What You Should Know About the Rolex Deepsea D-Blue Dial

Rolex is a name that has become synonymous with luxury and quality in the watch industry, captivating customers from around the globe with its stunning designs and state-of-the-art watch technology. With the Deepsea D-Blue Dial model, the brand ventures into the world of diving with a watch that delivers both form and function.

Beauty in Design

This watch was designed to commemorate film director James Cameron’s solo dive to the deepest place on Earth, the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The face features a gradient of color, starting with a vibrant blue and the top and fading into black towards the bottom, representing the diminishing light as one descends from the surface to the ocean floor. It is small details like this that truly set Rolex apart from other watchmakers in terms of aesthetics.

External Functionality

Aside from its beautiful construction, this watch has been designed with functionality for the user in mind. The band features Rolex’s patented Oysterlock clasp, keeping it from coming loose under even the most strenuous conditions. The clasp also incorporates Glidelock technology to allow for fine adjustments to the band size without the need for any tools or other equipment. This makes the watch easy to adjust to fit over a diving suit as needed. The exterior shell is, like many Rolex watches, made from heavy-duty 904L stainless steel, typically used in aerospace applications. This material delivers maximum resistance to corrosion, so the watch stays looking its best under heavy use. Not only is this superalloy material highly durable, but it also polishes to a high shine for unmatched beauty.

Inner Workings

The Deepsea D-Blue Dial utilizes self-winding mechanical movement called calibre 3135. This technology is exclusive to Rolex and has been painstakingly developed by the brand over the years. It has received Swiss chronometer certification, an achievement that is reserved solely for watches of the highest quality and precision. To achieve this recognition, the 3135 motion had to successfully pass a battery of tests from the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute, no easy feat. The 3135 uses a Parachrom hairspring, which delivers the utmost in resistance to physical shocks and temperature fluctuations, making it one of the most precise and reliable watches in the world.

Specially Made for Divers

In creating this watch, Rolex spent decades working closely with divers to determine the features and qualities that are most important to them while on deep sea dives. Although many Rolex watches offer water resistance, none other goes so far as the Deepsea D-Blue Dial. This powerhouse is capable of withstanding water pressure at depths of up to 12,800 feet (3,900 meters). This allows wearers to complete dives never before allowed with a luxury watch. The titanium backing on the watch cases is a major contributor to this capability. As the external pressure increases, the durable, yet flexible material bows slightly, pressing the components of the case closer and closer together. This serves as a natural reinforcement to the already watertight seal.

After especially deep dives, divers often have to spend time in decompression chambers to bring their bodies back on par with being at sea level. This requires breathing in a gas mixture containing helium. While in the chamber, that helium will also penetrate into the watch. While in other watches, this could cause severe damage, Rolex has engineered the Deepsea D-Blue Dial to release the gas through an innovative helium escape valve that relieves the pressure without impacting the structural integrity of the watch or diminishing its waterproof capabilities.

As divers descend into the depths, a watch won’t do them much good if they are unable to see it. The Rolex Deepsea D-Blue Dial features a glow-in-the-dark Chromalight display, enabling the wearer to see the dial even in pitch black. The hour markers, hands and zero marker on the bezel all incorporate the long-lasting Chromalight luminescent material, allowing wearer’s to see the watch clearly for up to twice as long as other luminescent materials.

Overall, this watch is a deep sea diver’s dream, offering all of the functionality and protection a watch needs in this harsh and unforgiving environment. However, it also includes all of the luxury and beauty that customers have come to expect from Rolex, taking this watch from the bottom of the sea to the boardroom to formal occasions, and everywhere in between.