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Sea-Dweller · 1978 to 1989
“Triple Six”
Grade A · 82/100Today's call: Buy
A: strong buy-and-hold. Ranked #28 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (1983) | $1,100 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $14,000 – $22,000 |
| Vs original retail | +1536% |
| 1-year trend | +9% |
The '666' Sea-Dweller: first sapphire SD, first 1,220m rating, and an eleven-year run. Early matte dials are the chase.
Vintage tool Rolex with a devil's nickname and genuine scarcity: collectors cannot resist the combination.
The 'Triple Six' doubled the Sea-Dweller's rating to 1,220 meters, introduced the sapphire crystal to the line, and got its nickname from a reference number that unsettled superstitious buyers, which only helped the legend.
Early matte-dial examples (1978 to roughly 1981) are the collector spec and have pulled away from the later gloss dials. It remains cheaper than the equivalent-era Submariner despite being rarer and more capable: the Sea-Dweller discount, eternally.
Our verdict: The vintage diver with momentum. Matte dial, unpolished case, or walk away.
| Sizes | 40mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet material | Oystersteel (stainless) |
| Factory bracelet | Oyster |
| Factory bezels | Black aluminum |
| Notable dials | Matte (early, premium); Gloss |
| Caliber | 3035 |
| Production | 1978 to 1989 (discontinued) |
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