Rolex Unveils New Deepsea D-Blue Edition Watch

Photo Credit: watchtime.com

 

At an exclusive screening of esteemed Hollywood director James Cameron’s new 3D documentary, Rolex revealed their new Deepsea D-Blue Edition Dive watch.

Sponsored by Rolex and the National Geographic, ‘Deepsea Challenge 3D’ follows Cameron’s one-man dive into the Mariana Trench in 2012 – the deepest point in the world - where he sported a specially designed Rolex ‘Deepsea Challenge’ on board. The watch itself features a cameo in the documentary in which Cameron remarks on how the watch was still working in the submersible– an incredible achievement considering it was created in a short span of time. The Rolex ‘Deepsea Challenge’ went through a serious of pressure and water tests until it was finally ready to be sent into the ocean, making it the one of only two watches in the world to go to the ultimate depth; the first being a Rolex ‘Deepsea Special’ into the Mariana Trench in the 1960 ‘Trieste’ expedition.

Three timepieces were sent into the submersible; two inside the machine and one attached to a robotic arm to collect samples for study. It soon became clear just how strong the timepieces were that whilst the robotic arm did not survive (malfunctioning at the bottom of the trench), all three watches survived the expedition unmarked – a sign of true workmanship and thorough testing.

The unveiling of the new Rolex Deepsea D-Blue Edition Dive watch at the American Museum of Natural History in New York was in tune with the original Rolex Deepsea that Cameron took into the ocean. One of the most prominent features of the Rolex Deepsea D-Blue is the colour gradient on the dial of the watch – gradually turning from rich blue to black, symbolic of Cameron’s dive into the unknown. In order to handle the pressures of the ocean, this timepiece is supported by the Ringlock system which ensures it is pressure-resistant to 3,900 meters/ 12,800 feet and with a special Rolex patented helium escape valve that is fitted with a spring to allow the gas to escape quickly without compromising the waterproof of the watch.