Rolex

• cal. 1570 nickel lever movement, 26 jewels, mono-metallic compensation balance, adjusted to five positions and temperature • aged black-to-brown matte dial, luminescent triangular, dot and baton indexes, aperture for date at 3 o'clock, Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 printed in red, rotating black bezel calibrated for 60 units • tonneau water-resistant-type case with gas escape valve in the band, screw back factory-engraved Oyster Gas Escape Valve (Patent Pending), screw-down crown • case, dial and movement signed • with stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and deployant flip-lock clasp

The movement is running, however we recommend service and adjustment soon. It is numbered D547409. The dial has a nice aged brown appearance and overall is in nice condition. The case shows general wear with light surface scuffs to the lugs and case back. The numbers between the lugs are 2247986 and 1665; the numbers inside the case are 1665 and 986 and IV.67. The bracelet is in nice condition. The ends are stamped 580 and the buckle is stamped 4 70.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

The present lot is a very unusual variation on the so-called double-red Sea-Dweller in that the case back is factory engraved 'Patent Pending'.

Rolex developed the Sea-Dweller model in close connection with the French deep-sea diving firm COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises). When divers would go under water and come back to the surface, their watches would tend to fill with helium and would then be vulnerable to damage or explosion from an imbalance in pressure.

To counteract this, Rolex developed the gas escape valve at 9 o'clock that the user could depress to release the helium from the case.

At first, this one-way gas valve was featured on special Ref. 5513 models, however the model was re-named Ref. 5514. By 1967, the model was re-named again and launched as the Ref. 1665. (For an unusual and early  'pre-Patent Pending' example of this model with no gas escape valve, see the previous lot.)

Considering how rushed the production of these models was, Rolex made a handful of these and marked the case backs, 'Patent Pending', as the patent for the gas valve had been submitted, however it had not been approved and issued by that point.

The exact number of Patent Pending examples produced is not known, however collectors believe only a few hundred were ever made.

This model, Ref. 1665, was tested and approved for depths down to 2000 feet, or roughly 610 meters.

The present example featured the so-called 'Mark II' dial, which is characterized by the aged brown color and the second red line, reading 'Submariner 2000', being slightly smaller in size than the 'Sea-Dweller' printing above it. Such examples are highly collectible today as their 'tropical' look is very popular with collectors.