[Rolex] A thorough comparison of the three generations of the Sea-Dweller, old and new!

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Good evening everyone.

The Sea-Dweller was born around 1967 as a higher-end model of the Submariner, with overwhelming waterproof performance. Developed as a diving tool for professional divers, it featured features such as a flip-lock (bracelet extension) that allowed it to be worn over a diving suit, and a helium escape valve that released helium gas that gets mixed in during saturation diving. Today, it is popular for its simple design that can be used both on and off the job.

This time, we will go back three generations of the Rolex Sea-Dweller and make a thorough comparison (Ref. 16600, Ref. 116600, Ref. 126600)! If you want a Sea-Dweller but are unsure which model to buy, or if you want to know the history of the Sea-Dweller, this is a must-read, so be sure to read until the end.

Introducing the three generations of "Sea-Dweller"

First, we will introduce the three models we will be comparing: "Ref.16600", "Ref.116600", and "Ref.126600".

Two generations ago Ref.16600
Specifications
Case diameter 40mm Bezel aluminum
Dial black Luminous Tritium, Luminova
material SS bracelet SS
Waterproof 1,220m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3135 Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

The Ref. 16600 is a long-selling model that inherited the specs and design of its predecessor, the Ref. 16660, and was manufactured from around 1988 to around 2009. During that time, it underwent several minor changes, making it a semi-vintage model.

[Minor change points]
・Around 1998: The luminous paint was changed from tritium to Luminova.
・Around 2003: The side hole for the spring bar was removed.

Previous generation Ref.116600
Specifications
Case diameter 40mm Bezel ceramic
Dial black Luminous Chromalight
material SS bracelet SS
Waterproof 1,220m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3135 Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

Around 2008, the Deepsea Ref. 116660 was released and the previous model Ref. 16600 was discontinued. After about six years, the Ref. 116600 was revived as the Sea-Dweller 4000. It was a short-lived model that was manufactured from around 2014 to around 2017.

Current model Ref.126600
Specifications
Case diameter 43mm Bezel ceramic
Dial black Luminous Chromalight
material SS bracelet SS
Waterproof 1,220m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3235 Power reserve Approximately 70 hours

The current model "Ref. 126600" was released in 2017 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first model, combining the tradition of the first model with the latest technology. Rolex has a tendency to release new models at the 50th anniversary, and in the past, the "Submariner" "Ref. 16610LV" and other models have been released to commemorate the milestone.

Spec comparison between "Ref.16600" and "Ref.116600"

Let's start by comparing the "Ref.16600" and "Ref.116600".
The main specifications are as follows:

Reference 16600
Reference 116600
40mm Case diameter 40mm
aluminum Bezel ceramic
black Dial black
Tritium or Luminova Luminous Chromalight
SS material SS
SS bracelet SS
1,220m Waterproof 1,220m
Automatic Drive system Automatic
Cal.3135 Cal Cal.3135
Approximately 48 hours Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

❶【Bezel】

Bezel

Reference 16600 aluminum
Reference 116600 ceramic
The bezel has been changed to a Cerachrom bezel, giving it a much more luxurious feel and texture. The scale of the "Ref. 116600" is also coated with platinum using PVD processing.

❷ [Needle]

Hour and minute hands

Reference 16600 thin
Reference 116600 thick
Regardless of the "Sea-Dweller", the five-digit and six-digit models have changed from thin, sharp hands to thick hands, improving visibility. Preference is divided on this point, but each has its own merits.

Luminous

Reference 16600 Tritium or Luminova
Reference 116600 Chromalight
While Luminova emits a "green" light, Chromalight emits a bright blue light called "peacock blue." Chromalight's glow time is said to be twice as long as general phosphorescent paints, lasting for more than eight hours.

❸ [Crown guard and lugs]

Thickness of the crown guard

Reference 16600 thin
Reference 116600 thick
The "Ref. 116600" has a thicker crown guard, making it significantly more robust.

Lug Thickness

Reference 16600 thin
Reference 116600 thick
Although they have the same 40mm case diameter, the apparent size and wearing feel differ depending on the thickness of the lugs .
Spec comparison between "Ref.116600" and "Ref.126600"

Next, let's compare "Ref.116600" and "Ref.126600".
The main specifications are as follows:

Reference 116600
Reference 126600
40mm Case diameter 43mm
ceramic Bezel ceramic
black Dial black
Chromalight Luminous Chromalight
SS material SS
SS bracelet SS
1,220m Waterproof 1,220m
Automatic Drive system Automatic
Cal.3135 Cal Cal.3235
Approximately 48 hours Power reserve Approximately 70 hours

❶【Case】

Case diameter

Reference 116600 40mm
Reference 126600 43mm
The helium escape valve and triple-sealed waterproof system remain the same, but the case diameter has been increased by 3mm, giving the watch a more striking presence when worn. However, the case thickness has not changed much, so the watch still looks great on the wrist without compromising the comfort of wearing it.

❷ [Dial/windshield]

Color of model logo at 6 o'clock

Reference 116600 White
Reference 126600 red
The rare first vintage model "Sea-Dweller" "Ref. 1665" commonly known as "Red Seed" has the "SEA-DWELLER" logo changed from white to red. The "Red Seed" is back! This was a welcome change for those who wanted a vintage model.

Logo at 6 o'clock

Reference 116600 SWISS MADE
Reference 126600 Added a crown mark between SWISS and MADE
The "SWISS MADE" letters at the 6 o'clock position have been changed to include a crown mark between "SWISS" and "MADE", but some early examples of the "Ref. 126600" do not have the crown mark between "SWISS" and "MADE", and are known as "no crown" models.

Cyclops Lens

Reference 116600 Not equipped
Reference 126600 mounted
The Ref. 126600 is the first Sea-Dweller to feature the Cyclops Lens, which was patented by Rolex in the early 1950s.

❸【Movement】

Movement

Reference 116600 Cal.3135
Reference 126600 Cal.3235
The new generation three-hand movement with date, "Cal.3235", boasts twice the accuracy of the chronometer standard, uses 14 patented technologies, and more than 90% of the parts are new. Also, it is worth noting that the power reserve has been increased to about 70 hours, which is a significant upgrade from the previous model, which had a power reserve of about 48 hours.
summary

What did you think?

This time, we compared three generations of the Rolex Sea-Dweller, and we hope you can see how it has evolved over the years.

Due to their simple design, they all look the same at first glance, but each Sea-Dweller has its own unique charm: the Ref. 16600 is the most compact of the three generations, the Ref. 116600 was equipped with highly practical functions but only lasted three years, and the 50th anniversary model Ref. 126600 combines the traditions of the first generation with the latest technology.

Please come and find your favorite model.

Tags: Other column, ロレックス