Bonhams 1793 : Rolex. A stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch 'Double Red' Sea-Dweller Mark IV, Ref:1665, Serial No.5225***, Retailed by Heinz Wipperfeld and Sold 17th October 1979

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13 Jun 2012 14:00 BST London, New Bond Street
Fine Watches and Wristwatches
Back to auction 19806

Rolex. A stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch

'Double Red' Sea-Dweller Mark IV, Ref:1665, Serial No.5225***, Retailed by Heinz Wipperfeld and Sold 17th October 1979
15-jewel Cal.1570 automatic movement adjusted to five positions and temperature, matt black Mark IV dial with luminous hourly dots and outer printed five minute divisions, red printed 'Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000' and in white,'2000ft=610m superlative chronometer officially certified' with Swiss-T 25 at 6, luminous filled mercedes hands and sweep centre seconds, small date aperture at 3, brushed and polished case with screw on back signed Rolex and numbered 1665 on the inside, helium escape valve in the band at 9, large shouldered screw down triplock Oyster crown, fitted Oyster bracelet with 93150 and 530 end pieces, together with fitted box, punched chronometer guarantee certificate and original Hans Wipperfeld receipts, Rolex service papers, case, dial and movement signed
39mm.

Sold for £12,500 inc. premium

Footnotes

The 'Double-Red' Sea-Dweller Ref.1665 appeared in the Rolex catalogue from 1973 until 1975. The 'Sea-Dweller 2000' was one of the first production watches to employ a gas-escape valve which allows the interior of a watch to decompress and avoid injury to the wearer and damage to the watch.

There are at least seven different variations of the 'double red' dials that were sold to the public. They vary slightly whether it be the size of the 'O' in the Coronet or the colour of the 'double red' itself.

The Mark IV version of the dial was meant to be marketed for general production and is the most common type of dial seen in a Sea-Dweller. The red print of this dial is clear but not heavy, and when viewed closely, it appears to be made of tiny red dots. The red lettering is usually larger on the top line of the two red lines printed. The Coronet is quite large, as is the "O" underneath and rounded in comparison to earlier models.

Category: Clocks and Watches / Watches

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