Rolex is unveiling the new Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea Ref. M126660. It features a 44 mm case with redesigned lugs and sides and a broader ‘Oyster’ bracelet, as well as an adapted ‘Oysterlock’ folding safety clasp. This professional divers’ watch is equipped with calibre 3235, which is typical for Rolex watchmaking.
The new Rolex Deepsea is made of ‘Oystersteel’ and has a D-blue’ dial with a deep-blue to pitch-black gradient. This dial was launched in 2014 on a commemorative version of the watch in tribute to the ‘Deep Sea Challenge’ expedition. On this journey film-maker and explorer James Cameron descended 10,908 metres (35,787 feet) to the ocean’s deepest point, located in the Mariana Trench.
Oyster Case and Ringlock System
A divers’ watch designed for the deep, the RolexDeepsea is waterproof to 3,900 metres (12,800 feet). Its ‘Oyster’ case was developed to ensure resistance to pressure. The resulting ringlock system, a case architecture, allows the Rolex Deepsea to withstand the pressure exerted at extreme depths. The ringlock system is composed of three elements: a domed 5.5 mm-thick sapphire crystal, a high-performance nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel ring, positioned inside the middle case of the watch, and a case back in ‘Oystersteel’ and grade 5 titanium. The triplock winding crown, equipped with three seals, screws down securely against the case, completing the waterproofness. The case of the Rolex Deepsea is also equipped with a helium escape valve, which works to protect divers’ watches created for the deep. It allows excess pressure built up in the watch case to escape during a diver’s decompression phase in a hyperbaric chamber. In deep-sea diving, absolute reliability and security are of the essence. Each Rolex Deepsea must therefore undergo the necessary waterproofness tests required for divers’ watches. To this end, a special hyperbaric test tank was developed in conjunction with COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises). Every single Rolex Deepsea is tested to ensure its waterproofness to a depth of 3,900 metres.
High-Technology Ceramic
The unidirectional rotatable bezel of the Rolex Deepsea is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in black ceramic that allows divers to monitor their underwater and decompression time for their safety. This insert, made of an extremely hard and corrosion-resistant ceramic, is virtually scratchproof, and its colour is unaffected by ultraviolet rays. The numerals and the graduations are moulded in the ceramic and coloured with platinum using a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process. The bezel’s knurled edge offers a good grip when manipulating the bezel to set dive time.
Perpetual Calibre
The new Rolex Deepsea is equipped with calibre 3235. This self-winding mechanical movement offers new standards in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetism, convenience and reliability. It incorporates the chronergy escapement patented by Rolex, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic interference. The oscillator, the heart of the watch, has a blue parachrom hairspring. Manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy, the parachrom hairspring is up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. It is also fitted with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring its regularity in any position.
Calibre 3235 is equipped with a self-winding module via a perpetual rotor. The power reserve of calibre 3235 extends to approximately 70 hours.
Secure Bracelet with Extension Systems
The Rolex Deepsea’s ‘Oyster’ bracelet is equipped with an ‘Oysterlock’ safety clasp that prevents accidental opening and a double extension system that allows the watch to be worn comfortably over a diving suit up to 7 mm thick. Using a toothed panel located under the clasp cover, the Rolex ‘Glidelock’ system allows adjustment of the bracelet length in approximately 2 mm increments up to around 20 mm, while the ‘Fliplock’ extension link extends the Rolex Deepsea bracelet by 26 mm. Both extension systems and the clasp have been adjusted to fit the watch’s broader bracelet.
Chronometer Certification
The Rolex Deepsea is covered by a ‘Superlative Chronometer’ certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that each watch has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. The certification applies to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of the Chronometer is of the order of −2 /+2 seconds per day. The ‘Superlative Chronometer’ status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.
| BRAND: | Rolex |
| MODEL: | Oyster Perpetual Deepsea |
| REFERENCE: | Ref. M126660 |
| PRICE: | 11’450 Euro |
| CASE MATERIAL: | Oystersteel |
| DIAMETER: | 44 mm |
| DIAL: | ‘D-blue’: blue with black gradient Chromalight-Indices Hands with blue luminescent coating |
| STRAP: | Oystersteel Flat three-piece links Folding Oysterlock safety clasp |
| CALIBRE: | Calibre 3235 |
| MECHANISM: | Self-winding |
| POWER RESERVE: | 70 hours |
| FUNCTIONS: | Centre hour, minute and seconds hands Instantaneous date in apertures unrestricted rapid-setting Stop-seconds for precise time setting Water resistance: 3’900 meters |