1974 Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 'DRSD' MK4 dial with Box and 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 4 dial that dates to 1974.

 

The original MK IV dial has been professionally relumed by famous Michael Young from Classic Watch Repair in Hong Kong to a creamy patina hue as well as the hands. The dial surface shows a white spotting throughout from aging. It also shows wear, especially around the edges. All printings are preserved.

 

The case has been professionally refurbished by Mike Hui from Rolliworks in Miami. It shows thick lugs and sharp bevels which have been brought back to almost factory specs. There are only minimal wear signs present. The insert is a correct MK3 with very fat ‘Kissing 40’ font. The original tritium pip/pearl shows a matching patina. The case back has also been polished. All engravings are clearly visible. The inner case back is correctly signed with the last 3 digits of the serial number and dated I.72.

 

The watch is running great and keeping time, as the movement was fully serviced in 2021.

 

It is suited on a Rolex Oyster 93150 stainless steel solid-links bracelet with 585 end links, clasp code K5 and PATENTED diver’s extension that shows very little stretch.

 

The acrylic crystal has some scratches that could be easily polished away.

 

It is presented as a full set which includes outer box, inner coffin box, wallet, translation leaflet, and original punched guarantee papers showing it was sold by a Rolex Retailer in New York. The polishing, servicing and reluming receipts are also included.

 

Here’s an opportunity to get a cheap DRSD with full set.

 

Macros of dial and case are available under request.