LIST: Fight night – 5 key differences between the new (ref. 122600) and old (ref. 116600) Rolex Sea-Dweller

Andy Green

In case you missed it, here are the five major changes we saw on the Rolex Sea-Dweller reference 122600, when compared to its predecessor — the reference 116600.

1. The ‘Sea-Dweller’ font

As Rolex released the new Sea-Dweller to mark the model’s 50th anniversary, they also made a small change to the dial text. A nod to the model’s heritage, we now see the ‘Sea-Dweller’ on the dial in red, whereas it was previously white – just like the other four lines of text.

2. The cyclops

The most obvious change to the watch — aesthetically speaking — is the inclusion of a cyclops magnification lens over the date window on the new Sea-Dweller. This is the first time in the history of the Rolex Sea-Dweller that the model has featured a cyclops. It’s a pretty major design change, influencing the overall balance of the watch. The good news is that reading the date just got a whole lot easier.

3. The dial

That one line of red text isn’t the only change made to the dial of the new Sea-Dweller, and Rolex actually changed the finishing of the dial paint. Previously a satin finish, the new Sea-Dweller features a shiny gloss finish. It doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but it’s completely changed the look of the dial. The SD4K’s satin dial looks much closer to a matt finish — with no shine. The new glossy dial not only looks luxurious, but it’s the perfect canvas for the new red text, which really pops.

4. The size

Rolex’s newest diver has also made some size gains, increasing in diameter from 40mm to 43mm. Although not a massive increase, it’s still quite noticeable, substantially increasing the Sea-Dweller’s overall wrist presence. Fortunately, the overall case height has remained the same, at 15mm.

5. The movement

The new Sea-Dweller features a brand new beefed-up movement, the Calibre 3235, with a 70-hour power reserve. This is significantly longer than the previous Calibre 3135, found in the SD4K, which had a 48-hour power reserve.

You can read our review of the new Rolex Sea-Dweller Anniversary Edition here.