Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 (Ref. 116600) - Baselworld 2014

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 (Ref. 116600) – Baselworld 2014


by Matthew Boston
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Rolex has revived its legendary professional diving watch, presenting for Baselworld a new version of the Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller. A model originally introduced by the brand in 1967 this new Sea-Dweller model named the Sea Dweller 4000 (ref. 116600) is designed for professional diving, is water resistant to 1220 meters and has a diameter of 40 mm.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000

It comes equipped with the most current Rolex innovations: Cerachrom bezel insert in ceramic, long-lasting Chromalight luminescence, paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, Oysterlock safety clasp and Rolex Glidelock bracelet extension system.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 - Bezel

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 – Bezel

Designed at the time for the pioneers of professional deep sea diving, the new Sea-Dweller 4000 is equipped with one of the inventions that contributed to its fame: the helium valve, patented by Rolex in 1967 . This ingenious safety valve is used to regulate the pressure built up inside the watchcase during phases of decompression, while maintaining the water resistance of the watch.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 - Helium Valve

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 – Helium Valve

Some of its features include a unidirectional rotating bezel graduated to 60 minutes and designed so divers can accurately and safely read their dive and decompression time. It comes fitted with a patented black Cerachrom bezel insert made from a virtually scratchproof ceramic the colour of which cannot be altered by ultraviolet rays. It has also been coated via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) with a thin layer of platinum. The black dial hosts large Chromalight filled indexes and hands which give a long-lasting blue glow for excellent readability in the dark.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 - Cerachrom Bezel

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 – Cerachrom Bezel

The Sea Dweller’s Oyster case, guaranteed water-resistant to 1,220 meters is engineered to high levels of robustness in order to combat the pressures and rigours of deep sea diving. It features the characteristic Sea-Dweller contours which have been milled from a block of particularly corrosion restant 904L steel.

The fluted, screwed down case back has been sealed with a special proprietary tool exclusive to Rolex. Providing watertight protection similar to a submarine’s hatch the winding crown screws down securely against the case and is fitted with the patented Triplock triple water-resistant system. Fully water resistant, the Oystercase of the Sea-Dweller optimally protects the precision movement that it houses from water, dust, pressure and shock.

The Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller 4000 (ref. 116600) comes on an Oyster three-piece solid links bracelet made from 904L stainless steel superalloy fitted Oysterlock folding safety clasp. Priced at 9,900 CHF.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 (Ref. 116600) – Specifications

CASE:

  • Diameter: 40 mm,
  • Material: 904L stainless steel superalloy,
  • Safety: Helium escape valve.

BEZEL:

  • Unidirectional rotatable 60-minute,
  • Graduated bezel with black Cerachrom insert in ceramic,
  • Engraved numerals and graduations.

DIAL:

  • Colour: Black, satin finish,
  • Hour Markers & Hands: Highly legible Chromalight appliques and hands (long-lasting luminescence).

BRACELET:

  • Type: Oyster three-piece solid links,
  • Material: 904L stainless steel superalloy.

CLASP:

  • Oysterlock folding safety clasp,
  • Rolex Glidelock extension system (20 mm in increments of 2 mm),
  • Fliplock extension link (26 mm).

WATERPROOFNESS:  1,220 metres (4,000 feet).
MOVEMENT: Mechanical movement with bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor.
FUNCTION: Instantaneous date at 3 o’clock.
OSCILLATOR: Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring.

    Author Bio

    Articles by Matthew Boston

    CONTRIBUTOR

    Matthew Boston has worked in the computer graphics industry for 17 years in various parts of the world, currently residing back home in the UK. His interest in watches was first piqued as a youngster when he was fascinated by a Seiko digital watch he received. He's also founder of UniqueWatchGuide which is dedicated to sharing the news about timepieces that are unusual, unconventional and more often than not unobtainable.