Stainless steel pre-owned gentleman’s 2007 'M' Serial Rolex Sea Dweller 16600T automatic wrist watch, black dial with luminescent hourly dot, baton and chevron markers, date aperture to three o’clock, black rotating bezel, tonneau-shaped case fitted to a brushed stainless steel finish Oyster bracelet with flip-lock clasp.
 
Case width 40mm (excluding crown)
Black Lacquered Dial
Helium Escape Valve
Screw-down Crown
Sapphire Crystal
Rolex Calibre 3135 Automatic Movement
Black Uni-directional Rotating Bezel
Stainless Steel Case
Matt Stainless Steel Oyster Bracelet
Flip-lock Safety Clasp
Supplied with Rolex Box, Red COSC Tag
No original Rolex AD card/papers but independently checked and appraised
TWS 12 Month Warranty
Watch Register checked
Price includes complementary Everest Rubber Strap with Buckle or Deployant option in a choice of colours (subject to availability)
 
The Rolex Sea-Dweller, another 'tool-watch' designed by the company to carry out a specific job.
 
In the 1960's professional divers needed a watch that could handle the enormous sea pressure at a depth of 300 metres but even the existing Submariner couldn't dive to those depths. So Rolex came up with a solution in the form of the Sea-Dweller 2000. As the moniker suggests this was a watch that could handle a depth of 2000 feet without drama.
 
However, in 1978, the Sea-Dweller 4000 upped the ante by having a unique Helium Escape Valve (or equalisation valve) built into the case which meant that the new watch could survive conditions that would normally crush the workings of any other so-called diver's watch. This simple spring-loaded valve allows the microscopic helium particles to escape from the watch as the diver ascends from the depths and so efficient is the mechanical design that it works all on its own without any intereference from the diver.
 
Once again, a real-life technical problem solved by Rolex with a simple but highly efficient design. For the record, the Sea-Dweller is only available in stainless steel and no other optional finish. 
 
As usual the Sea-Dweller utilises the famous Oyster case which is milled from one solid piece of steel whilst the movement is shielded by a screw-down case-back plus screw-down crown for the winding mechanism . The front of each watch is also hermetically sealed with a specially hardened sapphire crystal. All engineered to perfection and totally fit for purpose.
 
Launched in the late 1980s, the reference 16600 is virtually identical to the late “Triple Six,” maintaining its sapphire crystal and its 1,220 meter water resistance.
 
Over its remarkably long production period, the luminous material evolved from tritium to Luminova, and then to SuperLuminova.
 
You can easily tell which is which by looking at the bottom of the dial – T Swiss T<25 indicates Tritium, Swiss indicates Luminova, and Swiss Made indicates SuperLuminova.
 
The reference 16600 also utilizes the caliber 3135, a slightly improved version of the caliber 3035. It has a longer power reserve and a full-fledged balance bridge, instead of the balance cock. The reference 16600 was discontinued after 20 years in Rolex catalogues, making it the longest lasting Sea-Dweller reference.