hard to argue with that, the 116600 had all the features of a modern Rolex diver like the ceramic bezel, maxi dial, solid bracelet and clasp with glidelock but retains the 40mm size and near-perfect proportions. On top of that, the general consensus is that the reference was only produced between 2.5-3 years which is absolutely short for Rolex.
I love the 116600, this watch being the last of the 40mm Sea Dweller range. Rolex made the ref 116600 a commemoration of the 40mm Sea Dweller, brought it back, with a very short production run, with all the newest technology to complete the 40mm SD4K and move on to the next iteration and future Sea Dweller, the 43mm with cyclops. And now its discontinued it is a collectable too.
@@sirhodl5945 well the 116600 was only produced between 2.5-3 years which is a ridiculously short production run for any Rolex reference and on top of that the replacement aka ref 126600 looks nothing like the 116600. Contrary to what people say regarding the discontinuation of 116600 was because the reference didn't sell well, I think Rolex planned the discontinuation and the 116600 was a trial-run before the SD43 126600 was introduced in 2017 which was the same year the 116600 was discontinued.
Reference points is the series from Hodinkee I enjoy the most. I imagine it’s not easy to gather one watch from each reference just to make a video, but I’d love if they were released more often. Also, very nice to see Louis sharing his knowledge. Thanks for the vid!
The sea-dweller is the single best Rolex for the money and even though it looks like a Submariner you can be certain that in a room full of 16610 you will be unique. Great work as always.
I have the new one 126600 and in spite of the critics about the cyclops and the 43 mm case, trust me, it's a perfect watch, the dimensions and the thickness are not too much at all. Wearing It is a great sensation.
pantomimoistrionic05 agree , i just got one yesterday and is way more comfortable than the deepsea, stands out from the submariner , and i think its a instant hardhitting watch , it will kill the deepsea , have the best of both worlds red letters , cyclops , better thickness , no big letters of the deepsea , its like a corrected version ,and more user friendly deepsea , and stands apart from the outgoing sea dweller 40mm , wich 👀 looks a lot like a submariner 👍🏻
Absolutely agree. Got mine yesterday. Traded my Sub date and some cash for it. Next level awesome! This watch is permanent in my collection. Watch the value sky rocket in a few short years. I love the cyclops because I can't see the date without. Its subjective for sure, but before I knew anything about watches the sub date was THE watch.
I am an experienced professional deep sea diver and a certified horologist. I can authoritatively confirm that the Rolex Sea Dweller is the finest dive watch ever made. It is indispensable for me on all my commercial deep sea dives. I’m happy to have cleared up any confusion once and for all, in my capacity as a certified horologist and experienced commercial deep sea diver.
Literally my favourite video on RUclips! I have the 16600, and to me it’s such a beautifully proportioned watch. I would LOVE to see more of these reference points videos - they are (a) very enjoyable and (b) super informative. Great job as always
Vadim Don totally agree the cyclop is unnecessary. You don’t need to know the date when you are diving. The submariner is more of a fashion piece so obviously the date is important hence the cyclop. I hope Rolex isn’t trying to dilute the Sea-Dweller.
They destroyed the sea dweller with the cyclops. Should have left it with its true form and the addition of the single red line is nice. In my opinion.
they should have also kept it 40mm... Rolex is destroying the rich history of the SD. now we got 43mm, cyclops lens which should not be on a SD, and two tone version... why? Rolex lost their minds.
officialMainspring I agree totally. If it’s not broken don’t fix it. The watch is timeless. No need to combine features and erase the specifics which identifies the models.
The best ones are 16600 and 116600, these are perfect watches, I own both, and I can’t decide which one I love more. I bought 16600 in 2009 and 116600 in 2015. I’ll never buy another Rolex again, I was lucky to get these 2 at great prices as well
The SD4K was the last true and the best Sea Dweller ever made. I do absolutely agreed with you. It’s 40mm with elegant lugs, a very unique case only designed for the SD4K, ceramic fully graduated bezel, non- cyclops and Matt dial … what else you could ask for… it’s perfection … unfortunately discontinued after less than 3 years
Great video! For years I had been having second thoughts on pulling the trigger on a Submariner ND because I thought it looked too chunky on my 6.25 inch wrist. Until a couple of years ago I tried on a Sea-Dweller 116600 at the DA. Incredible! At 40 mm it wears compact and elegant, better looking overall than a Submariner. I bought it on the spot and since then it has been my watch for the beach and water sports. Now Rolex has gone back to a larger case and the Cyclops; it´s a pity but I don't mind because it makes my Sea-Dweller more unique.
