Recently James Cameron and Rolex teamed up for National Geographic’s Deep Sea Challenge to reach “Challenger Deep”, which is the deepest point on earth known to man at around 35,800 feet. Found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, giving James Cameron the record for the first solo mission and second manned voyage to reach this depth.
This first to set the record and reach Challenger Deep was Jacques Piccard back in 1960. Rolex on the other hand, was able to make both famous dives, with their Rolex Deep Sea Special watch in 1960 and again in 2012 with their Deep Sea Challenge watch.
1960 Rolex Deep Sea Special watch
Along with Rolex, James Cameron isn’t a novice at deep sea diving. The Titanic director has made multiple trips under the sea, even visiting the real wreckage of Titanic. Rolex originally started their exploration of the sea with their iconic Submariner watch in 1953, which is currently waterproof to a depth of 1,000 feet. After their successful trip to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, Rolex started producing the Sea-Dweller in 1967 which could reach a depth of 2,000 feet then 4,000 by the end of the 1970s. In 2008, Rolex released their new Rolex Deep Sea watch, which is waterproof to a depth of 12,800 feet and is available to the public.
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Now they have created their remarkable prototype Deep Sea Challenge watch. Which like its predecessor, not only made it to the bottom of the Mariana Trench on the explorer’s wrist, but outside the submarine, on the wrist of the Deep Sea Challenger’s robot arm!
The Deep Sea Challenge watch on the robot arm of the Deep Sea Challenger
Based on the technology of their commercial Rolex Deep Sea watch, this next-level Rolex prototype is made of a stainless steel super-alloy, with a dominating 51.4 diameter and 2.85 thickness. This case is combined with their nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel Ringlock system, 5.3mm thick grade 5 titanium caseback and 14.3mm thick dome-shaped sapphire crystal glass.
This Rolex is still functional at great depths thanks to their patented Triplock screw-down winding crown uses a triple water-resistant system and a unidirectional rotating bezel which uses a Cerachrom ceramic insert.
The Cromalight display gives it ultra-long lasting luminescence over its black lacquer dial. To attach this to a human’s or robot’s arm, a solid-link Oyster bracelet and Oyster-lock safety clasp is used, combined with the Rolex Glidelock and Fliplock diving system. This all allows the watch to reach a unbelievable 39,370 foot depth, surpassing even the deepest known point on earth.
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