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REVOLUTION EXCLUSIVE: ROLEX’S ASTOUNDING NEW DEEPSEA CHALLENGEPosted by rbdelacerna
By Wei Koh
No one brand on earth has more legitimacy in the creation of diving watches than Rolex. Rolex invented the waterproof watch in 1926 and proved its mettle a year later on the wrist of Mercedes Glietze as she swam across the English Channel; Rolex invented the diving watch with the Submariner model 6204 in 1953 (pristine models of this watch trade for a quarter-million dollars today); and Rolex created the world’s first deep-saturation diving watch with the Sea-Dweller in 1967, the first of its kind to feature a helium release valve. The current-production Deepsea replete with Ringlock technology, which shifts the burden of pressure experienced at depth to a special highly stressed nitrogen-alloyed steel ring (think of this as the diving watch’s equivalent to Notre Dame’s flying buttresses), is a supreme statement of the brand’s unrivaled achievement in deep-diving mechanical watches. But if you think Rolex is content to rest on these laurels, think again! Just when you thought we would see a respite in innovation at Rolex following the launch of the ingenious Sky-Dweller at the Basel Fair, the mighty "green giant" demonstrates that this was only the first shot in a lethal double tap meant to demonstrate its unparalleled innovation to the competition. For those who loved the Sky-Dweller’s inner workings but yearned for a more sport-inclined timepiece, the Deepsea Challenge, in the words of Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, is your “daisy”, because Rolex’s new diving watch is a spectacular riff on Spinal Tap’s philosophy of amplifiers going to “11”. If you’re the type of guy who thinks that the Bugatti Veyron’s 1200 metric horsepower is just shy of sufficient and the Sports Illustrated model and “Dougie” master Kate Upton could have a soupcon more décolletage, then this is the watch for you. And you may just need to be as profoundly hooked up to get one of these, as it is yet unclear whether this will be a): a one-off prototype to demonstrate Rolex’s submersible awesomeness and technical supremacy in the creation of dive watches; b): created in a very small edition like the Piccard bathyscaphe commemorative watches (the last one sold went for $500,000, according to Rolex historian James Dowling); or c): created for one and all, which means yours truly will be setting up camp outside a Rolex dealer with the frenzied obsession of a 14-year-old girl lining up for Bieber tickets. So what’s so special about the new Deepsea Challenge? It is a 51.4mm herculean beast, with a massive domed crystal, that will descend to Challenger Deep — a spot at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench, nearly seven miles below sea level — in a joint project with legendary filmmaker James Cameron and National Geographic. It is cogent to point out here that only Rolex could achieve this incredible goal. In fact, the brand had already done it once before. This depth was reached only once before in human history — in 1960, by Swiss scientist Jacques Piccard and US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh in the bathyscaphe Trieste. Walsh recalls “a pretty hairy experience” when the outer Plexiglas window cracked under the demonic efforts of six tons of pressure per square inch. Can you imagine that pressure exerted on the hull? Now imagine it exerted on a mechanical watch. Only Rolex could not only imagine the pressure, but create a special timepiece with a hand-tooled steel case and a Plexi-crystal that was 18mm thick, which would be strapped to the outside of the hull of the Trieste. This was a one-off prototype Rolex “Deep Sea Special”: a 42.7mm Submariner-derived dive watch. Rolex already had a strong working relationship with Piccard. Different versions of the Deep Sea Special began their experimental descents to depth starting in 1953 with a dive to 1,080 meters, then 3,150 meters and, later in the same year, to 3,700 meters. In other words, for Rolex, the Deep Sea Special would be subjected to trials by extremes. This same pattern of subjecting timepieces to the most extreme conditions possible would be repeated during the creation of the Sea-Dweller together with the deep-sea oil-exploration company COMEX. Upon completion of his descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, Piccard sent a telegram to Rolex in Geneva saying: “Am happy to confirm that even at 11,000 meters, your watch is as precise as on the surface. Best regards, Jacques Piccard”. 