I’ve had mine for 20 years for me it’s the best of the bunch. Got the original tool kit Anchor calendar box etc. Less than 4000 us new. Now it’s worth double and running like a champ
Would've loved a bit more 'story' on the single reds, the provenance behind these is great learning for any vintage watch enthusiast. Great reference point video, like always.
@@racebannon2332 the 116600 and the prior generation like the 16600 and 16660 are the perfect Sea-Dwellers, the 126600 is unwearable unless you are as big as Sylvester Stallone.
My dilemma is I love my SD43, and want the Deep Blue, but to get it I have to either part with my Hulk or my SD43. The Hulk wears slightly small on my wide flat wrist so it's more likely to go, but I love it's color and sunburst dial.
Great video, just reaffirms what a good choice I made when I went for the Deepsea Deep Blue rather than the all too obvious Submariner. I love its sheer presence not to mention the small fact that it is a great dive watch which I actually use for that purpose unlike, I guess, 99% of Rolex owners!
Adrien Lacombe funny thing is: if you watch some interviews with the actors of Blade Runner 2049, they mention how they always lost it when Denis Villeneuve (the director) said “focus” on set, for the same reason people are making fun of Louis here. I guess it’s just the french accent, you really can’t do much about it. But yeah it made me smile.
I work for a French company and that word is always problematic! Check out Ben's face... he looks like he is about to crack up. Anyway, the presenter did a magnifique job!!!
Sept. 2018, almost a year on... And it is confirmed! The red sea dweller 50th anniversary introduced in 2017 has the MKI dial, and the latest 2018's are now with the MKII dials. Will this mean something in future?
I have two Sea-Dwellers...the new 126600 50th Anniversary "Red" and the new 126660 Deepsea James Cameron. I have several other hard to acquire SS sports/professional Rolex watches and the Sea-Dweller "Red" is my favorite. It's the perfect watch in terms of features, looks, and proportions. I absolutely love it.
JBOsurf I think this latest Seadweller at 43mm is meant to please the people who wanted bigger Submariner. That way Rolex makes a bigger one without changing the Submariner.
Completely agree and HATE what they did with this watch. The 116600 is truly a great watch and they completely ruined it with this oversized waste of a watch.
Armani Nguon then why is there a Cyclops on the Submariner date? Or why is there even a date in the Sub , the Sea-Dweller and the Deepsea? Well, saturation divers who spend several days in a bell actually need to know the date. Why the lens? Because its convenient. It makes it easier to see the date at a glance.
These "Reference Points" intros are kinda awful, but at least this one's not as bad as the one where you had the text come in from four corners to congregate in the middle
I will never let go of my Rolex Sea-Dweller 2000 “Great White” reference 1665/0 from 1978, bought by Mum & Dad for my 21st Birthday. I feel naked without it, sadly box & papers thrown out when parents died & house sold. Last time Rolex serviced this it took 18 weeks.
So according to you : 14 new patents alone for the 12660 aren't enough innovations ? You must be an amazing inventor that gets at least 15 patents for one product, congratulations for your awesomeness :-)
If only Rolex had returned the Sea-Dweller to the case shape and size of the double red, along with an old style dial with big markers and elongated 12 hour marker. I've seen a double red on the wrist of an original owner, and it is classic, stunning and distinctive. The new beefed-up single red sacrifices the paradoxical elegance for modern ruggedness, and makes itself less wearable with its weight.
From my understanding, the only reason they've put a cyclops on this one is that they now have a type of glue strong enough to withstand the pressure of the depths it's rated for
Probably not the vintage submariners but yeah I agree they would be collectible but I do think that one ceramic Seadweller would be more valuable, and that is the 116600. If Rolex doesn't make anymore 40/41mm seadweller, the 116600 would be super collectible.
I respect, appreciate and find them interesting but I am not charmed by many if not most of Rolex watches. Also, the reference numbers are sooooo confusing. But I won't give up. One day maybe I'll see the light...
When the guy said "50 years of focus" and Ben smiled, I knew he was thinking exactly what I was thinking.
