On March 26, 2012, explorer and filmmaker James Cameron made a record-breaking solo dive into the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean. Attached to the manipulator arm of his submersible was the Rolex Deepsea Challenge that withstood the colossal water pressure at 10,908m down.
A decade later, the experimental model inspires Rolex to engineer the new Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge as the ultimate wristwatch for divers.
Guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 11,000m, it is capable of accompanying divers in any environment -- during open-water diving, submersible dives or in hyperbaric chambers.
Years of research were required to overcome the watchmaking challenges of the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge, devised to defy extreme pressure. From the production of the case to that of the bracelet, each element of this impressive 50mm watch has been crafted with everyday use in mind.
It is Rolex's first timepiece in RLX titanium, a grade 5 titanium alloy. Thanks to this robust and particularly lightweight metal, the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge is 30% lighter than the experimental model of 2012.
Modifications were made to some of the components -- the crystal, for instance, was slimmed down -- in order to create a wristwatch of harmonious and ergonomic proportions.
The Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge is distinctive among Rolex's Professional models for the particularly visible grain in its satin finish and the polished edges of its lugs.
The bracelet extension systems -- Rolex Glidelock and the Fliplock extension link -- allow wearing over a diving suit up to 7mm thick.
A full spectrum of Rolex's expertise in divers' watches has been incorporated into the new model, starting from the ingenious Oyster case unveiled in 1926. It boasts a completely hermetic construction in which the bezel, case back and winding crown are screwed down against the middle case.
For almost a century, the legendary Swiss brand has developed more advanced systems to protect the inside of its watches.
The Triplock crown has three sealed zones, and the Ringlock system is a patented case architecture that enables the watch to withstand extreme pressure.
The helium escape valve addresses surplus gas during a diver's decompression phase in a hyperbaric chamber, reducing the pressure inside the case which could otherwise damage the watch. In the deep blue sea, the Chromalight display with long-lasting luminescence provides exceptional legibility.
Since 2016, the divers' watches have been tested in hyperbaric tanks developed jointly by Rolex and Comex (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises). Likewise, the new Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge is tested in an ultra-high-pressure tank capable of reproducing a test pressure equivalent to that exerted by water at a depth of 13,750m.
The exceptional model is powered by calibre 3230, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. The self-winding movement features several patented components such as the Chronergy escapement and the Parachrom hairspring, which is insensitive to magnetic fields, as well as Paraflex shock absorbers.
Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement's superior efficiency, calibre 3230 offers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge carries the Superlative Chronometer certification and boasts chronometric precision of the order of –2/+2 seconds per day.
The case back is engraved with "Mariana Trench" as well as the dates "23-01-1960" and "26-03-2012", in tribute to two historic expeditions, both accompanied by experimental watches respectively, the Deep Sea Special and the Rolex Deepsea Challenge.
Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard and US Navy Lt Don Walsh piloted the bathyscaphe Trieste to 10,916m into the Mariana Trench in the first dive in January 1960.
In 2012, James Cameron's solo descent in Deepsea Challenger was a part of a scientific expedition, following a partnership with Rolex and National Geographic Society to conduct deep-ocean research.
Cameron recalls the experience in Rolex's The Journey To The Deep film. Introducing the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge, he says: "Now, we are faced with new challenges, new frontiers, new times. And there's a new watch, built to meet them."
The avid ocean explorer deems that Rolex's engineering wonder symbolises the explorative human spirit, which drives finding ingenious ways to go farther and deeper.
