Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 | Oystersteel | Black Dial & Bezel

The Original Saturation Dive Watch

Born in the late 1960s at the frontier of commercial diving, the Rolex Sea-Dweller was developed alongside pioneering firms like COMEX to meet the challenges of saturation diving. Its breakthrough solution—the Helium Escape Valve—answered the critical issue of trapped gas during decompression, transforming a professional problem into a horological milestone.

The Anatomy of a Deep-Sea Instrument

• Reference Number: 126600
• Helium Escape Valve (HEV): Automatic valve engineered to safely vent built-up helium during decompression, preserving crystal and case integrity
• Depth Rating: 1,220m / 4,000ft, ISO-certified professional diver’s capability
• Case Material and Diameter: 43mm Oystersteel (904L) case with unidirectional Cerachrom bezel insert in ceramic
• Calibre: Rolex Manufacture 3235 with Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, Superlative Chronometer precision

The Curator’s Insight:
The HEV remains a masterclass in elegant problem-solving—mechanically simple, utterly dependable, and the very feature that ushered in a new era of deep-sea exploration. It’s the detail that crystallizes the Sea-Dweller’s authentic tool-watch credibility.

A Legacy of Undersea Exploration

Wearing the Sea-Dweller is to carry a direct lineage to the heroic age of saturation diving—when watches were not accessories, but vital instruments. This 126600 embodies that legacy with modern refinement, offering uncompromising capability and an historical pedigree few timepieces can match.

This Watch is Ideal For…

• The professional diver who demands proven decompression engineering
• The collector who values authentic tool-watch history and COMEX-era heritage
• The enthusiast drawn to a modern Rolex that honors its origins with iconic red dial text