50 years of milking a gimmick.
I had this experience plenty of times at the Paris-based business school where I studied.
50 years of fuckus
Came to the comments section for this one … :)
What was he thinking?
The 116600 (SD4K) is (it was) the best Rolex sport model ever created
hard to argue with that, the 116600 had all the features of a modern Rolex diver like the ceramic bezel, maxi dial, solid bracelet and clasp with glidelock but retains the 40mm size and near-perfect proportions. On top of that, the general consensus is that the reference was only produced between 2.5-3 years which is absolutely short for Rolex.
@@lettuce1305exactly
Been enjoying my double-red ref 1665 for 50 years. Mine has a plain back. Still working well.
I love the 116600, this watch being the last of the 40mm Sea Dweller range. Rolex made the ref 116600 a commemoration of the 40mm Sea Dweller, brought it back, with a very short production run, with all the newest technology to complete the 40mm SD4K and move on to the next iteration and future Sea Dweller, the 43mm with cyclops. And now its discontinued it is a collectable too.
116600 is now deemed a rare Rolex.
@@sirhodl5945 well the 116600 was only produced between 2.5-3 years which is a ridiculously short production run for any Rolex reference and on top of that the replacement aka ref 126600 looks nothing like the 116600. Contrary to what people say regarding the discontinuation of 116600 was because the reference didn't sell well, I think Rolex planned the discontinuation and the 116600 was a trial-run before the SD43 126600 was introduced in 2017 which was the same year the 116600 was discontinued.
I bought a 1665 in 1986 for £500, it was 6 years old.Every day wearing it has been a joy.
Reference points is the series from Hodinkee I enjoy the most. I imagine it’s not easy to gather one watch from each reference just to make a video, but I’d love if they were released more often.
Also, very nice to see Louis sharing his knowledge. Thanks for the vid!
The sea-dweller is the single best Rolex for the money and even though it looks like a Submariner you can be certain that in a room full of 16610 you will be unique. Great work as always.
Collecting Vintage Watches agreed
Why is that a big deal ?
@RolexReplicaReview Judging from your username, I guess it's a replica?!
a dive watch with a date window ? what would that have been needed for ? 😄
@@phmwu7368 Saturation diving? You might very well need a date window in a decompression chamber also.
I have the new one 126600 and in spite of the critics about the cyclops and the 43 mm case, trust me, it's a perfect watch, the dimensions and the thickness are not too much at all. Wearing It is a great sensation.
pantomimoistrionic05 agree , i just got one yesterday and is way more comfortable than the deepsea, stands out from the submariner , and i think its a instant hardhitting watch , it will kill the deepsea , have the best of both worlds red letters , cyclops , better thickness , no big letters of the deepsea , its like a corrected version ,and more user friendly deepsea , and stands apart from the outgoing sea dweller 40mm , wich 👀 looks a lot like a submariner 👍🏻
Absolutely agree. Got mine yesterday. Traded my Sub date and some cash for it. Next level awesome! This watch is permanent in my collection. Watch the value sky rocket in a few short years. I love the cyclops because I can't see the date without. Its subjective for sure, but before I knew anything about watches the sub date was THE watch.
Matt Peters how can one go about finding one of these watches without resorting to the gray market?
I'm sure the 126600 is a great watch but between that and the 116600, it's hands down the 116600 for me.
I wish they hadn’t added the cyclops to the new Sea Dweller. I’m not sure why Rolex did this??
16600 is my jam.
yep. A real man's watch.
"selling the two-tone Datejust to every mom in suburbia" lol great comment Ben
Nothing wrong with a twotone DJ in my mind either. I dig em all.
I am an experienced professional deep sea diver and a certified horologist. I can authoritatively confirm that the Rolex Sea Dweller is the finest dive watch ever made. It is indispensable for me on all my commercial deep sea dives. I’m happy to have cleared up any confusion once and for all, in my capacity as a certified horologist and experienced commercial deep sea diver.
Sock it to us one more time ...
Love, love, love my Deepsea, Deep Blue....a great piece of engineering and it garners a lot of attention when I wear it. A lifelong keeper for sure!
The SD4K 116600 was the last true Sea Dweller ever made and the best sport Rolex watch ever made .
