Rolex Deepsea 136668LB

Introduced in 2008, the Deepsea emerged as Rolex's pinnacle diving instrument, boasting an impressive water resistance of 3,900 meters (and an astonishing 11,000 meters for the Deepsea Challenge of 2022). The model underwent an update at Baselworld 2018 with the introduction of the reference 126660, featuring the latest generation of Rolex movements, the automatic 3235 caliber, offering a power reserve of 70 hours. Now, we witness the debut of the first-ever Deepsea in yellow gold, adorned in a captivating shade of blue.The 44mm case with a thickness of 17.7mm is made of 18k yellow gold with a vertically brushed and polished bevels finish. Mounted on the case is a unidirectional rotatable bezel with a scratch-resistant Cerachrom insert in blue ceramic with a graduated 60-minute scale.In essence this gold iteration of the Rolex Deepsea Reference remains true to the quintessential attributes of its predecessors by maintaining the same distinctive look and architectural design, featuring a thick, slightly domed crystal. On the flipside the screw-down case back is crafted from RLX titanium. Among the innovations introduced with this gold version, Rolex emphasizes that their ring lock system now incorporates a compression ring made of blue ceramic, enhancing both performance and aesthetics.It also comes equipped with a screw-down crown with a Triplock waterproofness system and a Helium escape valve that activates automatically when the pressure inside the case gets too high. Water-resistance can reach up to 3,900 meters (12,800 feet), which continues to meet the stringent requirements of professional divers.Time is exhibited on a blue lacquer dial with gold applied hour index markers in round, rectangular, and a triangle shape at 12 o’clock, all with white interiors. Circling around the flange is a wide ring that highlights the “ORIGINAL GAS ESCAPE VALVE” and “RING LOCK SYSTEM”.On the lower-half Rolex has also inscribed the dial with the impressive “12800f = 3900m” water-resistance capabilities, as one of its main highlights. There is also a date with a white background and black numerals at 3 o’clock.The central hour/minute hands, hour index markers, and capsule on the rotatable bezel have all been fitted with the Chromalight luminescence, for an enhanced legibility.  This luminescent material is highly unique, involving a complex manufacturing process meticulously designed to ensure a characteristic blue glow. Its brightness is optimized to be easily readable even in the depths of the abyss, providing unparalleled visibility in low-light conditions.

Rolex Deepsea

The “Rolex Deepsea” (Ref#: 136668LB) is powered by the in-house self-winding mechanical movement, caliber 3235 with 31 jewels, 201 parts in total, and 28,800 vph. It comes equipped with a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring and high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers. Power reserve can last up to 70 hours, when fully wound.Mounted on the watch is an 18k yellow gold, 3-link Oyster bracelet with a brushed finish and polished center-links, secured to the wrist by a folding Oysterlock safety clasp with the Rolex Glidelock extension system. By having 10 notches, each approximately 2 mm in size, the bracelet length can be adjusted by up to approximately 20 mm, ensuring a comfortable and customizable fit for the wearer.It no longer features the Fliplock extension link, which was removed from the Deepsea collection in 2022. For more up to date information visit the official Rolex website here.

Rolex, Deepsea, Diver, Watches & Wonders, Luxury Watches