Rolex Sea-Dweller 'Great White' Reference 1665
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1977–1979
Maker / issuer
RolexThis Rolex Sea-Dweller, reference 1665, is a professional diving watch known among collectors as the 'Great White'. Replacing the previous Double Red generation in 1977, this example features a specific 'Rail Dial' configuration, which the source notes was available only during the first two years of production.
The watch is constructed with a steel case and matching steel bracelet, featuring a black rotating bezel and a date display. Unlike its predecessor developed with COMEX, this model omits the 'Submariner 2000' text from the dial, marking a shift where the 'Sea-Dweller' name appears independently. It represents a period in the brand's history where such models were intended as operational tool watches. The provided photographs display the black dial with patinated markers, the steel case edges, and associated documentation.
No technical performance or service history is explicitly provided.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Diving watch
- Maker
- Rolex
- Model
- Sea-Dweller 'Great White'
- Dial type
- Rail Dial
- Reference
- 1665
- Case material
- Steel
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Production period
- circa 1977–1979
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex
Design
- Visible features
- • Black bezel insert with elapsed time scale • Dial featuring the Rail Dial configuration • Patinated luminous material on dial markers • Steel link bracelet with folding clasp
- Condition and Documentation
- The auction description indicates that the provided photographs offer a visual representation of the watch's current state, including the edges of the steel case and the black dial with patinated hour markers. The images also depict associated paperwork, specifically referencing documents that verify the watch as a chronometer. The source clarifies that no independent verification of the movement's technical condition, accuracy, or service history has been conducted by Zamanito. The information provided is based on the seller's representations and catalogue records.
- Design and Dial Configuration
- The watch is equipped with a black rotating bezel intended for dive time measurement and a date display at the three o'clock position. The case is manufactured from stainless steel, paired with a matching steel bracelet. A distinguishing feature of this specific watch is the 'Rail Dial' configuration. This layout is identified by the alignment of the text on the lower half of the dial, specifically occurring during the first two years of the reference 1665 production run. The dial displays the 'Sea-Dweller' name in isolation, following the removal of the 'Submariner 2000' designation that appeared on earlier Double Red versions.
- Historical Context and Production
- The reference 1665 followed the discontinuation of the Double Red model, which had been produced in collaboration with the diving company COMEX. The transition to the 'Great White' variation took place in 1977. The model remains categorized as a tool watch due to its original purpose in professional diving. The production of the Rail Dial variant was short-lived, spanning only the initial years of the 1977–1979 date range attributed to this model by the source.
Identification
- Reference
- 1665
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Internal movement technical condition is unverified
- Research required: Service history and replacement parts status are not disclosed