Rolex Sea-Dweller
17 % below RRP
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ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
What if you had bought back then …
What would a purchase at the median market price back then have become — at today's level of $14,179. A pure return calculation, excluding insurance, servicing and transaction costs.
Data from an aggregated median time series (watch_market_daily). CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate, normalized to 365 days. Not an investment recommendation.
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Technical data
Lift angle 52° — important for timing-machine diagnosis: with this value a watchmaker can correctly measure rate deviation, amplitude and beat error. ChronoCheck verifies such technical details directly from the manufacturers' factory specifications.
Rolex Ref. 126600 — Variants and collector names
Known as: Single Red, SRSD, SD43, Red Sea-Dweller, SD50
Production phases and changes
- 2017: Launch of Ref. 126600 at BaselWorld; replaces Ref. 116600
- 2018: MK2 dial: Rolex crown symbol (Coronet) added between 'SWISS MADE' at 6 o'clock
- 2019: Ref. 126603 (Yellow Rolesor, steel/yellow gold) introduced as a complement; 126600 in steel continues in parallel
Movement variants
- 3235 (2017–today) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- 116600 Black Cerachrom Insert – 60min Scale
Dial variants
- Single Red MK1 / SD50 — OYSTER PERPETUAL / SEA-DWELLER (red) / 4000ft=1220m / no coronet at 6 o'clock / '1' in 1200m with baton index
- Single Red MK2 — OYSTER PERPETUAL / SEA-DWELLER (red) / 4000ft=1220m / coronet symbol at 6 o'clock
Crystal variants
- Saphir-Cyclops
Bracelet variants
- Oyster Glidelock 22mm Ref. 97220
Serial numbers
- ? – ? (2017–?) — From 2010 onwards Rolex uses random serial numbers (Random Serials) — year of production can no longer be determined from the serial number; production year is determinable exclusively via the warranty card (Green Card / Oyster Guarantee)
The Rolex Ref. 126600 made its debut in April 2017 as the direct successor to the Ref. 116600 — growing from a 40mm to a 43mm case, with lug width expanding from 20mm to 22mm. The new Caliber 3235 delivers a 70-hour power reserve, up from the 48 hours offered by the predecessor's 3136. In collector shorthand the watch goes by SD43, but its most widely used nickname is "Single Red": Rolex had brought the red "SEA-DWELLER" text back to the dial after decades away.
## The Cyclops Lens Nobody Saw Coming
For the first time in Sea-Dweller history, the model carries a Cyclops lens at 3 o'clock. Water resistance to 1,220m and the black Cerachrom bezel insert with its 60-minute scale remained unchanged. In 2018 came the MK2 dial: Rolex added a crown symbol between "SWISS MADE" at 6 o'clock — without touching the movement or the case. For collectors, that crown is the cleanest way to tell MK1 from MK2.
## 2019: Precious Metal Makes Its Sea-Dweller Debut
With the Ref. 126603 — steel paired with yellow gold — Rolex expanded the Sea-Dweller line in 2019 with its first precious-metal variant. The 126600 in pure steel has run alongside it unchanged ever since, serving as the line's entry point and benchmark model. Measured by transaction volume on the secondary market, it remains the most actively traded Sea-Dweller today.
Brand profile: Rolex
Rolex is the most counterfeited watch brand in the world. Super-clones (VSF, ARF, Clean — the latter inactive after a raid in 07/2025, only old stock remaining) achieve 95%+ similarity. Authenticity is almost always detectable only via micro-details + movement behavior.
- Case back: ALWAYS solid and closed — any display window = definitely fake (exception: Vintage Ref. 6085 only)
- Minute hand length: genuine Rolex minute hands end EXACTLY at the minute chapter ring. 1 mm too long = fake. Strongest VSF tell.
- Seconds hand: smooth sweep without any hesitation — the slightest tick = fake
- Cyclops lens (on date models): must magnify exactly 2.5×, date fills almost the entire window
Serial number format: Since 2010: random alphanumeric combination (e.g. 'G3M9K721'). 2000–2010: letter + 6–7 digits. Serial number engraved on the rehaut at 6 o'clock (from ~2005). Older models: between the lugs at 6 o'clock on the case.
Further sources
Buying guide: Rolex Sea-Dweller
Market situation and price range
At $14,188 the Sea-Dweller sits in a segment where first owners sell regularly — clean pieces with box and papers are not uncommon. The jump from "good" to "very good" usually costs 1,000 to 2,000 euros more at purchase. You get that premium back on resale if the condition is preserved.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 49.4 percent. In concrete terms: the price can move by several hundred euros within a few weeks. Check the current value before buying or selling — old listings or auction results from two months ago are of little help.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Rolex Sea-Dweller reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Sea-Dweller.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
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