{"id":3099,"date":"2019-04-05T12:08:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T12:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/TheWatchClub\/?p=3099"},"modified":"2025-08-02T10:06:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T10:06:41","slug":"rolex-sea-dweller-vs-deepsea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-sea-dweller-vs-deepsea\/","title":{"rendered":"Rolex Sea-Dweller vs Deepsea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> vs Deepsea<\/h1>\n

Rolex has a long history of sea exploration. They have unlocked the deep with a series of innovative watches – from the first waterproof casing, the Oyster (1926) to the venerable Rolex Submariner (1954).<\/p>\n

Rolex didn\u2019t rest on their laurels; and built upon these two watches to create their most water resistant timepieces: the Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> and, subsequently, the Sea-Dweller<\/a> Deepsea.<\/p>\n

Both watches were designed with the same purpose and look very similar, but they are remarkably different. Let\u2019s take a look at the Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> vs Deepsea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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pictured:\u00a0Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> 40 Black Dial Steel Mens Watch<\/em><\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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BEGINNINGS OF THE ROLEX SEA-DWELLER<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Rolex launched the first iteration of the Sea-Dweller<\/a> in 1967. At the time, Rolex already had a very capable dive watch in the Submariner, which had an impressive water resistance of up to 200 meters \/ 660 feet.<\/p>\n

The Sub however, met a serious challenge in saturation diving, where divers needed to stay underwater for prolonged periods. Its plexiglass would pop out during decompression.<\/p>\n

The Sea-Dweller<\/a> was developed to solve this problem. The addition of the\u00a0helium escape valve\u00a0<\/em>on the side of its case let helium particles flow out of the watch, solving the exploding plexiglass problem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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LATEST MODELS OF THE ROLEX SEA-DWELLER<\/a> AND DEEPSEA<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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In its <\/span>50 year history<\/a>, the Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> has evolved into several references, each time improving its features and performance.<\/span><\/div>\n
Today, there are currently two references of the Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> and Rolex Deepsea currently production.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> models, from left:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Ref 116600, produced from 2014 \u2013 2017
\nRef 126600,\u00a0the current Sea-Dweller<\/a>
\nRef 126603, the newest\u00a0Rolesor Sea-Dweller<\/a>\u00a0launched at Baselworld 2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Rolex Deepsea models, from left:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Ref 116660,\u00a0Deepsea Black Dial Ceramic Bezel
\nRef 116660,\u00a0Deepsea Cameron D-Blue Dial produced from 2014 – 2018
\nRolex updated the D-Blue in 2018,\u00a0with\u00a0Ref 126660<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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ROLEX SEA-DWELLER<\/a> vs DEEPSEA: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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To show the differences between the two collections, we\u2019ll put the Sea-Dweller<\/a> ref 126600 and Deepsea ref 116660 side-by-side.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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from left:\u00a0Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> 43mm Stainless Steel Mens Watch\u00a0ref 126600 \/ Rolex Sea-Dweller\u00a0<\/a>Deepsea Black Dial Ceramic Bezel Mens Watch ref 116660<\/em><\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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CASE SIZE AND DESIGN<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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The Rolex Sea-Dweller<\/a> is traditionally a 40mm watch, but the new ref 126600 has an increased case size of 43mm. The update also added\u00a0a Cyclops lens to\u00a0the flat crystal of previous Sea-Dweller<\/a> models.<\/p>\n

The Deepsea meanwhile, has a 44mm case size. While it seems like a negligible difference, what sets the Deepsea apart is its design \u2013 it uses Rolex\u2019s patented\u00a0Ringlock System<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DEPTH RATING<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The 10-part system gives the Deepsea its\u00a0thick, domed case. Apart from that, it also allows it to go to depths of up to 3,900 meters (12,800 feet) versus the Sea-Dweller\u2019<\/a>s 1,220 meters (4,000 feet).<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\"Seadweller<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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BEZEL AND DIAL DESIGN<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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These features also created subtle differences on the bezel and dial.<\/p>\n

The Sea-Dweller:<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n