ROLEX – OYSTER Perpetual Deepsea D-BLUE Dial 2014
Rolex Celebrates Its Partnership with James Cameron’s Historic Dive by Launching a New Version of the Rolex Deepsea
Geneva/New York, 4 August 2014 On the occasion of therelease of
National Geographic’s
DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D film about the expedition to the deepest reaches of the ocean by explorer and film-maker
James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar),
Rolex has introduced a new version of its
Rolex Deepsea. This ultimate divers’ watch, resistant to extreme pressure, isequipped with a “
D-blue” dial representing the colours of the deep.
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The deep blue to pitch-black gradient dial is reminiscent of the ocean’s twilight zone where the last trickle of light from the surface disappears intothe abyss, echoing
James Cameron’s
DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition. A sa tribute to the partnership between
Rolex and
Cameron, the “
DEEPSEA”marking on the new dial adopts the colour of the explorer’s green submersible as it is perceived underwater.
The new
Rolex Deepsea was introduced on Monday
4 August in
New York,
during the US premiere of the documentary film in the splendid Hall of
Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History, in the presence of
James Cameron and many other personalities from the worlds of
underwater exploration and cinema.
DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D traces
Cameron’s historic dive into the
Mariana Trench with the support of
Rolex and
National Geographic.
Exploring the last frontier
On
26 March
2012, film-maker and explorer
James Cameron made a
record-breaking solo dive
10,908 metres (
35,787 feet) below the surface
of the Pacific Ocean piloting the
DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible. He
remained on the ocean floor for three hours to explore, take samples and
capture the first-ever high-resolution images of this last frontier.
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Scientists estimate that 95 per cent of the oceans remain unexplored and
hold hidden clues to life on Earth. The samples taken on the expedition
have led to the identification of at least 68 new species. The
documentary film follows the
DEEPSEA CHALLENGE adventure from its very
beginning to the last of its 13 Pacific dives.
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The inspirational
DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition paved the way for a new era in scientific
exploration of the deep. No human being had returned to the deepest part
of the
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Mariana Trench since
23 January 1960, the date of the first
manned dive to the bottom by the bathyscaphe Trieste. And whenever humanity ventures to new frontiers on Earth, so does
Rolex.
Rolex and the deep
Rolex watches have a connection with both the Trieste and the
DEEPSEA
CHALLENGE expeditions. During both historic dives, an experimental
Rolex
watch attached to the hull of the submersible was exposed to the most
colossal water pressure on the planet, some 11 kilometres (7 miles)
below the surface. Both watches emerged working perfectly, illustrating
the supremacy of
Rolex in mastering water-proofness.
Rolex played a
pioneering role in the conquest of the deep with the creation, in
1926,
of the
Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch, then of
professional divers’ watches: the
Oyster Perpetual Submariner (
1953),
Sea-Dweller (
1967) and
Rolex Deepsea (
2008).
The ultimate divers’ watch
The
Rolex Deepsea, a
new-generation divers’ watch, is waterproof to an extreme depth of
3,900 metres (
12,800 feet). Its 44 mm
Oyster case, reinforced with the
patented
Ringlock System, was designed to exceed the most exacting
demands of professional divers. It defines new standards of robustness,
precision, functionality and reliability.
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James Cameron was
wearing a
Rolex Deepsea during his expedition into the
Mariana Trench.
The model also served as the blueprint for the design of the
experimental
Rolex Deepsea Challenge, waterproof to a depth of
12,000
metres (
39,370 feet) and tested in real-life conditions during
Cameron’s
dive, affixed to the robotic arm of his submersible.
Pushing the limits
With the new version of the
Rolex Deepsea equipped with a gradient
“
D-blue” dial,
Rolex is celebrating not only its partnership with
James
Cameron’s historic expedition, but also its commitment to exploration,
innovation and the constant desire to push the limits of human endeavour.
