Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 ‘Great White’ - ‘Pallettoni’ Black Dial - Black Aluminium Insert
Description
Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 ‘Great White’ - ‘Pallettoni’ Black Dial - Black Aluminium Insert
The Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665, introduced in the late 1960s, is a legendary dive watch that played a pivotal role in Rolex’s history of deep-sea exploration. Designed in collaboration with COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises), it was developed to meet the demands of professional saturation divers who required a timepiece capable of withstanding extreme underwater pressures. As the first Rolex to feature a helium escape valve (HEV), the 1665 set the foundation for all future Sea-Dweller and Deepsea models, allowing trapped helium to escape during decompression without compromising the watch’s integrity.
The 40mm stainless steel case, significantly thicker than that of the Submariner, provided an impressive 610-meter (2,000-foot) water resistance. Unlike the Submariner, the Sea-Dweller lacked a Cyclops lens over the date window, a distinguishing feature that enhanced legibility under extreme conditions and lends the watch a cleaner look and undisputed view on the dial.
Powering the 1665 was the Rolex Caliber 1575, a self-winding chronometer-certified movement with a date function and a hacking seconds feature for precise time setting. The watch was paired with an Oyster bracelet with a fliplock clasp, ensuring both security and comfort for divers in extreme environments.
The earliest versions of the model, known to collectors as the ‘Double Red Sea-Dweller’ or simply ‘DRSD’, featured two lines of red text at the 6 o’clock position: ‘SEA-DWELLER’ and 'SUBMARINER 2000.’ These early dials underwent several variations over time, until the red text was eventually phased out in favor of all-white printing. These later versions, known as the ‘Great White’, such as the example offered for sale, marked importantly the transition away from co-branding the Sea-Dweller with the Submariner line.
As the first true professional-grade dive watch from Rolex, the Sea-Dweller 1665 remains one of the most historically significant and collectible Rolex timepieces. Its blend of innovation, rarity, and purpose-driven design continues to captivate both vintage watch enthusiasts and serious collectors worldwide. This particular example of the 1655 ‘Great White’, dating to 1981, stands as a testament to that enduring legacy, and has been preserved in overall good condition.
Buyer protections
- Payments and personal data will be handled confidentially.
- All watches undergo rigorous quality checks by experts.
Details
| BRAND | Rolex |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 1981 |
| CASE SIZE | 40 mm |
| GLASS | Plexiglass |
| MOVEMENT | Automatic Cal. Rolex 1570 |
| DIAL | ‘Pallettoni’ Matte Black Dial |
| BEZEL | Black Aluminium Insert |
| CLASP/BUCKLE | Stainless Steel |
| SET | No |
Chronocomparator
This watch is used and has not been serviced or cleaned by us. If you wish to request this service, please make an express request. The measurement of the functioning of the watch on the chronocomparator shown between the pictures is provided as a courtesy and with the aim of giving users as much information as possible.