Here is Rolex’s analysis of the Mariana Trench: 
Having been worn at the summit of Everest in 1953, Rolex watches had now been to both the highest and deepest points on earth, resoundingly cementing their status as the most performance-oriented watches on the planet. It is important to understand that one reason for Rolex’s immeasurable success is its watches’ intrinsic links to the story of human conquest over the earth. To celebrate this achievement, Rolex would later release a few commemorative editions of the Deep Sea Special. (The last one we know of was sold for $500,000. Though the speculation is that today, it would fetch many times this figure.) Here is Rolex’s mission statement related to the Deepsea Challenge: 
Cut to present day, and another submersible is set to descend to the bottom of Challenger Deep, this time with filmmaker James Cameron onboard. Cameron has already expressed his passion for diving and ocean exploration with his seminal film The Abyss, which introduced us to, amongst other things, the ideas that you could resuscitate your ex-wife moments after she drowned herself, breathing liquid is better for your lungs at depth, and men with thick mustaches are not to be trusted in small, confined spaces. Incredibly, as you read this, Cameron is either standing by or has already begun his descent into the Mariana Trench, off the coast of Guam. Bear in mind that he is, first of all, achieving this as an amazing solo descent. And second of all, he will be bringing with him a specially prepared 3D camera to capture the experience on film. Here is a technical breakdown of the differences between Piccard’s bathyscaphe and Cameron’s submersible, which has, amusingly, been painted a shade of Rolex Green: 
Here is Rolex’s statement about its relationship with both Piccard and Cameron: 
Strapped to the outside of Cameron’s submersible will be none other than a Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch that has been specially prepared to withstand the insane depths that it will experience. What is important to note here is that while the Deep Sea Special affixed to the Trieste already achieved similar depth resistance, it was not a commercially released sports watch. Here, by affixing what is essentially an augmented version of an existing commercially released timepiece, Rolex is making a massive statement of its technical ability to create the most high performance dive watches in the world, bar none. Here are the technical details of the watch from Rolex: 
Here is a technical breakdown of the evolution from the original Rolex Deep Sea Special to the Deepsea Challenge, an incredible example of Rolex’s heritage in deep-diving timekeepers, as well as a highly illustrative view of the technical evolution related to materials used for these purpose-built Rolex timepieces. The Deepsea Challenge is a real and highly faithful descendent of the Rolex Deepsea model released in 2008, and will cement this timepiece as one of the most important Rolexes of all time. 
Here are two videos of the Challenger Deep conquest supplied by Rolex: Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2012 01:39AM by rbdelacerna.
Wei Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > I should mention that the first news of this was > broken by the exceptional Philipp at Rolex Passion > Report one of the best resources on vintage Rolex > in the world. You can read his post here... > [rolexpassionreport.com] > > Cheers > > Wei Thanks Wei!! Now lets wait till James Cameron has reaches the Challenger Deep, 11 KM down and Rolex will announce the new DeepSea Challenger. And my version of the Rolex DeepSea Challenger, in black with a little red, I like even more ;-) So will Rolex stick to their announcement of the DeepSea Challenger being a experimental, in small quantity only, delivered for Expedition members and for Display use only? NO, they will produce and sell us this Monster soon I believe. Specially when you look how precise the evolution of the Challenger DeepSea Rolex shows us in their video. The statement they make towards other watch brands like Panerai, AP, Hublot, Omega, Breilting, Heuer etc etc with this giant super Sub, soon the only one that was on the bottum of the deepest point on earth, is mayor important to Rolex, next to the introduction of the Sky Dweller! Now their new view of marketing is in total balance, the new Rolex DeepSea Challenger will approxiamtly cost € 20-25.000,=. They show us with how much affort they can make the one presented. Then they also can make us easily 500 examples a year of this legendary Rolex! 
See you soon in Singapore 
regards Philipp Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2012 06:06PM by Philipp Stahl.
Thanks Wei for this huge, complete coverage of this event.
Every new Rolex presentation is an event more than a simple horological news. This makes no exception, mostly because it is actually a big media event where the watch is only the main actor  .
