Vintage
DrStrong presents an insightful exploration of the early "thin case" Rolex Sea-Dweller, a watch that has profoundly captivated collectors. This article traces the Sea-Dweller's origins as a tool watch in 1967, its evolution from a Submariner prototype, and the distinctive features that make early double red models highly sought after.
"No other watch has captivated the Rolex collector as the Sea Dweller. Born as a tool watch in 1967, it was everything that Rolex knew about dive watches incorporated into one watch."
Initially based on a regular submariner case and before the HEV patent had been accepted, the Sea Dweller went to production in late 1967 as a prototype watch. Regular production soon followed and the watch was produced with several different variations for the next forty years.
The early double red Sea Dweller are considered a key watch amongst collectors: their high dome, large cases, Helium Escape Valve, distinctive engravings, indestructible case and the lure of a limited production "tool" watch has uniquely attracted the attention of watch lovers.
The Prototypes
For the initial testing of some experimental dive watches, Rolex simply took a batch of pre-made submariner cases, with allocated serials and provided them to a department set-up to the test/develop watches to a greater depth rating (initially 1650/500 and then 2000/610) with a new feature added to counteract problems they were having with crystals popping off the watch at pressure. They were not specially manufactured cases, but standard (thin) cases without engravings on the back, some of which then had a gas valve added. They were presented to the worlds leading deep sea divers for testing and reporting on the watches' dependability in deep sea dives. It is believed that only 30 Rolex Sea Dweller cases were produced without the gas escape valve. Most of these prototypes did not survive decompressions and the gas escape valve which were already being fitted to early Submariners ref. 5513 and ref. 5514 were required for the Sea-Dweller.
(Photo: BJSOnline)
The dials fitted on these watches are very distinctive: with one red line only or without “2000” after “Submariner”:
(Photo: Paul Boutros)
The Patent Pending DSRD
The 1665 was initially rushed to production and some early watches were sent to dealers for promotion or early sales. Some authorities state that the number is less, about 150, while others argue that the number is much larger and that several hundred may have been made.
The helium valve had been developed and the patent had been applied, but Rolex had not received final approval. Therefore, the engraving on the caseback of these early sea dwellers stated in parenthesis “Patent Pending”:
All the casebacks were done in late 1960's and have a 1967 stamp inside the caseback, together with the last three digits of the serial number.
On the first version of the dial (known as mk1), the font is the same for both red lines as opposed to the later dials (mk2) that used a smaller font for “Submariner 2000”. On most of the mk1 dials, the red print has faded to a light pink.
On the mk2 dials, the color sometimes changed from a matt black to a chocolate color, as seen on this picture:
The Early Production
The same mk2 dial were still fitted on the Sea Dweller after the HEV patent has been registrated and these watches were officially distributed by Rolex to their retailers in the early 1970’s with a caseback that says “Rolex Patent Oyster Gas Escape Valve”.
Most of these watches were purchased by professional divers for extreme diving projects and ten of these early 1665’s were delivered to Comex in 1971 for their diving experiments.
The thin case Sea Dweller was produced only for a couple of years before the case was upgraded to a thicker version and the dial was replaced by a new variation (mk3).
Acknowledgments: Ed Delgado, Daniel Bourn, Antiquorum
This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2010-11-30 04:14:18 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-12-06 22:48:27
The Rolex Submariner reference 5513 is a notable example within the Submariner line, distinguished by its two-line dial and lack of a date complication. Produced for an extended period, it represents a core offering for collectors seeking a straightforward and robust tool watch. Its design emphasizes legibility and functionality, aligning with the original purpose of the Submariner series. This reference is recognized for its consistent aesthetic throughout its production run, with subtle variations in dial text and bezel inserts.
The watch features a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case, offering durability and water resistance suitable for its intended use. Powering the reference 5513 is the automatic Caliber 1520 movement, known for its reliability. The crystal is acrylic, contributing to the vintage character of the watch. The unidirectional rotating bezel, typically with an aluminum insert, allows for elapsed time measurement.
For collectors, the reference 5513 is a significant model due to its long production history and the various dial iterations, such as gilt and matte dials, which present distinct collecting opportunities. Its appeal lies in its foundational design and its position as a non-date Submariner, making it a desirable piece for those who appreciate the model's original form. The watch is often paired with an Oyster bracelet, completing its functional aesthetic.
Like you, I also believe the SD is one of the most iconic Rolex watches. The history behind the evolution of this watch is stunningly interesting. This is a superb illustration of this history and how it has developed. Thank you for posting it. For sure, I would feel that a very big part of my collection was missing if i did not have my SDs.
This is the difference between cases
Perhaps the last truly innovative Rolex, with an actual practical application. I would love to any one of them. Thanks for the post.
Really thanks for this fantastic post and for share our knowledge with us! Very best Emilio
...demonstrate that ridiculously large cases are not required to achieve amazing (and realistic, in this case, as it was made at the behest of Sat divers, not marketing departments) depth ratings. Great post, Dr Strong. Does anyone have access to the Helium release valve patent? I can only find what appears to be the Omega manual release...?
I recently had the pleasure to see a PP SD in the lfesh, and began to understand how people are crazy about them. All in the details, indeed! But I think I would be happy with a " more normal " 1665, MK 3, for instance, or Rail Dial, which is also a superb alternative. Part II DRSD Big Case? Best, Jeff. Nicolas.
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