At last year’s edition of Baselworld, Swiss luxury watchmaker Rolex refreshed its deep-diving Sea-Dweller range with a 43mm dive watch that boasted a water resistance of 1,220 metres.
Now, the brand has taken the opportunity to update their iconic Deepsea range at Baselworld 2018, a watch that continues to function up to an incredible 3,900 metres below the surface of the ocean. This is so deep, in fact, that even though the wearer’s body would be crushed by the merciless pressure at this depth, the Rolex Deepsea would continue to operate as normal.
The Rolex Deepsea was introduced a decade ago, and the watchmaker has announced a number of updates that will feature on the 2018 edition.
The headline announcement is the calibre 3235 that now powers the Deepsea’s functions, and it is a new-generation movement that has been developed and manufactured in its entirety by Rolex. Like all new Rolex watches, this carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which means that it has met Rolex’s stringent accuracy and reliability criteria.
Additionally, the 44mm Oystersteel case features redesigned sides and lugs, and the broader Oyster bracelet is secured with a correspondingly adapted Oysterlock folding safety clasp. The Sea-Dweller Deepsea also sports a D-blue dial which displays a deep-blue to pitch-black gradient. This particular dial, which references the colour of the sea at increasing depths, was first seen on a 2014 edition that commemorated the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition.
The unidirectional bezel, which features a 60-minute scale that allows divers to monitor their underwater and decompression time, is made of extremely tough and corrosion-resistant ceramic. This means that bezel is virtually scratchproof, and its knurled edges allow for excellent grip, even when wearing gloves.
The journey, which was partnered by Rolex and the National Geographic Society, saw legendary Hollywood film director James Cameron descended to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest point of the ocean. The new Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea 126660 was unveiled at Baselworld 2018, and it retails for £9,300 in the United Kingdom.
Click here to read our article on the Rolex Daytona Rainbow edition in Rose Gold, unveiled at Baselworld 2018.