An abundance of technology
A new-generation divers’ watch, the
ROLEX DEEPSEA benefits from exclusive technical innovations like the
RINGLOCK SYSTEM. This new case architecture patented by
Rolex enables the watch to resist the colossal pressure exerted by water at the depth of
3,900 metres, equivalent to a weight of approximately three tonnes on the crystal.
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The RINGLOCK SYSTEM is based on a combination of three elements:
- a high-performance nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel ring, positioned inside the middle case of the watch between the crystal and the case back, which withstands the water pressure;
- a slightly domed 5 mm thick synthetic sapphire crystal;
- a case back made from grade 5 titanium held tight against the highperformance ring by a screw-down 904L steel ring.
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These three components are set in a middle case fashioned from a solid block of particularly corrosion-resistant 904L steel. The TRIPLOCK winding crown, equipped with three seals, screws down securely against the case, completing the waterproofness system and offering watertight security akin to a submarine’s hatch.
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The case of the
ROLEX DEEPSEA is also equipped with a helium escape valve. This allows the helium that penetrates the watch during deep water saturation dives to escape, without harming the timepiece when the gas expands during the decompression stages in a hyperbaric chamber. The case is the product of a perfect alchemy of form and function, aesthetics and technology.
Stringent waterproofness tests
In deep-sea diving, absolute reliability and security are of the essence. Each
ROLEX DEEPSEA must therefore undergo
Rolex’s stringent water proofness tests. To this end, a special hyperbaric test tank was developed in conjunction with
COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises, the world-renowned French company specializing in underwater engineering and hyperbaric technologies). Every single
ROLEX DEEPSEA is tested to ensure its waterproofness to a depth of 3,900 metres with an additional safety margin of 25 per cent.
Bezel with Highly resistant CERACHROM insert
The unidirectional rotatable bezel of the
ROLEX DEEPSEA is fitted with a 60-minute graduated black
CERACHROM insert that allows divers to monitor their time underwater for their safety.
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The 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 engraved in the ceramic and
coated with platinum using a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process
patented by
Rolex. The bezel’s knurled edge offers excellent grip when manipulating the bezel to set dive time.
Great attention was paid to the legibility of this Professional diver’s watch. The
CHROMALIGHT hour markers and hands are filled with a luminescent material emitting a long-lasting blue glow – lasting up to two times longer than traditional materials.
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On the bezel, the zero marker ofthe graduation, in the form of a
triangle, is visible in the dark thanks to a capsule containing the same
luminescent material.
Security comfort and ergonomics
The
ROLEX DEEPSEA’s
OYSTER bracelet is equipped with an
OYSTERLOCK safety clasp that prevents accidental opening, and with a double extension system that allows the watch to be worn comfortably over a diving suit up to 7 mm thick.
The FLIPLOCK extension link extendsthe bracelet by 26 mm, while the ROLEX GLIDELOCK
system allows fine adjustments of the bracelet length in 2 mm
increments for a total of approximately 20 mm. Neither of them requires
the use of any tools.
Calibre 3135, a superlative chronometer
The
ROLEX DEEPSEA is equipped with calibre
3135, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by
Rolex. Like all
Rolex PERPETUAL movements, the
3135 is a certified Swiss chronometer,a designation reserved for high-precision watches that have successfully passed the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute(COSC) tests. Its architecture, like that of all
OYSTER watch movements,makes it singularly reliable.
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The oscillator, the true heart of the watch, has a large balance wheel with variable inertia regulated extremely precisely with gold
MICROSTELLA nuts. It is held firmly in place by a height-adjustable traversing bridge enabling very stable positioning to increase shock resistance. The oscillator features a blue
PARACHROM hairspring patented and manufactured by
Rolex in an exclusive alloy. Insensitive to magnetic fields, the
PARACHROM hairspring offers great stability when exposed to temperature variations and remains up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. It is equipped with a
Breguet overcoil, enhancing the isochronism of the oscillations.
