​What Makes the Rolex Deepsea Black Watch Unique?

If you’re a watch aficionado, you know the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller as the most extreme and rugged—not to mention storied and prestigious—diver’s watch around. Waterproof to a depth of 4,000 feet, it was the first watch to traverse to the bottom of the Mariana Trench and has traveled to a depth of over 35,000 feet. It’s the choice timepiece of legends like Tiger Woods (who, by the way, doesn’t even take it off to sleep), Steph Curry, and James Cameron, who wore it to the depths of the sea for Rolex’s 2012 Deepsea Challenge.

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To put it simply, the Sea-Dweller is the king of divers, so it doesn’t surprise us one bit to see the Deepsea Black—a variant of the Sea-Dweller introduced in 2008—gaining serious traction among seasoned collectors and new wearers alike. But what makes it unique compared with other Sea-Dwellers? Here are some of our top reasons:

1. It’s a Modern Classic – Though it traces its roots back to the 1967 launch of the Sea-Dweller, the Rolex Deepsea black variant was released in 2008 at BaselWorld with reference number 116660. That original model featured a classic black dial with white text. It wasn’t until 2014 that the blue dial variant, designed in honor of Cameron’s expedition to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, was released. So, if you’re looking for an amazing way to pay tribute to the O.G. Deepsea, go with black.

2. It Goes Deep—The Deepsea debuted in 2008 as the world’s most water-resistant mechanical watch and is tested in a hyperbaric chamber in Geneva to ensure the best of the best tech and performance at extreme depths. This isn’t a standard sit-in-your-watch-box reference. It’s one you can push to the limit and get wet on serious dives. As we’ll cover below, it comes with exclusive diving-focused tech, including Rolex’s patented Ringlock System.

3. It’s Stunning – Both the black and blue Deepsea styles feature a black ceramic bezel and the classic Oyster bracelet, but the black face gives it a monochrome look and honors the Deepsea’s origins. It features a 44-millimeter case made of 904L stainless steel with a black ceramic unidirectional rotatable bezel.

Design-wise, the Deepsea looks a lot like a bigger version of the ultra-popular Submariner, which makes it ideal for the dive watch aficionado who loves their dials large and in charge. Due to the specialized case (more on that below), the Deepsea is thicker and looks a bit chunkier on the wrist than the standard Sea-Dweller—great for making a statement! It comes in a stylish two-tone option in addition to the classic all-steel style.

4. It’s a Feat of Tech – One of the things that sets the Deepsea apart in the Sea-Dweller lineup is its domed sapphire crystal, which—unlike the rest of the Sea-Dwellers—does not feature the Cyclops lens. On top of that, the Deepsea’s sapphire glass is significantly thicker than the Submariner and others, ensuring that it stays protected when diving into heavier water pressure.

It also comes equipped with the exclusive Ringlock System to reduce stress on the watch at greater depths and has a Helium escape valve that allows it to be used for saturation diving.

If you’re weighing your options between the Rolex Deepsea Black and the Rolex Deepsea Blue—or any other dive watch by Rolex, for that matter—let us first say you have excellent taste and will not go wrong with either model. These are among the finest examples of dive watches in the world, and we know you will cherish yours for a lifetime. Whether you’re looking for a new or pre-owned Rolex Deepsea, Luxury of Watches will provide you with the very best service and selection so you’re completely satisfied.