Rolex · 12 listed
Rolex Sea-Dweller for sale in NYC
Sea-Dweller and Deepsea references, from the five-digit 16600 and ceramic 116600 to the 43mm 126600 with red text, the 44mm Deepsea 116660 and 136660, and the D-Blue dial.
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $63,034
- Rolex Sea-Dweller $10,274
- Custom Rolex Sea-Dweller $16,170
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $17,781
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $15,523
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $14,018
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $16,473
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $20,756
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $18,411
- Custom Rolex Sea-Dweller $19,301
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $12,480
- Unworn Rolex Sea-Dweller $16,709
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Built for saturation divers
Rolex introduced the Sea-Dweller in 1967 for professional divers working from pressurized habitats. Its key feature is the helium escape valve, which lets gas that has seeped into the case escape during decompression so the crystal is not forced off. The first model, the ref. 1665, was rated to 610 meters and is known for its two lines of red text. Until 2017 the Sea-Dweller had no Cyclops lens over the date, which set it apart from the Submariner Date.
Sizes and versions
The Sea-Dweller 4000, ref. 16600, ran from 1989 to 2008 at 40mm and 1,220 meters. The ceramic 116600 returned briefly in 2014 at 40mm. In 2017 Rolex enlarged the model to 43mm with the 126600, adding a single line of red text and a Cyclops lens, and in 2019 the 126603 came in yellow Rolesor. The Deepsea, launched in 2008, is a 44mm diver rated to 3,900 meters, built around the Ringlock System with a nitrogen-alloyed steel ring inside the case.
References to know
The 16600 is the collectible five-digit model with the calibre 3135 and an aluminum bezel. The 116600 is the short-run ceramic Sea-Dweller 4000. The 126600 and 126603 use the calibre 3235. On the Deepsea side, the 116660 uses the calibre 3135, and from 2014 it was offered with the D-Blue dial, which fades from blue to black and honors James Cameron's 2012 dive to the Mariana Trench. The 136660 of 2022 has the calibre 3235, a revised case and the same 3,900-meter rating. The Deepsea Challenge, ref. 126067, is a 50mm titanium watch rated to 11,000 meters.
Buying advice
Check the helium valve area and caseback for tool marks from careless opening. On the 16600, inspect the bezel insert for fading or replacement and the lume for even aging. On the Deepsea, confirm the D-Blue dial matches the reference and papers. These are heavy watches, so check the bracelet for stretch and make sure the Glidelock extension and Fliplock link work smoothly. Water resistance is the point of this watch, so ask about recent service and a pressure test.
Prices are listed on every watch. Call or text to see Sea-Dweller and Deepsea pieces in person by appointment in the Diamond District.
Questions
Rolex Sea-Dweller questions
What is the difference between the Sea-Dweller and the Submariner?
The Sea-Dweller is built for deeper and longer dives. It has a helium escape valve, a thicker case and higher water resistance: 1,220 meters for the current Sea-Dweller against 300 meters for the Submariner. The 126600 is 43mm against the Submariner's 41mm. The Submariner is lighter and more versatile, while the Sea-Dweller has more wrist presence.
Is the Deepsea too heavy to wear daily?
It is a large watch, 44mm with a thick case, so it feels substantial. On wrists above about seven and a half inches it wears well, and many owners wear it every day. The 136660 has a titanium caseback, which trims a little weight. If you want the look in a smaller package, the 43mm Sea-Dweller 126600 is the natural alternative.
What is the Double Red Sea-Dweller?
Collectors use the name for early ref. 1665 models with two lines of red text on the dial, made in the late 1960s and 1970s. In 2017 Rolex nodded to them with a single line of red Sea-Dweller text on the 126600, released for the model's 50th anniversary. Vintage Double Red examples are rare and need careful specialist inspection of dial, hands and case.
What does the D-Blue dial mean?
The D-Blue dial on the Deepsea fades from bright blue at the top to deep black at the bottom, suggesting a descent into the ocean. Rolex released it in 2014 to mark James Cameron's solo dive to the Mariana Trench in 2012, when an experimental Deepsea attached to the submersible went down with him. The word Deepsea on the dial is printed in green.
Visit the showroom
See any watch in person on 47th Street
30 West 47th St, Suite 805
New York, NY 10036
Diamond District, between 5th and 6th Avenue. Subway: B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts Rockefeller Center.
- Pick a few watchesSave the links or note the references you like.
- Call or text usWe confirm they are here and set a time that suits you.
- Come to 47th StreetTry them on side by side and ask anything.
Viewings by appointment, call or text.