Reference:sea-dweller - Revision history

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-06-29T01:24:41Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

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	\|published_time=2026-05-16T03:28:48Z		\|published_time=2026-05-16T03:28:48Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~04T04~~:42:~~59Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-06-29T01:23:19Z
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Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

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SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:23, 29 June 2026
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	\|description=Every pre-2020 Rolex Sea-Dweller reference, from the 1967 Single Red prototypes through the 2014–2017 116600 reissue. Production histories, dial mark generations, COMEX deliveries, movement specs, and collector context.		\|description=Every pre-2020 Rolex Sea-Dweller reference, from the 1967 Single Red prototypes through the 2014–2017 116600 reissue. Production histories, dial mark generations, COMEX deliveries, movement specs, and collector context.
	\|keywords=Rolex Sea-Dweller, 1665, 16660, 16600, 116600, Single Red Sea-Dweller, Double Red Sea-Dweller, Great White, Triple Six, Sea-Dweller 4000, COMEX, helium escape valve, Patent Pending, Pisani dial, Khanjar		\|keywords=Rolex Sea-Dweller, 1665, 16660, 16600, 116600, Single Red Sea-Dweller, Double Red Sea-Dweller, Great White, Triple Six, Sea-Dweller 4000, COMEX, helium escape valve, Patent Pending, Pisani dial, Khanjar
			\|image=Sea-dweller vintage poster.webp
			\|image_alt=Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine advertisement
	\|type=Article		\|type=Article
			\|og_type=article
			\|published_time=2026-05-16T03:28:48Z
			\|modified_time=2026-06-04T04:42:59Z
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	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: capitalize schema.org @type to "Article" for rich-result eligibility

2026-06-04T04:42:59Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 04:42, 4 June 2026
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	\|description=Every pre-2020 Rolex Sea-Dweller reference, from the 1967 Single Red prototypes through the 2014–2017 116600 reissue. Production histories, dial mark generations, COMEX deliveries, movement specs, and collector context.		\|description=Every pre-2020 Rolex Sea-Dweller reference, from the 1967 Single Red prototypes through the 2014–2017 116600 reissue. Production histories, dial mark generations, COMEX deliveries, movement specs, and collector context.
	\|keywords=Rolex Sea-Dweller, 1665, 16660, 16600, 116600, Single Red Sea-Dweller, Double Red Sea-Dweller, Great White, Triple Six, Sea-Dweller 4000, COMEX, helium escape valve, Patent Pending, Pisani dial, Khanjar		\|keywords=Rolex Sea-Dweller, 1665, 16660, 16600, 116600, Single Red Sea-Dweller, Double Red Sea-Dweller, Great White, Triple Six, Sea-Dweller 4000, COMEX, helium escape valve, Patent Pending, Pisani dial, Khanjar
	\|type=~~article~~		\|type=Article
	}}		}}

Admin: Add DISPLAYTITLE: drop NS_REFERENCE prefix from H1 (SEO/UX, site-wide pass)

2026-05-31T01:45:10Z

Add DISPLAYTITLE: drop NS_REFERENCE prefix from H1 (SEO/UX, site-wide pass)

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			{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Sea-Dweller}}
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	\|title=Rolex Sea-Dweller — Complete Reference Guide — BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Sea-Dweller — Complete Reference Guide — BezelBase

Admin: Strip leaked cache-bust HTML comment from sea-dweller hub

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← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 24 May 2026
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	[[Category:Sea-Dweller]]		[[Category:Sea-Dweller]]
	[[Category:Family]]		[[Category:Family]]
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	[[File:Sea-dweller vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine advertisement\|Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine campaign: "Why the Rolex Sea-Dweller never gets the bends"]]		[[File:Sea-dweller vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine advertisement\|Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine campaign: "Why the Rolex Sea-Dweller never gets the bends"]]

