Rolex DeepSea 136660 “James Cameron” - Like New Condition - Full Set

Since the creation of the iconic "Oyster Case" in 1926, Rolex has relentlessly worked to improve the water resistance of its watch cases. By the early 1950s, the brand was on the verge of perfecting its dive watch, with the first Submariner set to be released soon after in 1953. During this period, Rolex began collaborating with Swiss inventor Auguste Piccard to design watches capable of withstanding the extreme depths he aimed to explore. This partnership led to the development of the Rolex DeepSea Challenge. Around 50 pieces were made, including 47 commemorative models released after 1960 to showcase this remarkable achievement, displayed by authorized dealers and museums. The remaining three pieces were the ones that, supposedly, accompanied the "Piccards" on their groundbreaking expeditions. In 1953, one prototype was attached to the outside of the legendary bathyscaphe Trieste during its record-breaking dive to 3,150 meters on September 30. In 1956, the same prototype reached a new depth of 3,700 meters during another Trieste dive. Finally, in 1960, a third model, refined with insights gained from the previous prototypes, was once again attached to the Trieste, piloted by Jacques Piccard, son of Auguste, and Don Walsh (U.S. Navy officer), as it descended to Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in the ocean, at 10,911 meters (35,797 feet). The name 'Deepsea' had remained dormant after its interesting use on a few reference 6532 pieces in the early 60s, until 2008. That year, Rolex launched the first serially produced Rolex Deepsea, reference 116660, co-branded with the Sea-Dweller line. In 2012, Rolex accompanied James Cameron's solo expedition to the Mariana Trench, providing a specially designed Deepsea Challenge watch. Attached to the exterior of his submersible, the watch withstood the extreme pressures of Challenger Deep, allowing Rolex to once again reach the remarkable depth of 10,908 meters (35,787 feet). In 2014, Rolex introduced a new dial variant to the existing 116660 model to commemorate James Cameron's deep-sea expedition. The D-Blue dial, also known as "James Cameron" for obvious reasons, features a stunning gradient blue-to-black design, reflecting the ocean's color shift with depth. The dial was further distinguished by the word 'Deepsea' in neon green, which formed a striking contrast with the shading background. In 2018, the Sea-Dweller Deepsea (Ref. 126660) was launched, featuring the new Caliber 3235 movement, a wider bracelet, and a redesigned case to enhance both its aesthetics and comfort. In 2022, the reference 136660 was introduced, maintaining the iconic 44mm case size that has defined modern Deepsea models. The titanium case back, initially introduced with the first production model (Ref. 116660) for its lightness and durability, has been further enhanced with Rolex's proprietary "RLX titanium" alloy. The diver extension clasp has been removed, but the acclaimed Glidelock system remains, providing precise and effortless bracelet adjustments. Additionally, the ceramic bezel has been subtly slimmed, and the date window slightly enlarged for improved legibility. The example for sale features the highly-appreciated "James Cameron" dial and is in like-new condition. Furthermore, the watch is accompanied by the original warranty card and box. The watch was sold in 2023.