Watchfinder & Co. Determines the Ultimate Waterproof Rolex Watch

After essentially kickstarting the dive watch movement as early as 1960 through relentless testing, Rolex can now claim all of its watches are waterproof up to a certain amount of water pressure. In a recent video, Watchfinder & Co. tested Rolex Submariner 116610LN, Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 and Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea 116660 to determine which model is the best of the best when it comes to bracing the element.

The video quickly rules out the Rolex Submariner, stating that it is a “wimp” compared to its challengers, tapping out at a mere 300 meters underwater. However, the numbers don’t detail the whole story of the classic Rolex watch, so the narrator delves more in-depth into the oyster-like design details and perpetual movement system that make the model special, as well as the history behind the beginning of Rolex and Omega‘s race to design a watch that could withstand 600 meters underwater.

The Rolex Sea-Dweller was born using the strongest elements of the Submariner, naturally making the model even tougher. Thanks to an even tighter design and its ability to submerge 1,220 meters underwater, it was dubbed the ultimate waterproof watch at the time it was designed. However, Rolex created a thicker, stronger Sea-Sweller model called the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea 116660. The Deepsea model is able to withstand 3,900 meters underwater, thanks to its titanium backing and Ring Lock System. The video determines that the toughest waterproof model Rolex ever created is an even more souped up version of the Deepsea model called the Deepsea Challenge, which can withstand a depth of 12,000 meters.

Watch the full video above, then take a look at HODINKEE and Montblanc’s first-ever collaborative watch – a recreation of the 1858 Monopusher.