	== ~~Start here~~ ==		== Common entry points ==

	~~If you only read three articles in the line, read these.~~

	{\| style="width:100%; border-collapse:separate; border-spacing:8px 0; margin:1em 0 1.5em 0;"		{\| style="width:100%; border-collapse:separate; border-spacing:8px 0; margin:1em 0 1.5em 0;"
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	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:1665\|1665]]''' — ~~the original Sea-Dweller. Acrylic crystal,~~ caliber 1575 without quickset, three dial generations — Single Red prototypes, Double Red Mk I–IV, Great White Mk 0–IV — and the COMEX 300-unit run ~~from 1976 to 1981~~.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Identifying a vintage acrylic-crystal SD?''<br/>'''[[Reference:1665\|1665]]''' — caliber 1575 without quickset, three dial generations — Single Red prototypes, Double Red Mk I–IV, Great White Mk 0–IV — and the 1976–1981 COMEX 300-unit run.
	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:16660\|16660]]''' — ~~the Triple Six. First~~ sapphire-crystal Sea-Dweller~~, first unidirectional bezel~~, depth ~~rating~~ doubled to 1,220m, ~~and~~ Andrea Piccinini's eight-tier dial taxonomy ~~that the modern auction market reads against~~.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Researching a Triple Six?''<br/>'''[[Reference:16660\|16660]]''' — first sapphire-crystal Sea-Dweller, depth doubled to 1,220m, Andrea Piccinini's eight-tier dial taxonomy.
	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:16600\|16600]]''' — the long-run ~~Sea-Dweller. Twenty years of continuous production~~ on caliber 3135, three lume eras (tritium, Luminova, Super-LumiNova), and the last Sea-Dweller with an aluminum bezel insert.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Cross-checking a long-run modern SD?''<br/>'''[[Reference:16600\|16600]]''' — the twenty-year long run on caliber 3135, three lume eras (tritium, Luminova, Super-LumiNova), and the last Sea-Dweller with an aluminum bezel insert.
	\|}		\|}

Admin: Conversion funnel: Start-here card block + Related-families bridges to reduce family-page bounce rate

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 [[File:Sea-dweller vintage poster.webp|thumb|center|400px|alt=Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine advertisement|Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine campaign: "Why the Rolex Sea-Dweller never gets the bends"]]
 == Vintage acrylic-crystal era ==
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 * [[Reference:Movements|Movements]] — caliber 1575 (1665), 3035 (16660), 3135 (16600 + 116600 with Parachrom Blu)
 * [[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers]] — numeric 1967–1987, letter prefix 1987–2010, random alphanumeric 2010 onward
 [[Category:Sea-Dweller]]
 [[Category:Family]]
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	[[Category:Sea-Dweller]]		[[Category:Sea-Dweller]]
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	== Helium escape valve ~~— the line's defining feature~~ ==		== Helium escape valve ==

	The HEV sits at 9 o'clock on every Sea-Dweller. Swiss patent CH492246, filed 6 November 1967, granted June 1970. The concept emerged from SEALAB diver Bob Barth's feedback on lost crystals during chamber decompression. Helium dissolves through case gaskets at saturation pressure; on ascent, the trapped gas expands and pops crystals off the case if it cannot escape. The valve is a one-way spring-loaded relief mechanism: internal pressure above the spring threshold opens it, the spring re-seats against water and dirt ingress on the way back down.		The HEV sits at 9 o'clock on every Sea-Dweller. Swiss patent CH492246, filed 6 November 1967, granted June 1970. The concept emerged from SEALAB diver Bob Barth's feedback on lost crystals during chamber decompression. Helium dissolves through case gaskets at saturation pressure; on ascent, the trapped gas expands and pops crystals off the case if it cannot escape. The valve is a one-way spring-loaded relief mechanism: internal pressure above the spring threshold opens it, the spring re-seats against water and dirt ingress on the way back down.

	The 1665 carries the valve in its first generation. The 16660 enlarges it for the 1220-metre depth rating. The 16600 and 116600 inherit the larger valve~~. No Sea-Dweller leaves the factory without one~~.		The 1665 carries the valve in its first generation. The 16660 enlarges it for the 1220-metre depth rating. The 16600 and 116600 inherit the larger valve.

	== Historical anchors ==		== Historical anchors ==

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	This index covers every pre-2020 Sea-Dweller reference. The current-production 126600 (2017 onward) and 126603 (2019 onward) sit outside scope.		This index covers every pre-2020 Sea-Dweller reference. The current-production 126600 (2017 onward) and 126603 (2019 onward) sit outside scope.