Thanks for sharing the lineage of this awesome model. My favorite is the 116600, perfect size, perfect look.. and yeah, no cyclops please.
Literally my favourite video on RUclips! I have the 16600, and to me it’s such a beautifully proportioned watch.
I would LOVE to see more of these reference points videos - they are (a) very enjoyable and (b) super informative. Great job as always
These understanding-series are awesome! Please do more!
Love the 50th year evolution of the SD. Good for Rolex looking toward the future and it’s technical advancements.
I choose the 116600. It has the 40mm classic size and clean dial unlike the newest with cyclop (big mistake)
Vadim Don totally agree the cyclop is unnecessary. You don’t need to know the date when you are diving. The submariner is more of a fashion piece so obviously the date is important hence the cyclop. I hope Rolex isn’t trying to dilute the Sea-Dweller.
The cyclops can be removed. Doh!
This is not a mistake. This is opportunity for people who has big wrist to have they own perfectly fitted “subbies”
the cyclops isn't a mistake but I agree with you, I'd pick the 116600 all day every day.
My dad has the ref. 16660 it’s an amazing watch. I’d say, sea dwellers are more innovative then subs.
They destroyed the sea dweller with the cyclops. Should have left it with its true form and the addition of the single red line is nice. In my opinion.
Yes, I was excited to see the red line... don’t like the wider bracelet... don’t like the cyclops. I’ll pass and go back to an 116600 or the Cameron.
they should have also kept it 40mm... Rolex is destroying the rich history of the SD. now we got 43mm, cyclops lens which should not be on a SD, and two tone version... why? Rolex lost their minds.
officialMainspring I agree totally. If it’s not broken don’t fix it. The watch is timeless. No need to combine features and erase the specifics which identifies the models.
call me crazy but I like it.
Also ....43mm. What the fuck were they thinking?
Thank you Hodinkee for this video. The Seadweller is one of the best diver and watch ever. This makes me love mine more.
8:20 50 years of *fuckers*
Tanner Murdock look at bens face
LOL right?? Ben's face said it all.
I guess he was trying to say: "Fifty years of FUCKING great watches!"
The best ones are 16600 and 116600, these are perfect watches, I own both, and I can’t decide which one I love more. I bought 16600 in 2009 and 116600 in 2015. I’ll never buy another Rolex again, I was lucky to get these 2 at great prices as well
The SD4K was the last true and the best Sea Dweller ever made. I do absolutely agreed with you. It’s 40mm with elegant lugs, a very unique case only designed for the SD4K, ceramic fully graduated bezel, non- cyclops and Matt dial … what else you could ask for… it’s perfection … unfortunately discontinued after less than 3 years
8:22 Fifty years of whatt??!! Got to love that french accent!
Fifty years of FUCKING great watches!
Did you see Ben almost lose it! LMAO!!!
He’s probably Swiss....
fucus =)
He sounds Swiss so he is an expert? What about the Comex heritage and Doxa link.
Love the Seadweller, funny how the expert omitted the Comex and Doxa link.
Makes me appreciate my SD that much more. Love it.
Could you make a similar video covering the Explorer I and II? Love the series!
Great video!
For years I had been having second thoughts on pulling the trigger on a Submariner ND because I thought it looked too chunky on my 6.25 inch wrist. Until a couple of years ago I tried on a Sea-Dweller 116600 at the DA. Incredible! At 40 mm it wears compact and elegant, better looking overall than a Submariner. I bought it on the spot and since then it has been my watch for the beach and water sports. Now Rolex has gone back to a larger case and the Cyclops; it´s a pity but I don't mind because it makes my Sea-Dweller more unique.
I’ve had mine for 20 years for me it’s the best of the bunch. Got the original tool kit Anchor calendar box etc. Less than 4000 us new. Now it’s worth double and running like a champ
hope you keep the 116600, it's becoming collectible and probably will be even more so in the future.
I don't always feel the need to pursue a Rolex, but when I do, it is always a Sea Dweller triple six.
Would've loved a bit more 'story' on the single reds, the provenance behind these is great learning for any vintage watch enthusiast. Great reference point video, like always.
That reminds me, I need to go pick up a two tone Date Adjust for my mom for Christmas...
lmao
Second favorite Rolex behind the Milgaus
I’ll keep my remarkable 116600 all day/every day.
