Rolex Unveils Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge

Over the years, the diver’s watch has proved to be one of the most important creations of the 20th century. These watches are capable of surviving great depths and atmospheric pressure. The latest diver’s watch from Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge, is a veritable engineering marvel defying limits.

 In 2012, Canadian filmmaker and explorer James Cameron set a record by reaching 10,908 metres under the Mariana Trench. On this historic trip, he was accompanied by a Rolex watch. Inspired by this experimental watch, the timepiece maker has just released a brand new model, Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge, which offers water resistance of up to 11,000 metres. 

Apart from this, the watch is also the brand’s first-ever all-titanium model. It is made from what the brand calls "RLX" titanium, which is ultralight in weight and lends significant robustness and durability to the timepiece.

The new Deepsea Challenge has been crafted from an all-new Ringlock system: a patented case architecture that enables the watch to withstand extreme pressure. The helium escape valve allows surplus gas to escape the watch during a diver’s decompression phase in a hyperbaric chamber, reducing the pressure inside the case that can otherwise damage the watch. 

The black-dialled watch has dot-shaped hour markers, bar-shaped hour markers for 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o'clock, and a triangular-shaped hour marker for 12 o’clock, with a 60-minute black bezel. The three hands for timekeeping and hour markers sport the signature Chromalight display, with an arrow-shaped minute hand and a Mercedes logo hour hand. It is powered by calibre 3230, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph (vibrations per hour), the COSC-certified calibre provides a power reserve of 70 hours with a Triplock crown at three o’clock, three sealed zones and an ultra-thick caseback.

The caseback is engraved with two significant dates: January 23, 1960, when Rolex reached a depth of 10,916 metres, and March 29, 2012, when James Cameron dove into the Mariana Trench. It also has the words, "Mariana Trench", engraved on it. 

The new Rolex watch is paired with a three-link Oyster bracelet in RLX titanium with fully brushed surfaces. It is closed by an Oysterlock safety clasp with a Rolex Glidelock extension system and a Fliplock extension link.

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