			[[File:Sea-dweller vintage poster.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine advertisement\|Rolex Sea-Dweller 1979 magazine campaign: "Why the Rolex Sea-Dweller never gets the bends"]]

	== Vintage acrylic-crystal era ==		== Vintage acrylic-crystal era ==
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	== Historical anchors ==		== Historical anchors ==

	* ~~'''~~1967 — first Single Red prototypes delivered.~~'''~~ Hand-made in Geneva for SEALAB 3 and Tektite I aquanauts. ~10 prototypes per T. Walker Lloyd (Rolex USA).		* 1967 — first Single Red prototypes delivered. Hand-made in Geneva for SEALAB 3 and Tektite I aquanauts. ~10 prototypes per T. Walker Lloyd (Rolex USA).
	* ~~'''~~15 February 1969 — Berry Cannon SEALAB 3 death.~~'''~~ Wore a valved Single Red during the fatal DDC decompression.		* 15 February 1969 — Berry Cannon SEALAB 3 death. Wore a valved Single Red during the fatal DDC decompression.
	* ~~'''~~Late 1971 — first co-branded Rolex–COMEX delivery.~~'''~~ Batch of ten in the 2.6M serial range, double-signed and numbered 1 through 10.		* Late 1971 — first co-branded Rolex–COMEX delivery. Batch of ten in the 2.6M serial range, double-signed and numbered 1 through 10.
	* ~~'''~~17 February 1972 — formal Rolex–COMEX exclusivity letter.~~'''~~ From Rolex Geneva to John M. Kelly, Singapore.		* 17 February 1972 — formal Rolex–COMEX exclusivity letter. From Rolex Geneva to John M. Kelly, Singapore.
	* ~~'''~~24 May 1972 — Physalie 6 record.~~'''~~ Robert Gauret and Patrice Chemin reach 2000 feet / 610 metres wearing DRSDs. 233-hour, 17-day decompression schedule.		* 24 May 1972 — Physalie 6 record. Robert Gauret and Patrice Chemin reach 2000 feet / 610 metres wearing DRSDs. 233-hour, 17-day decompression schedule.
	* ~~'''~~1992 — Theo Mavrostomos Hydra X dive.~~'''~~ Reaches 701 metres over 43 days breathing Hydeliox. His 16600 caseback carries the inscription "Theo Mavrostomos – Hydrax – 701 M".		* 1992 — Theo Mavrostomos Hydra X dive. Reaches 701 metres over 43 days breathing Hydeliox. His 16600 caseback carries the inscription "Theo Mavrostomos – Hydrax – 701 M".

	== Special branches ==		== Special branches ==
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	The four main Sea-Dweller references host institutional and retailer-signed branches whose provenance and authentication warrant separate treatment in the per-ref articles:		The four main Sea-Dweller references host institutional and retailer-signed branches whose provenance and authentication warrant separate treatment in the per-ref articles:

