Rolex

The present watch is a special edition Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller, created exclusively for members of the Royal Navy Clearance Diving Branch to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Diving Branch and its long-standing relationship with Rolex.

Rolex agreed to produce and release these watches on the strict understanding that they were not to be made commercially available. Each example was specially commissioned and engraved by Rolex with the Fleet Diving Squadron crest to the case back, individually numbered, and, upon request, personalized with the diver’s initials or name. All modifications and engravings were carried out by Rolex in-house.

In total, fifty watches were produced for Royal Navy Clearance Divers, supplied by Rolex SA to Rolex UK, London.

The present example was presented to Warrant Officer Diver Mo Crang, a distinguished member of the Royal Navy whose career began in 1970. After completing training at HMS Raleigh and HMS Dryad, Crang graduated in 1971 as an Ordinary Seaman Radar Plotter. During his first posting to HMS Grenville in 1972, he successfully completed the Royal Navy Ship’s Diver Course in Devonport, where he was recommended for early advancement by the Plymouth Dive School.

While on deployment to Oslo, Norway, Crang demonstrated exceptional bravery by saving the life of a fellow diver during underwater search operations in response to a potential explosive threat. His actions led to a recommendation for the Clearance Diver 2nd Class Course, which he completed later that same year.

Toward the culmination of his distinguished service, Crang was appointed Officer in Charge of the Trials Team responsible for developing replacement equipment for the aging Clearance Divers Breathing Apparatus (CDBA). Over 18 months of extensive diving trials, he played a key role in selecting and adapting the USN MK 16 (Carleton) Upgraded System, incorporating his own External Breathing System design. Crang became the first Royal Navy Diver to exceed the previous depth limit of 54 meters, achieving 86 meters in 90 seconds. His contributions introduced the most technically advanced dive equipment in the Branch’s history, remaining in service for over a decade. He retired from active duty in 1996.

This exceptional watch stands as a tribute to Warrant Officer Diver Mo Crang, a man whose career epitomizes the courage, precision, and pioneering spirit embodied by the Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller, an instrument built for those who relentlessly pursue excellence, adventure, and the limits of human achievement.