Extremely rare. You're ever so lucky.
@@sirhodl5945 thank you! Fortunate to just purchase the final yr (2008) Sea Dweller 16600…very special as well. I’m not enamored with the cyclops.
@@racebannon2332 Very nice. That 116600 is special though! :)
@@racebannon2332 the 116600 and the prior generation like the 16600 and 16660 are the perfect Sea-Dwellers, the 126600 is unwearable unless you are as big as Sylvester Stallone.
Just bought a new Seadweller for myself and ordered a two tone Datejust for my wife. This video made me smile.
I guess you had a good year at work! 💸
My dilemma is I love my SD43, and want the Deep Blue, but to get it I have to either part with my Hulk or my SD43. The Hulk wears slightly small on my wide flat wrist so it's more likely to go, but I love it's color and sunburst dial.
Great video. Short, illustrative and straight-to-the-point. Well done!
Get the 2017 mark 1 dial
Great Video! I would really like to see that kind of Video on the Submariner and GMT Master.
The Submariner reference video is sooooooo good
Great video, just reaffirms what a good choice I made when I went for the Deepsea Deep Blue rather than the all too obvious Submariner. I love its sheer presence not to mention the small fact that it is a great dive watch which I actually use for that purpose unlike, I guess, 99% of Rolex owners!
Let's have one on the sub and GMT please
Really great review of a historically significant line. Well done and thanks.
have just bought a NOS 16660- interested to see how it compares to my subs
nice review, nice wristshots.. what watches were you both wearing
Those focus at rolex really know how to make a proper dive watch!
Why is Reference points not added in PLAYLISTS ?
I saw you smiled when he struggled to say focus... ;-) a word French people should avoid in english. Cheers.
Adrien Lacombe funny thing is: if you watch some interviews with the actors of Blade Runner 2049, they mention how they always lost it when Denis Villeneuve (the director) said “focus” on set, for the same reason people are making fun of Louis here.
I guess it’s just the french accent, you really can’t do much about it. But yeah it made me smile.
I work for a French company and that word is always problematic! Check out Ben's face... he looks like he is about to crack up. Anyway, the presenter did a magnifique job!!!
the one with the blue dial looks gorgeous
My 126660 Deepsea Black is my daily and I'm in love with it
Nice to see Louis in a video. Very informative als always, keep up the good work.
Greetings from Munich
Servus
Sept. 2018, almost a year on... And it is confirmed! The red sea dweller 50th anniversary introduced in 2017 has the MKI dial, and the latest 2018's are now with the MKII dials. Will this mean something in future?
I think the recent introduction of the MKIII clearly answers that question.
Thank you for sharing all this information with us. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊
The 7 different marks maybe due to issue and problem they found with previous mark?
Can we have a discussion about service dials. So service made upgrade dails removing original dails and ruining resale value?
42mm single red and without cyclops would be best for the new SD
Would love the Sea Dweller but it just to big for my puny wrist so I settled for the Tudor Pelagous Blue.
43 mm Sea Dweller best watch of all time idc what ya say
A super Sub! What's not to like? More competent and less ubiquitous. Win-win, no-brainer.
I have two Sea-Dwellers...the new 126600 50th Anniversary "Red" and the new 126660 Deepsea James Cameron. I have several other hard to acquire SS sports/professional Rolex watches and the Sea-Dweller "Red" is my favorite. It's the perfect watch in terms of features, looks, and proportions. I absolutely love it.
Sadly, they don't mention the movements.
Best reference to have will be 116600 - the last real Sea Dweller
The 4000 of 2014 will be remembered as the last real seadweller. The new cyclops is a travesty.
JBOsurf I think this latest Seadweller at 43mm is meant to please the people who wanted bigger Submariner. That way Rolex makes a bigger one without changing the Submariner.
JBOsurf yea, I mean like if you went diving you don’t need a cyclops lenses. It sort of takes a way a all purpose tool watch, specifically for diving.
Completely agree and HATE what they did with this watch. The 116600 is truly a great watch and they completely ruined it with this oversized waste of a watch.
Armani Nguon then why is there a Cyclops on the Submariner date? Or why is there even a date in the Sub , the Sea-Dweller and the Deepsea? Well, saturation divers who spend several days in a bell actually need to know the date. Why the lens? Because its convenient. It makes it easier to see the date at a glance.
