1973 Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 'DRSD' MK 3 dial with Papers

The Rolex Sea-Dweller was developed in close collaboration with the French deep sea diving company COMEX. Their divers required a timing instrument that could withstand their working depths, plus be able to remain intact in ascent and decompression. Most of the watches manufactured at that time could not tolerate the extreme depths.  Helium gas would build up inside the case and at decompression the gas pressure would increase.  The rising inner pressure would eventually be released by breaking the crystal, the weakest point in the case design.

 

Rolex first developed the helium release valve in the 1960s and incorporated it into some of their Submariner watches delivered to the French diving company, COMEX.  The testing of these specially adapted Submariner 5513 models was so successful that Rolex specifically made a batch of watches for COMEX and the watch was given an official model number, the Ref. 5514.  This was such a success that Rolex decided to market the watch as the Ref. 1665 by 1967.

 

Regular production of the Ref. 1665, with the helium release valve already patented started in 1971 with the Double Red Sea-Dweller, or ‘DRSD’.

 

The Double Red Sea-Dweller eventually stopped production around the 5.2 million serial, in 1977, when Rolex released the new Ref. 1665 with some slight changes of which the most significant one is that the dial printings are no longer red, but white.

The example offered here is a Rolex ‘Double Red’ Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 with MK 3 dial that dates to 1973.

 

The MK III black matte dial is in great condition, showing very light wear and featuring a lovely, creamy patina hue on the hour lume plots which perfectly matches with that on the original hands.

 

The stainless steel case remains strong, with thick lugs and very sharp bevels following factory standards. It shows only light signs of wear. The case back shows signs of normal use. The inner case back is correctly engraved with the reference number and matching last three digits of the serial number. The stainless steel bezel remains sharp. The original bezel insert is in great condition with very little wear and a matching tritium pearl/pip.

 

The domed acrylic crystal has some light scratches that could be easily buffed away.

 

It comes suited on its original Rolex Oyster 9315 stainless steel folded links bracelet with 380 end links, clasp date 1/72 and PAT. PEND. diver's extension that presents normal stretch and wear for its age. One of the two tabs of the clasp is broken but the remaining one closes. Along with the double lock, it can be worn safely.

 

The watch is running well and keeping time, although service history is unknown.

 

Furthermore, it comes as a full set which includes the original punched guarantee papers showing it was sold in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1974.

 

Macros of dial and case are available under request, as well as inner case back and movement pictures.