The first watch filled with water, the second watch ‘caved-in’ on itself. When the second watch was dismantled, the hands and the luminous paint were found imbedded in the watch crystal and the inside of the case back showed the deep impressions of screw heads from the 10 ½ ligne movement.

Not being daunted the Rolex technicians constructed another batch of test watches and were lent a new type of pressure chamber that would show immediately if any of the cases failed the tests. With this chamber and yet more refinements to the cases and glass Rolex were able to test a prototype watch case that was capable of withstanding 9000 lbs of pressure, but it still had one weakness. Although the watch could withstand the pressure, it could only do so for about 3 hours - not long enough for a descent and ascent in the open seas. The Rolex technicians studied and examined their attempts upto this point and finally made some small changes to the crown and staff. This last improvement finally won the battle and when the prototypes were tested for the full length of time, not one bead of moisture was found in the case.

Perhaps the most notable marketing event Rolex history belongs to the Rolex Deep Sea Special, a huge – 57mm*40mm*39mm - Submariner-derived watch. This watch accomplished an unprecedented achievement in 1953 when it was attached to the outside of a deep sea diving submarine and descended to a depth of over 10,000ft –21/2 times the depth that the deepest rated sports watch made today can descend to – the Sea-Dweller. Once the dive was completed Mr Wilsdorf received a telegram from the Captain of the submersible saying,

‘Watch worked perfectly at 10,335ft,
congratulations Piccard’

However, this technical achievement was not made overnight. The first prototypes of this watch were produced with meticulous care. The cases were turned by hand, a special glass was created and a new winding crown was cut and fitted. These prototypes were then tested, but after a short time they filled with water. Some adjustments were then made to a second batch of test watches and these were subjected to a pressure of 6000 lbs per square inch. This batch of watches lasted longer under the test conditions, but still after a few hours both failed.

Yet this initial depth record was to be broken 7 years later. In 1960 the Bathyscaph ‘Trieste’ was to repeat this exploit 250 miles south west of Guam in the Pacific. However, this time the watch was to ascend to a far greater depth and pressure. The whole journey took 8 hours 13 minutes, but during this time the watch had been to the deepest place in the ocean floor; the Mariana Trench. The watch had withstood a depth of 35,800ft, or 6.78 miles and a pressure of 7.4 tons per square inch. On its return to the surface it was working perfectly.

As a newspaper of the time wrote

’this means that the Rolex Oyster has been to the highest, in reference to the Explorer equipped Everest expedition of 1953, and lowest points of the world surface’.

One of these Deep Sea Specials , there are believed to be only 7 ever made, recently went to auction in London and the most striking thing about this watch, besides of course its dimensions and weight, was the attached bracelet. One might expect a bracelet as substantial and monolithic as the watch it self to be used. But instead there was a Stainless Steel and Gold expanding rivet bracelet attached. Although I cannot confirm that this was the original bracelet, it seems a surprising choice of band. Mainly due to the fact that when it is fastened to the wrist and the arm is turned over the watch drops to the full length of expansion.

The watch was finally sold for over £75,000.

The Rolex Deep Sea Special