Two rare military Rolex timepieces at auction

ROLEX are widely respected as one of the ultimate international luxury brands, and yet two of their most valued watch models were designed and made to be serious working tools for people who did dangerous and difficult jobs.

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Perhaps that is why the Rolex ‘Mil Sub’ or Military Submariner to use its full name, and the Sea Dweller are so popular with collectors, as they have a certain kudos that elevates them above other luxury wrist watches, a certain cool and an aura of the heroic about them.

In Lay’s Auctioneers July 31 sale there's an exceptionally rare and desirable Rolex ‘Deepsea Sea-dweller’ gentleman's watch, most notably, it is a Royal Navy Clearance Diver issue, circa 2013 and was a limited edition 048/050, ref. M116660.

Faithful to its close relationship with some of the elite British military forces, Rolex produced this limited edition Deep-Sea for the Royal Navy Clearance Diver Branch, which is considered as ‘the most dangerous underwater job in the world! Its members are regarded as the most skilled divers, minesweepers, obstacle removers and UWFP (Underwater Force Protection) in the world.

‘The training to become part of the branch is famous for being extremely difficult, with some selections that had 100% failure rate. Produced in 2013, this confidential edition was never available to the public and celebrated the success of many highly perilous missions and the creation of the Branch about 60 years earlier.