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Calibre
3135 is fitted with a self-winding module featuring a
PERPETUAL rotor, which ensures continuous winding of the mainspring by harnessing the movements of the wrist to provide a constant source of energy.
The
ROLEX DEEPSEA’s movement will be seen only by certified
Rolex watchmakers, yet it is beautifully finished and decorated in keeping with the brand’s uncompromising quality standards.
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Perpetuating the pioneering spirit
Through its exceptional performance in terms of robustness and waterproofness,the
ROLEX DEEPSEA is a member of the prestigious family of
Rolex divers’ watches such as the
SUBMARINER and the
SUBMARINER DATE.
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Its name pays tribute to the
DEEPSEA SPECIAL, an experimental model that reached the record depth of 10,916 metres in the Pacific Ocean when the bathyscaphe Trieste descended into the Mariana Trench in
1960.
From the ROLEX DEEPSEA to the ROLEX DEEPSEA CHALLENGE
In 2012, the innovative case architecture of the
Oyster PERPETUAL ROLEX DEEPSEA and its
RINGLOCK SYSTEM directly inspired the design of the
Oyster Perpetual ROLEX DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, an experimental divers’ watch guaranteed waterproof to a depth of
12,000 metres (
39,370 feet). Entirely designed and manufactured by
Rolex, it can resist the extreme pressure found in the deepest reaches of the oceans. On 26 March, it accompanied film-maker (Titanic, Avatar) and explorer
James Cameron on his solo
10,898-metre dive to
Challenger Deep, the ocean’s deepest point, located in the Mariana Trench. “The
ROLEX DEEPSEA CHALLENGE,” attached to the manipulator arm of the submersible,“was the reliable companion throughout the dive,” said
James Cameron after the historic event.
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About Rolex
Leading
brand of the Swiss watch industry,
Rolex, headquartered in
Geneva,enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the
world over. Its
Oyster watches, all certified as chronometers for their
precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. A pioneer
in the development ofthe wristwatch as early as
1905, the brand is at
the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the
Oyster,
the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in
1926, and the Perpetual
rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in
1931.
Rolex has registered
over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and
independent manufacturing company,
Rolex designs, develops and produces
in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of
the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of
the movement, case, dialand bracelet.
Rolex is also actively involved in
supporting the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and
the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities as well
as philanthropic programmes.
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Technical specifications
Model: Rolex OYSTER Perpetual Deepsea D-BLUE Dial 44 mm
References: 116660
Category: Professional watch
Case:
OYSTER (monobloc middle case, screw down case back and winding crown)
RINGLOCK SYSTEM case architecture with nitrogen alloyed steel ring
Helium escape valve
Diameter: 44 mm
Materials: 904L steel, case back in grade 5 titanium
Winding crown: Screw down, TRIPLOCK triple water-proofness system
Crown guard: Integral part of the middle case
Crystal: Domed, 5 mm thick scratch resistant synthetic sapphire
Bezel:
Unidirectional rotatable 60minute graduated; CERACHROM insert made of
ceramic, numerals and graduations coated in platinum via PVD
Water-proofness: 3,900 m (12,800 ft)
Movement:
Calibre 3135, Manufacture
Rolex
Mechanical movement, bidirectional selfwinding via PERPETUAL rotor
Precision: Officially certified Swiss chronometer (COSC)
Functions:
Centre hour, minute and seconds hands
Instantaneous date with rapid setting
Stopseconds for precise time setting
Oscillator:
Frequency: 28,800 beats /hour (4 Hz)
Paramagnetic blue PARACHROM hairspring with Breguet overcoil
Large balance wheel with variable inertia, highprecision regulating via gold
MICROSTELLA nuts
Power reserve: Approximately 48 hours
Bracelet:
OYSTER;
folding OYSTERLOCK safety clasp with ROLEX GLIDELOCK system for fine
adjustment of bracelet length, and FLIPLOCK extension link
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