1978 Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 Great White Rail Dial - $31,499
Guarded Crown is honored to present the highly sought-after Rolex Sea-Dweller “Great White”, with reference 1665. Introduced in the late 1970s, the “Great White” earned its nickname from the all-white dial text that replaced the earlier red “Sea-Dweller” signature found on previous 1665 examples. The removal of the Submariner designation and transition to a fully monochromatic dial would go on to define the Sea-Dweller line for decades to come.The reference 1665 is a landmark model in Rolex history, most notably for being the brand’s first watch equipped with a helium escape valve, developed for professional saturation diving. This example features a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case with a Triplock crown, matte black Mark II “Rail Dial,” domed acrylic crystal, and black bezel insert. Functions include time with running seconds, date display, and a unidirectional rotating bezel. The case serial falls within the 5.6 million range, dating production to approximately 1978. The watch is fitted with a stainless steel 93150 Oyster bracelet with correct 585 end links and a “G” date code dating to approximately 1982. The case remains unpolished, while the bracelet shows evidence of a light previous polish and exhibits light to moderate stretch. The watch remains in strong overall condition with the exception of minor superficial scratching throughout the case and bracelet. The tritium lume on the dial and hands has aged to a rich tobacco patina, adding to the vintage character of this iconic Sea-Dweller. The black bezel insert remains in good condition, showing minor surface scratches, consistent with general wear. Accompanying the watch is an original Rolex outer box, inner green leather display box, and original papers, with an open date.