By other hand i am a bit surprised by this definitive diver. It is a great technical achievement, without any doubt.....But....What for ? Just to say to all other (mentioned) brands: "we are able to make such watch !" Because i doubt that someone will wear it at such depth  And maybe even at desk - given the size 
A pure marketing move then. I am sure that if they only want, Breitling, Panerai, Oris, Seiko, Sinn and all other dive-related brands might do the same. And - by the way - there are already 12k metres diver's watches around. So my (very personal) bottom line is I don't think that this watch will add respect to the brand, or increase the perceived value. And I am afraid that the "event" will never be comparable to the Piccard one (i'm a bit romantic...).... Just my two cents, ciao, slide68
To Mr Anonymous who's apparently isn't well informed, sorry to say but you do NOT understand!....
As you started it, I will explain my view. First tell what business exactly I'm after ?!? You talk about those customizers in the market, adding black and little red BUT also add a name on the dial, raping Rolex Design and sell it high, unlimited, every month like 100 ex all over the world by using dealers to offer it for them and make easy money by brainless 'copy-paste'. You make it sound like i'm one of them!? Shame on you as that's not me! Maybe you should use the free Google button the next time before you post your view here... On one thing you're correct, that I only do it for the Passion of Rolex. I offered my first project in 2008, the Rolex Piccard DeepSea in 86 examples limited, first Rolex that got the new much stronger DLC coating, sold out after 4 weeks and within 10 weeks already worth double the money that has been paid initially.. Those that ordered wisely, made money, not me, I gave it all to the Piccard Foundation, and on top, I decided to offer one for Charity Sale at Christie's auction that sold for Sfr 40K... AFTER, we sold the Rolex Piccard DeepSea out! Charity, as you might know, doesn't make money, it costs money. Exactly the same I do now with my second Rolex Heritage Project, together with the Hillary & Tenzing families, honoring their important role in Rolex history with the Hillary Tenzing Edition i'm working on since 2 years now and you might want to check at: www.HillaryTenzingEdition.com
So selling a couple of new limited 'heritated' Rolex to collectors, working officially together, by contract, with the hero's from Rolex their past, making the enormous history of Rolex aware in all it's exciting detail, that I newly discovered ( like the golden 'Tenzing' Rolex or other forgotten 1952-1953 Everest Rolex) is not a moneymaker, because it takes time and lots of investment to make it happen. Sometimes, I wish I just didn't love Rolex so much and I would not care to sell tons of blacked Rolex rip offs. Honestly, those guys doing it, are not all interested in Rolex, they offer they shitty watches just to make money, for me i'm solely interested in the passion and respect I have for Rolex in general and for their interesting history in particular that was not well enough discovered and explained to the world. Now tell me Mr 372 ( you're Panerai lover? isn't the Pam 372 made on purpose to be a exact copy of a early Panerai made by Rolex, for those not being able to buy the original?) if my goal was to make really money and push my sales as you state, I bet you believe me now when I say, I would have made many other decisions before (like just simply 'adding some black & red' ) and see that as a honest business..... So sorry to disappoint, i'm only in it for the Rolex Passion, and honestly, after all I achieved until now, i'm VERY proud of it! Best to YOU, who ever you are.. Regards Philipp Stahl
UPDATE:
James Cameron May Dive Mariana Trench This Weekend!! Weather Permitting. The Sub has already been to deepest point and back, unmanned and unscathed. Earlier this week retired U.S. Navy Capt. Don Walsh said via email, “The sub, its team and the mother ship are all ready to go, and we only wait for the ‘weather gods’ to favor us.” –> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120324-james-cameron-mariana-trench-dive-deepest-science-sub/
Wei Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > Also just for the record I think anyone that knows > Philipp, and that has seen what he has done in > terms of researching and documenting the history > of Rolex sports watches knows that what he does is > born out of genuine passion. Thanks again Wei! 
Here's a update on my Rolex Passion Report site of the Record Dive by James Cameron to Deepest Place on Earth --> RPR - Rolex Passion Report Super cool!!
Regards Philipp 
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