Divers use dive computers now. There is no need for a cyclops on a rolex that will never see anything other than the bottom of a swimming pool.
You ought to include the bi-metal version which, in my opinion reduces the seriousness of the watch.
Wasn't Louis gone from Hodinkee team? Anyway no saturation diver actually need something like a seadweller since the early 90s, nice try...
valebliz he back now bro!
Glad he is, I like him. Surely I like him way more than Clymer...
Great video, but where was the mandatory nod to the Rolex Pepsi?
These "Reference Points" intros are kinda awful, but at least this one's not as bad as the one where you had the text come in from four corners to congregate in the middle
I will never let go of my Rolex Sea-Dweller 2000 “Great White” reference 1665/0 from 1978, bought by Mum & Dad for my 21st Birthday.
I feel naked without it, sadly box & papers thrown out when parents died & house sold.
Last time Rolex serviced this it took 18 weeks.
Enjoy... Great comment
Cherish! 👍🏻❤
4:55 "116660" Did I hear that right ? I am sure that the watch shown is not one, well I think it is not :-)
Love your Invicta Pro Diver Dude.
Great Video Gents!!! Keep up the good work!
Love the sea dweller
Wich watch and ref is Ben wearing?
The "Fuckus" model !
Looks like a 16660/16600 on Louis and a gilt 5512/5513 on Ben
Snobs for NYC my wife was very upset by categorising ladies wearing Date Just as ordinary suburban mums.
Apart of that great video
My Sea Dweller is rated for 12,800 feet. I don't think I'll ever go deeper than 40 feet though 😀 And, I wouldn't wear it to the beach either.
Do people actually use these types of watches for diving?
What glasses has Ben got on? Anyone know?
If you think the new sea dweller is “innovative” than odds are you are a fanboy
bean 1
Haha seriously. It’s a beefed up, robust dive watch. That’s it.
Yep
So according to you : 14 new patents alone for the 12660 aren't enough innovations ? You must be an amazing inventor that gets at least 15 patents for one product, congratulations for your awesomeness :-)
Stupid, immature comment. Grow up or else shut up.
There was a disturbance in The Force when he uttered "moms of suburbia"... Hell has no fury like a woman scorned. haha
If only Rolex had returned the Sea-Dweller to the case shape and size of the double red, along with an old style dial with big markers and elongated 12 hour marker. I've seen a double red on the wrist of an original owner, and it is classic, stunning and distinctive. The new beefed-up single red sacrifices the paradoxical elegance for modern ruggedness, and makes itself less wearable with its weight.
The Deepsea has not been discontinued as of yet.
I like 16660 MATTE DIAL mk1,it’s so good!
I dislike cyclops, and for that matter, date windows on my tool watches... I'll covet an older reference.
From my understanding, the only reason they've put a cyclops on this one is that they now have a type of glue strong enough to withstand the pressure of the depths it's rated for
That's a reasonable technical limitation.
I love this series!
Ben misheard Louis' "focus" as well hahaha.
nice reference points: the rolex sea -dweller watch !!!
Great video... Love this series
"50 years of fuckus. its incredible to think of saturation...." 8:23, too many pictures in my head :-)
50th anniversary has cyclops and now in two tone! 🤢 so only the Deepsea and explorer are the only true steel only tool watches IMHO
call me crazy but I think in 15-20 years the seadweller pre ceramic will be much more valuable than any submariner.
Probably not the vintage submariners but yeah I agree they would be collectible but I do think that one ceramic Seadweller would be more valuable, and that is the 116600. If Rolex doesn't make anymore 40/41mm seadweller, the 116600 would be super collectible.
Very instructive. 🙏👏👏👏
Appreciate Ben's knowledge but I just wish he would let the guest speak - otherwise just do a monlogue.
I respect, appreciate and find them interesting but I am not charmed by many if not most of Rolex watches. Also, the reference numbers are sooooo confusing. But I won't give up. One day maybe I'll see the light...
"Speak for yourself". Agreed.
50 years of what now???
I think the tritium 16600 is the best looking SD
8:20 “It’s 50 years of fuck us”. Lmao
I'll keep my 16600. I don't care for the overstatement in size of the modern models.
Please give prices 😏
Great series. Coomer status: Engaged.
Great video! Can you do a one on Submariner