The ref. 1665 was in production in various iterations until the early 1980s. These watches feature dials with two lines of text (“Sea-Dweller” and “Submariner 2000”) printed in red, earning them the nickname ‘Double Red Sea-Dweller’. The Rolex Double Red Sea Dweller has been on my radar for a long time. However, I have been focusing on building my Big Bubbleback series as well as the Prince series. Along the way, I have got distracted with other series. By the time I got interested, prices have shot up especially during 2007-8.
Following which, the bubble has burst and prices have reduced. With the current economic climate, the prices have reduced and it may be an opportunity to get one now.
What Makes the Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 So Special versus a submariner is that the Sea-Dweller features increased water resistance and a helium escape valve, which enables it to let trapped helium molecules safely exit the case without damaging the watch.
In addition, its uniqueness comes with the fact that this technology was developed by Rolex during its early partnerships with the U.S. Navy and the French deep-sea diving company COMEX, and it has been the defining feature of the Rolex Sea-Dweller collection ever since. Not only is the reference 1665 the very first Sea-Dweller that Rolex ever produced, but it also represents the first time that a helium gas escape valve ever appeared on a Rolex watch.
In addition to being the very first Rolex Sea-Dweller, the ref. 1665 is also the only version of the Sea-Dweller to ever feature an acrylic crystal. All subsequent models feature flat crystals made from scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire, but the Sea-Dweller 1665 is fitted with a domed crystal made from thick plexiglass, which offers an unmistakably vintage overall look and feel. Beyond that, the reference 1665 is the only version of the Sea-Dweller to ever feature a 610 meter depth rating, and it also happens to be the only Sea-Dweller model that has a movement without a quickset date.
I have finally managed to find a nice DRSD mk4 watch originally from Japan. As it is costly, I will need to travel away my Daytona, Explorer 1 and Big Bubbleback plus cash top up for this.
Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 Dial Variations
Despite being a single reference number, a surprising amount of variation can exist among Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 watches, which makes them popular targets for many of today’s collectors.
The very first examples of the ref. 1665 are known as “Double Red Sea Dweller” (DRSD) watches because their dial features two lines of red text that read “SEA-DWELLER” and “SUBMARINER 2000.” The “Double Red” version of the Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 was produced from approximately 1967 until 1977; however, many of these Double Red Sea-Dweller dials were replaced with later-era versions that featured all white text during repairs and routine servicing. Consequently, only a fraction of the number of original Double Red examples still remain in existence today, and the DRSD is an extremely popular vintage Rolex watch among serious collectors.
The Different Generations of Sea-Dweller:
For details please see:
https://www.41watch.com/en/journal/historical-reviews-of-iconic-watches/technical-and-historical-review-of-the-rolex-sea-dweller-1665
The First Generation - Sea-Dweller 1665 MK00
Known as Mark 00 among collectors, this watch is the first true Sea-Dweller. Manufactured in very small quantities, this initial reference was not offered to the general public, as it was intended only for professionals and was still in the development phase. We are talking about a prototype here. The dial displays "Sea-Dweller" in red, retains the "Submariner" marking, and shows a depth rating of 500 meters (1650ft).
The Second Generation of Sea-Dweller, the First "Double Red" - MK0
The second version of the Sea-Dweller features two superimposed red lines, "SEA-DWELLER / SUBMARINER." Very rare as well, it was also intended for professionals and not available to the general public.
The Second 1665 "Double Red" - MK1
This is the first version of the reference offered to the general public (produced from 1967 – serial number 1.6XX.XXX). It's the first version displaying "double red" on its dial with two superimposed lines "SEA-DWELLER / SUBMARINER 2000" (2000 for 2000 ft).
Production observed: 1.6XX.XXX to 2.2XX.XXX (1967 to approximately late 1969).
Important detail: the ink used on this version tended to fade and turn pink or even white after the complete disappearance of the red due to UV exposure.
The Sea-Dweller 1665 "Double Red" - MK2
This version of the dial was mainly observed from 1968 onwards. The printing of the dial is mainly characterized by direct red ink printing on the dial (the red of MK1 was superimposed on white markings). The font size of the second red line is smaller, and the ink black/varnish mix on this dial has a specific characteristic highly appreciated by collectors in that many specimens turned brown. Among the distinctive features, the crown guard is almost nonexistent on this version.
Production observed: 1.6XX.XXX to 3.5XX.XXX (1967 to approximately late 1973). It is more likely that these dials were produced from 1968, and the 1967 models equipped with these dials went through Rolex service.
The Sea-Dweller 1665 "Double Red" - MK3
Version relatively similar to MK 2. Here, it is more difficult for the layman to differentiate between the two dials, and this differentiation mainly depends on the alignment of letters relative to each other and an open crown guard.
Otherwise, the red printing is directly on the dial, the "6" is still open, and some dials of this version turned brown, giving this dial an extra characteristic.
Production observed: 2.6XX.XXX to 3.5XX.XXX and versions up to 4.1XX.XXX (1973 – 1975).
The Last Sea-Dweller 1665 "Double Red" - MK4
This last version of the double red dial is the most common version. The reason for this is that it was produced for the majority of the 1665 production (1972 – 1978). You will notice that the different versions of dials are not really chronological and overlap during different productions. As a distinctive feature, you will first notice a very different type of ink compared to previous versions. Indeed, the white ink gives a "pointillism" impression, probably due to a more diluted ink than the others. It is also the only version with a closed and straight "6."
On the crown guard side, the size of the crown guard is larger with sharper points and a more pronounced circular opening. Note, finally, the return of white-red superimposition on the first two lines.Production observed: 3.0XX.XXX to 5.2XX.XXX (Late 1972 – 1978). I have managed to get one with 4 Mio from 1975.
After 1977, Rolex switched to a dial with all white text for the Sea-Dweller ref. 1665, and the “SUBMARINER 2000” line was eliminated entirely. Nicknamed the “Great White,” this style of Sea-Dweller dial remained in production until the reference 1665 was finally discontinued in 1983. With that in mind, not all of these Sea-Dweller 1665 dials are the same, and there exist numerous different variations, which have been categorized as Mark I through Mark 4.
Furthermore, Rolex also produced special versions of the Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 that were issued to COMEX divers, and some of these special edition examples feature dials with the COMEX logo printed upon them. Beyond that, there are also special order Sea-Dweller 1665 watches that were produced for royal families in the Middle East, and they often feature dials with unique crests or text, such as the “Khanjar” and “Qaboos” dials. As you might imagine, these special order Sea-Dweller dials are incredibly rare and exponentially increase the value of the watches that are fitted with them.
For details please see:
https://www.41watch.com/en/journal/historical-reviews-of-iconic-watches/technical-and-historical-review-of-the-rolex-sea-dweller-1665
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