Rolex

• cal. 1570 automatic nickel lever movement, mono-metallic compensation balance, 26 jewels •  black dial, luminescent baton, dot and dagger indexes, centre seconds, aperture for date, Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000  printed in red •stainless steel Oyster case, gas escape valve in the  band, rotating bezel calibrated for 60 units, screw-down crown and case back, case back engraved Rolex Oyster Gas Escape  •  case, dial and movement signed • with a stainless steel Oyster bracelet

In 1967 Rolex released the reference 1665 diver’s watch to the public. This watch was developed in a response to the technical problems that occurred when using the Submariner during deep saturation diving. In order to prevent the build-up of pressure in the watch causing the crystals to be pushed out Rolex patented a one-way pressure relief valve. Featuring a sturdier case and the new pressure-release value the watches were tested to withstand depths of 2000 feet (approximately 610 meters). The first generation of this reference had ‘Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000’ in red print on the dial, these were only in production for a limited period of time and are thus more collectable and sought after in the market today.
This particular watch was acquired by the original owner in New Zealand in the year 1978. It was worn as a diving watch during inspections and sub-sea maintenance of a Gas Production platform called the Mauri A in the Tasman Sea. The average water depth for these dives was approximately 350 feet (107m), and the watch was worn for both gas and air diving. The owner of the watch was also an avid traveller moving between the Southern and Northern seas working at various water depths from air range to mixed gas saturation up to 600 feet (183m). This watch has been exposed to a variety of elements in its life time and did so without any failures.

For a similar example of the Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 see Skeet, M. & Urul, N., Vintage Rolex Sports Models, Second Edition, p. 112.