer withstand the pressure inside the case and burst the crystal from the watch. Proceeding from the Submariner, Rolex developed a watch with a
helium outlet valve. This feature should be
standard in the Sea-Dweller series since then and forms the basis for all other models of the series.
Best reasons to buy a Deepsea 116660 with black dial
- Elegant but robust diver's watch without distracting gimmicks
- With a water density of up to 3,900 metres you will be pleased at any depth
- The watch for nonconformists: with Deepsea you become an opinion leader
Get the Sea-Dweller Deepsea 116660 with a black dial
Rolex 116660 – available pre-owned from €8,600
If you are thinking about buying a
Rolex Deepsea 116660 with a black dial, you should be well informed about its optical and technical features, which justify the price of a
second-hand Rolex 116660 with a black dial for €8,600. In the beginning, there are the dimensions: with a case of 44 mm, a height of 18 mm and a weight of 220 g, the Deepsea comes with the massive charisma you'd expect from a functional watch. The glass does not feature the cyclops above the date display. Not that Rolex didn't want to, but it would still take a few years until the 50th anniversary of the series to make it technically happen.
Otherwise, it holds all the features you would expect from a
Rolex diver's watch: Helium outlet valve, unidirectional rotating Cerachrom bezel with 60-minute graduation, screw-down triple lock crown and legibility thanks to Chromalight guarantee maximum functionality even under difficult conditions. Another new feature is the patented Ringlock system, which also separates the Deepsea from the Sea-Dweller and allows it to reach depths of up to 3,900 metres. The pressure is redistributed onto the 5 mm thick raised sapphire crystal, a steel compression inner ring and a 3 mm thick titanium case back.
Like the Submariner, the
3135 calibre beats inside in the updated version with a Parachrome spiral. The calibre has been in use since 1988 and stands out due to its robustness and versatility. From Submariner to Datejust and Sea-Dweller, it quickly established itself as a Rolex calibre for all purposes. Many will also be pleased that Rolex uses the Glidelock system for the bracelet, which is also used on the newer Submariner. As a result, the bracelet can be extended by up to 18 mm, which opens up new flexibility not only for diving but also in everyday life.
Price comparison: Rolex Deepsea 116660 vs. Sea-Dweller 116600
You can buy a certified, pre-owned Sea-Dweller 116600 at a price of €10,560 already. The Deepsea has an RRP of €11,200, on the market for used watches you can find the
black dial 116660 models from €8,600. If you want to invest in one of these watches, you should consider the difference of almost €2,000.
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Rolex Sea-Dweller 116600 |
Rolex Deepsea 116660 |
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Original price
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from €9,450
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from €11,200
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Price pre-owned
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from €10,560
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from €8,600
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Production period
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2014 until 2017
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2008 until today
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Water resistance
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up to 1,220 metres
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up to 3,900 metres
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Case
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40 mm, stainless-steel
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44 mm, stainless-steel
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Calibre
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Calibre 3135
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Calibre 3135 with Pararchrom-spiral
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Bezel
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Ceramics with engravings |
Ceramics with engravings |
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Bracelet
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Oyster with Glidelock
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Glidelock with up to 18 mm extension
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