The infinite measure of time comes paired with accompanying depth. Renowned makers of timepieces for robust explorers of the world’s extreme frontiers, Rolex reinvents a well loved ticker that takes the wearer beyond both time and place. Rolex launches its new Oyster Perpetual Deepsea D-Blue, with an open face that is strikingly donned in a two-toned gradient from carbon black to steel navy on the dial with the words “DEEPSEA” in a striking green, in parallel to the changing colours underwater.
Available in both all-black and dark gradient, the colours encapsulate the artistic concept Rolex plays in painting an abstract yet accurate definition of the bottomless frontier. This poetic portrayal of design is coherent with actual diving activity as the dial reflects the subtle change when one sinks lower into the vast waters, enveloped from crystal blue to rich cerulean and into the grand oblivion. Similarly spotted in this year’s Tudor Heritage Black Bay Blue, the colour blue has become a recurring theme, all the more apt for recalling the underwater environment where these watches are best suited for.
First making its mark in 1960, Rolex took a historic dive into the deep cerulean of the Mariana Trench along with the Bathyscaphe Trieste crewed by Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard, commencing the foundation of the Deepsea Special series. Making it one of Rolex’s most extreme performing diver’s timepiece in the years to follow, the experimental watch invented in 1926, termed the Oyster by Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, became the world’s first water-resistant wristwatch.
Following its years into the 1950s, the world delved into underwater exploration and development in diving technology increased in demand. Professional divers then recognized Rolex’s Deepsea as a staple timepiece on their expeditions and the brand thereafter built up its reputation to confront the world’s most extreme frontiers. Standing against the test of time, the sustainability of Rolex watches earned themselves a reputable character that goes beyond a functional accessory but also a trusted partner in harshest conditions, as evidently proved through the Trieste dive and the first ascent onto Mount Everest in 1953.
The stunning navy ticker was unveiled at the Hall of Ocean Life in the American Museum of Natural History in New York last Monday, August 4, through the global premiere of National Geographic’s documentary, ‘Deepsea Challenge 3D’. The launch represented Rolex’s partnership with film-maker James Cameron who accomplished a historic solo dive in 2012, echoing the first footprint made by Rolex in the depths of the Mariana Trench. The Canadian deep-sea explorer made a record-breaking dive of 10,908 metres into the Pacific Ocean and ventured the depths for three hours, wearing a Rolex Deepsea, serving as a blueprint for the experimental design with a challenged depth of 12,000 metres.
Much accredited to it being one of Rolex’s most notable diver’s watches, its extreme water resistance is crucial not only to withstand the infiltration of water, let alone tolerate increasing water pressure. Reinvented, this new-generation diver’s watch is water resistant to an extreme depth of 3,900 metres, made possible by its exclusive Ringlock system. The exceptional strength, water and pressure resistance are well-built by the construction of a nitrogen-alloyed steel central ring that forms the backbone paired with a case back in grade 5 titanium and a 5mm-thick sapphire dome crystal. The two-gradient façade is heavily framed with a thick bezel and Chromalight dials, boasting a blue luminescence that lasts twice as long as standard luminescent materials. The disappearing visibility of the twilight-themed watch dial transitions smoothly as the luminous dials fade in with the key deep sea blue theme that ties in with the vast oceanic environment.
With accompanying security, the strap is a patented steel glidelock extension system with a clasp-finish that allows room for adjustment and a comfortable fit under the diving suit. Its distinctive feature of the ultimate diver’s watch is engineered by the professionals creating a helium escape valve that is fitted with a spring, much akin to the accompanying diver who heads for the surface after a deep saturation dive. Tiny molecules of helium escape during decompression, keeping the watch entirely water-resistant and the crystal intact under the 44mm Oyster case.
Suitably named, the Oyster truly reflects its genuine nature as it is crafted to bear behaviour much like the named bivalve mollusk and suffice to say, artistically resembled like a pearl of the sea. This is a watch that will certainly do down well with Dive watch aficionados, giving us all one more Rolex Diver to look out for in 2014, aside from the splendid Rolex Sea Dweller that was seen at Basel this year!
