Rolex created the Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller in 1967 to meet the challenges of prolonged underwater missions. The Sea-Dweller is specifically designed for saturation diving. Thanks to its helium escape valve, it withstands decompression during ascent, controlling the return to the surface – the final phase of deep-sea exploration.
Guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 610 metres when it was launched in 1967, and then to 1,220 metres from 1978, the Sea-Dweller combines all the attributes of a modern diving watch.
Tested in real conditions as part of the Tektite program, jointly initiated by NASA, the US Navy and the US Government in 1969, the Sea-Dweller was used in the first major experiments with underwater habitats.
In the 1960s, so-called "saturation" diving made it possible to stay at depth for longer periods. This technique involves housing divers in a pressurised habitat that replicates the ambient pressure in their underwater work environments. This way, they only have to undergo a single decompression process at the end of their mission.
This process, however, can damage the watch. Divers breathe a gas mixture composed mainly of helium, whose tiny atoms can penetrate the watch case. When returning to the surface, the helium trapped inside the case could create an overpressure phenomenon, risking the integrity of the watch.
To solve the problem, in 1967 Rolex introduced the Sea-Dweller, a diving watch equipped with a helium escape valve. Screwed to the case, it consists of a sealed cylinder, a piston, a gasket, and a spring, which act as a safety valve. When the internal pressure of the case is excessive, the valve opens automatically, allowing the helium atoms to escape.
Rolex's exclusive Chromalight display gives the Sea-Dweller optimum legibility in all circumstances. The hour markers, hands, bezel, and bezel insert are hand-filled or coated with a luminescent material that emits an intense blue glow in the dark, lasting up to twice as long as conventional phosphorescent materials.
The Sea-Dweller is equipped with the Triplock winding crown. This screw-down crown was invented in 1970 and features three sealed zones. It reinforces the waterproofness of the 43 mm Oyster case, whose middle case is crafted from a solid block of Oystersteel, an alloy particularly resistant to corrosion.
Explorers and oceanographers, such as Sylvia Earle, and underwater photographers, such as David Doubilet, know the ocean is our most precious resource and are committed to protecting it. They wear a Sea-Dweller, which reflects their passion and commitment.
Since 1971, Rolex has also been a partner of Comex (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises). For several decades, the Sea-Dweller has been worn by the divers of this French company, which specializes in underwater engineering, technology and operations.
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