	* ~~'''~~Patent Pending caseback DRSD (1665 Mk I)~~'''~~ — ~100 examples, hand-engraved caseback, 1.7M and 2.1M serial bands. Marcello Pisani's batch tables identify the canonical anti-fake checks (inside-back last-three-digits stamp present from 2.117M onward).		* Patent Pending caseback DRSD (1665 Mk I) — ~100 examples, hand-engraved caseback, 1.7M and 2.1M serial bands. Marcello Pisani's batch tables identify the canonical anti-fake checks (inside-back last-three-digits stamp present from 2.117M onward).
	* ~~'''~~COMEX 1665~~'''~~ — 300 numbered units 1976–81, issue 2000–2300, serial 5.14M–6.76M, "600m" depth on the dial. Three dial sub-generations track the Great White Mk system.		* COMEX 1665 — 300 numbered units 1976–81, issue 2000–2300, serial 5.14M–6.76M, "600m" depth on the dial. Three dial sub-generations track the Great White Mk system.
	* ~~'''~~COMEX 16660~~'''~~ — ~200 units 1980–84, issue 3000–3199, two batches matching the matte→glossy transition.		* COMEX 16660 — ~200 units 1980–84, issue 3000–3199, two batches matching the matte→glossy transition.
	* ~~'''~~COMEX 16600~~'''~~ — ~200 units in two batches, 1992 (issue 32XX, straight caseback engraving) and 1997 (issue 33XX, curved engraving). Final Rolex–COMEX delivery.		* COMEX 16600 — ~200 units in two batches, 1992 (issue 32XX, straight caseback engraving) and 1997 (issue 33XX, curved engraving). Final Rolex–COMEX delivery.
	* ~~'''~~Asprey Khanjar 1665 (Oman, Sultan Qaboos)~~'''~~ — Red Khanjar with Qaboos signature in 3,566,9xx batch (~80–90 examples), gold Khanjar in 5.0M batch (4–5 known). Battle of Mirbat (July 1972) context.		* Asprey Khanjar 1665 (Oman, Sultan Qaboos) — Red Khanjar with Qaboos signature in 3,566,9xx batch (~80–90 examples), gold Khanjar in 5.0M batch (4–5 known). Battle of Mirbat (July 1972) context.
	* ~~'''~~Single Red Sea-Dweller~~'''~~ — ~10 hand-made prototypes 1967–69. ~12 surfaced. SEALAB 3 (Cousteau #1602920), Tektite I (Koblick #1602915, Waller), Deepstar (Bradley #1602913), COMEX Physalie (Brauer #1820177).		* Single Red Sea-Dweller — ~10 hand-made prototypes 1967–69. ~12 surfaced. SEALAB 3 (Cousteau #1602920), Tektite I (Koblick #1602915, Waller), Deepstar (Bradley #1602913), COMEX Physalie (Brauer #1820177).
	* ~~'''~~US Navy Experimental Diving Unit~~'''~~ — Patent Pending batch 2 (2.128M) loaned to USN EDU. Charles E. Gross #2128225 in a 28-day saturation simulation to 1000ft, June-July 1970.		* US Navy Experimental Diving Unit — Patent Pending batch 2 (2.128M) loaned to USN EDU. Charles E. Gross #2128225 in a 28-day saturation simulation to 1000ft, June-July 1970.
	* ~~'''~~Polipetto 16600 (Polizia di Stato Sommozzatori, 2008)~~'''~~ — 78 units for the 50th anniversary of the Italian State Police Diving Corps. 28 personalised with diver patent number on the caseback. Octopus emblem on the dial.		* Polipetto 16600 (Polizia di Stato Sommozzatori, 2008) — 78 units for the 50th anniversary of the Italian State Police Diving Corps. 28 personalised with diver patent number on the caseback. Octopus emblem on the dial.
	* ~~'''~~Tiffany & Co retailer-signed 16660~~'''~~ — handful of surviving examples, barely surfaces on the public market.		* Tiffany & Co retailer-signed 16660 — handful of surviving examples, barely surfaces on the public market.

	== Reference guides ==		== Reference guides ==
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	Cross-family material that applies across the Sea-Dweller line:		Cross-family material that applies across the Sea-Dweller line:

	* ~~'''~~[[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelets]]~~'''~~ — the 9315, 93150, 93160, 78360, 97200 fitments and clasp date-code key		* [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelets]] — the 9315, 93150, 93160, 78360, 97200 fitments and clasp date-code key
	* ~~'''~~[[Reference:Movements\|Movements]]~~'''~~ — caliber 1575 (1665), 3035 (16660), 3135 (16600 + 116600 with Parachrom Blu)		* [[Reference:Movements\|Movements]] — caliber 1575 (1665), 3035 (16660), 3135 (16600 + 116600 with Parachrom Blu)
	* ~~'''~~[[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers]]~~'''~~ — numeric 1967–1987, letter prefix 1987–2010, random alphanumeric 2010 onward		* [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers]] — numeric 1967–1987, letter prefix 1987–2010, random alphanumeric 2010 onward

	[[Category:Sea-Dweller]]		[[Category:Sea-Dweller]]
	[[Category:Family]]		[[Category:Family]]
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