When it comes to diving watches Rolex is a name that you can’t ignore. Rolex has produced watches that have descended to great depths of the ocean returning in perfect working condition. Two of the more popular Rolex watches that have stood-up to rigorous conditions include the “Rolex Deep Sea Special” and the “Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea Challenge.”
Diving Watches To Learn About
Nearly 55 years ago in 1960, Captain Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard descended to the bottom of the ocean’s floor, reaching a depth of over 35,800 feet. This dive was part of Project Nekton, a series of scientific deep dives that were carried out near the island of Guam in the Western Pacific. Fascinatingly, a Rolex watch went with them. This particular Rolex, known as the Deep Sea Special, was not worn by either man. Rather, it was strapped on the outside of the Bathyscaphe Trieste!
The Deep Sea Special was the most advanced watch in a series of experimental watches that were specifically designed to withstand pressure that no human being could ever survive. To everyone’s delight, the watch returned to the surface of the ocean in perfect working order, proving that Rolex is truly a master watch creator and manufacturer. This should come as no surprise. Since the release of the “Oyster” in 1926, Rolex has been studying and improving the water-resistant abilities of their watches. As a result, this special timepiece greatly influenced the design of later diving watches, such as the Submariner and the Rolex Sea-Dweller.
Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea Challenge
Film-maker and explorer James Cameron partnered with the National Geographic Society in 2012 to further underwater exploration with the historic Rolex Deepsea Challenge. In March of 2012, the team sent a submersible 10,908 meters (35,787 feet) to Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the world’s oceans. As they did so many years before, Rolex joined in and offered a special Rolex Sea-Dweller. The watch was attached to the submersible’s robotic arm, on the outside. It would be unprotected from the crushing pressure of the water.
However, Rolex craftsmen and innovators specially designed the Sea-Dweller for the expedition, testing it and modifying it to withstand the crushing pressure. The new watch is constructed with Grade 5 titanium, and helium escape valve. The helium escape value addresses a critical challenge faced by deep-sea explorers. As they venture into profound depths, helium gas can accumulate within the watch’s case, posing a risk of dislodging the crystal during decompression. Rolex’s ingenious solution allows for the safe release of this gas, ensuring both the integrity and precision of the watch under extreme conditions.
The watch performed beautifully, holding up at the greatest of depths and emerging in perfect working order. Yet again, Rolex proved that it was a master innovator whose watches lived up to the company’s claims.
