100th Auction
2019/11/15
Lot 82
Rolex "Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller 2000ft=610m Superlative Chronometer officially certified" / Tiffany & Co., Case No. 8040782, Ref. 1665, Cal. 1570, 40 mm, circa 1983
An automatic diver’s wristwatch with date and the extremely rare, original "Tiffany dial". The watch was fully revised at Rolex in Geneva in April 2019 and comes with a service guarantee by Rolex Geneva dated April 8, 2019 as well as a booklet
Case: steel, screw back with engraving "Rolex Patent Gas Escape Valve Oyster", helium valve, bidirectional rotating black bezel, screwed "Triplock" winding crown, steel "Oyster" bracelet ref. 93150 with endlinks stamped 585 (later original), Oysterlock folding clasp G and extension link, bracelet length 150 mm, total length 190 mm. Dial: black (tritium), silver date wheel with open 6 and 9, luminous Mercedes hands (tritium).
In addition to Rolex watches with "exotic" or "tropical dials", the "Tiffany dials" are another, highly coveted model variation. They often fetch remarkable prices at auctions, because to the avid Rolex collectors the Tiffany dials represent a long gone era in the history of the brand. While co-branding was rather common in the 1960s, it would be unthinkable today due to the strict quality control Rolex maintains. These dials were regular model-specific dials imprinted with the "Tiffany & Co." name. Lettering, colours and spacing often varied, making this type of dial a particular favourite among counterfeiters. This, however, makes those Tiffany dials with a certificate of authentication such as this one particularly rare – treasures that have the hearts of true Rolex aficionados beating faster!
The Sea-Dweller reference 1665 was introduced in the late 1960s; Rolex developed this model in collaboration with the French deep sea exploration company COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises). The standard Submariner 5513 was the first watch to be fitted with Rolex's new invention, the gas escape valve. Later came the first Sea-Dweller, ref. 1665. Its first generation was inscribed "Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000" in red. The second Sea-Dweller generation of ref. 1665 from the mid 1970s was simply signed "Sea-Dweller" in white; all were rated to 2000ft/610m. Ref. 1665 was replaced in 1980 by the ref. 16660 with quick-set date, sapphire crystal and improved "double gas-escape valve", which was rated to 4000ft/1220m. This reference was finally superseded in the mid 1990s by the ref. 16600 with calibre 3135 "fast-beat" move.
An automatic diver’s wristwatch with date and the extremely rare, original "Tiffany dial". The watch was fully revised at Rolex in Geneva in April 2019 and comes with a service guarantee by Rolex Geneva dated April 8, 2019 as well as a booklet
Case: steel, screw back with engraving "Rolex Patent Gas Escape Valve Oyster", helium valve, bidirectional rotating black bezel, screwed "Triplock" winding crown, steel "Oyster" bracelet ref. 93150 with endlinks stamped 585 (later original), Oysterlock folding clasp G and extension link, bracelet length 150 mm, total length 190 mm. Dial: black (tritium), silver date wheel with open 6 and 9, luminous Mercedes hands (tritium).
In addition to Rolex watches with "exotic" or "tropical dials", the "Tiffany dials" are another, highly coveted model variation. They often fetch remarkable prices at auctions, because to the avid Rolex collectors the Tiffany dials represent a long gone era in the history of the brand. While co-branding was rather common in the 1960s, it would be unthinkable today due to the strict quality control Rolex maintains. These dials were regular model-specific dials imprinted with the "Tiffany & Co." name. Lettering, colours and spacing often varied, making this type of dial a particular favourite among counterfeiters. This, however, makes those Tiffany dials with a certificate of authentication such as this one particularly rare – treasures that have the hearts of true Rolex aficionados beating faster!
The Sea-Dweller reference 1665 was introduced in the late 1960s; Rolex developed this model in collaboration with the French deep sea exploration company COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises). The standard Submariner 5513 was the first watch to be fitted with Rolex's new invention, the gas escape valve. Later came the first Sea-Dweller, ref. 1665. Its first generation was inscribed "Sea-Dweller, Submariner 2000" in red. The second Sea-Dweller generation of ref. 1665 from the mid 1970s was simply signed "Sea-Dweller" in white; all were rated to 2000ft/610m. Ref. 1665 was replaced in 1980 by the ref. 16660 with quick-set date, sapphire crystal and improved "double gas-escape valve", which was rated to 4000ft/1220m. This reference was finally superseded in the mid 1990s by the ref. 16600 with calibre 3135 "fast-beat" move.
estimated
45.000—60.000 €
Price realized
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