Every year before Baselworld, Rolex fans (well, and most of us in the watch press) experience an anticipation that we can only describe as a child’s longing for Christmas morning, when they can finally open their presents.
In this case, those presents are Rolex’s new line of watches this year. Like every well-oiled marketing locomotive, the team at Rolex keeps its new releases under the proverbial lock and key, so the big reveal is worth the wait.
This year, the Swiss giant has introduced some timepieces that may not be groundbreaking for the average person; but for Rolex enthusiasts, they’ve been long awaited and very welcome. For example, the “Batman” GMT-Master II and Yacht-Master 42, respectively.
Now, fans who have been following the brand will remember that Rolex last updated its Sea-Dweller collection in 2017. Back then, it showed the first Sea-Dweller with Cyclops lenses (pictured below) and paid homage to the original with a red model name, just like in 1967.
For 2019, it retains the Cyclops lens (because, why not?) , but changes the colour of the model name to yellow to match the new aesthetic of the yellow Rolesor replica watches. The bezel, crown and middle links of the watch are made of 18-karat yellow gold, while the case and external links are made of Oyster steel.
If you think you’ve seen this watch before, you’re not entirely wrong. Google “Rolex Ref. 116613LN”, and you’ll get its counterpart, the Rolex Submariner Ref. 116613LN. So what’s the difference between the Sea-Dweller and the Submariner? I thought you’d never ask. While both are part of the Rolex Submariner collection, there are some differences to note here.
The silhouette of the new Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 126603 The 126603 comes with a helium vent, a feature only available on the Sea-Dweller and Deepsea models.
Call it a market test, if you will, but the black dial-yellow-Rolesor combination was a winner on the Submariner, and it makes perfect sense that it is now being replicated on the Sea-Dweller. In addition, this is the first time that 18K yellow gold has been used in the Sea-Dweller collection, which makes this new model quite special indeed.
As with all of Rolex’s sporty luxury replica watches, it’s not easy to get your hands on the Sea-Dweller. A check with retailers confirmed that they hadn’t received their stock yet, and we probably won’t receive our first shipment until the last quarter of the year.
With that in mind, it’s always good to put your name on a trusted assistant and cross your fingers for a call to come in. This also gives you time to purchase what we think is one of the most desirable Rolex models of the year.