Rolex Reference 1665 Double Red Sea-Dweller | A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet, Circa 1975 | 勞力士 型號 1665 Double Red Sea-Dweller 精鋼自動上鏈鍊帶腕錶備日期顯示，製作年份約 1975

Property of an American Gentleman
Rolex

Reference 1665 Double Red Sea-Dweller
A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet, Circa 1975

勞力士 型號 1665 Double Red Sea-Dweller
精鋼自動上鏈鍊帶腕錶備日期顯示，製作年份約 1975

Dial: black, Mark IV
Caliber: cal. 1570 automatic, 26 jewels
Movement number: D'079'985
Case: stainless steel, screw down case back
Case number: 4'187'271
Closure: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp
Size: 40 mm diameter, bracelet circumference is approximately 195 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: Rolex presentation box with outer packaging

Condition Report:
Case: The case is in overall good condition with visible surface wear and nicks throughout commensurate with age. No signs of previous polishing. The inside case back is stamped '1665' and the full serial number '4187271'. The bezel insert has signs of use and has faded nicely. The bead is missing from the bezel insert. The later added bracelet with surface scuffing throughout. The bracelet is stamped '93150', end links '580', clasp stamped 'I 5'.

Dial: The dial is in overall good condition. Service hands.

Movement: The movement is running at time of cataloging, however it was not tested for the accuracy of time or duration of the power reserve and may need service at the buyer's discretion. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement.

Catalogue Note:
Launched in 1967, the celebrated Sea-Dweller reference 1665 was the first wristwatch designed for use in saturation diving. The firm fitted the model with a gas escape valve and guaranteed waterproof to 610 meters depth. The valve was first developed on the Submariner model and allows helium and other gases to escape, enabling the watch to withstand compression during saturation diving.

On the dial, two lines of text were printed in red: The Sea-Dweller text, and below, Submariner 2000, thus giving the watch its nick name, the “Double Red” or ‘DRSD”. Like the Submariner, it has a date window at 3, but it does not feature the cyclopes on the plexiglass. Another quirk of the Ref 1665 is that due to its specific waterproof specifications, the case back is stamped with the serial number to prevent it being swapped out in service. In early examples, it was just the last three digits of the serial, while later ones had the full serial engraved.

The present watch has a MK4 dial, which is the final version of the original dials. It can be differentiated by its slightly heavier print for both the red and white text, which when viewed upon close inspection looks like it’s made up of dots. Additionally, the coronet has broader spikes and the ‘O’ under the coronet has a more pronounced opening.