” This Ref: 1665 is the second example of the Patent Pending from a private collection that I’ve sold, the last one being in June 2020. Both watches entered a significant collection in 2008 and this one has not been seen publicly until now. What makes this watch historically interesting is the fact it was purchased and worn by Diver in the US called Norman J Roth. .”
– Paul Maudsley
Mr Roth owned the watch from 12th July 1971 until 2008 where it has remained until now. Included in the sale is correspondence from Mr Roth about where he dived and how he came to own such a watch. Also there is the original bill of sale for $300 from Jensen & Davenport Jewelers in the Gateway Shopping Centre, Portland Oregon, the home town of Mr Roth.
Norman Roth started diving early on in 1971 and it was his dive instructor at the time who suggested a Rolex is the best watch for his needs. Correspondence from Mr Roth in 2008 says he visited his local Rolex dealer in Portland and the manager had not long been back from Rolex Geneva where he had “indoctrination about Rolex watches”. Stating that he was told “previous dive watches had been exploding”, but these “new ones with escape valves on the side and for an experimental project was the solution”. What is also interesting is that he states “They only made 120 of them for this project”. Mr Roth was persuaded to have his name engraved on the back by Rolex as it was a “given customary thing”. All of this was included in the final price of $300.
Mr Roth dived in various places around the US, recounting catching Octopus, Oysters and swimming near Orcas. The watch never left his wrist and when he wasn’t in the sea he worked 38 years for the Electric Power Company, using power tools, sometimes getting shocks, but the watch remained working perfectly and it was his one constant in life.
The Sea-Dweller model has an incredible depth rating of 2000 feet (610 meters), and used the very first helium escape valve (HEV) developed by Rolex. The earliest versions of which were engraved with ‘Patent Pending’ Rolex Oyster Gas Escape Valve on their case backs. This was because Rolex had applied for the patent but hadn’t yet got it. They were in effect what some call prototypes and the inside of the case backs have the special feature of the last three digits of the watch’s serial number, this is so with this example and it is also stamped IV.67 inside the case back.
A fax (included) dated 27th June 2008 from Rolex New York and Vice President of Technical Operations Mr Bernhard Stoeber states that “ We can confirm this early Sea-Dweller model had been received by Rolex Watch USA in February 1970”
Offered in wonderful condition, it presents an opportunity to own an iconic watch with a wonderful story from the history of Rolex.
£75,000.
