I well remember cringing when my arrogant Swiss boss said to a new Sea Dweller owner, "This watch is wasted on you. It's for people who use diving bells to go deep and weld the feet of oil platforms." The customer replied, "Well, that's what I do." "Oh... OK then." The customer couldn't be bothered with the beautiful box and anchor and so on; just needed the watch. How cool is that?

Where was the "week on the wrist" component of this video?

Good to see you again, Ben!

Did he say in stores right now! lol....

Been wearing my new 126600 and I love it, it’s exactly what the Sea Dweller was always meant to be.

Was at my AD today and they said they can't keep these in stock. Clearly the Cyclops isn't bothering anyone.

I like this so much... The cyclops is an upgrade, you'll get no complains from me. Buy a No Date Submariner if it's so important to you.

Excellent video... Welcome back Ben... Hope to see you more in videos.

Hi All, We'd encourage you all to read Ben's FULL REVIEW over on the website. This video is just one part of a much larger story. Thanks! www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-rolex-sea-dweller-reference-126600

Just got mine... identical piece..... love it!

would like to see more "on the wrist and opinions of wearing it for at least a week". How does it feel. And next to a dress shirt. etc.

Ok guys so bought mine Friday and it's amazing, yes it's bigger than a sub but as far as everyday wear it's amazing again. It's not top heavy and my god goes with everything and ull get bugged about it constantly.this hits the mark as to wear a 40mm sub it's just a tad to small on my 7inch wrist.

The “in stores now” comment hasn’t aged well, lol. Cool review. Can’t believe it’s been 4 years since this reference came out.

"A week on the wrist" proceeds to list everything you find yourself on Rolex website

Buddy just bought one I found for him at a local grey. It was brand new. Some “farmer” was offered this and the TT version. He only wanted the TT version. All box and papers. 13.7k. It’s a beautiful watch

Love to see Ben in the videos. Brings me back to the good old days...

Always love the Hodinkee videos! You should qualify your statement saying the cyclops makes it easier to read the date, as it depends on the angle. When looking straight down at the watch that may be true, but when glancing at the watch at an angle, the cyclops actually obscures the date.

Excellent report.much appreciated.............

that´s the perfect watch in every way!

+TGE TV is this the one you have Tom?

I wish they didn't put the cyclops, and made it smaller. The red text really is striking and works wonderfully with the dial.

On the waitlist for this badboy

Would it be discontinued soon, since it’s the 50th anniversary ?

with my budget (8K) ,wich watch has got the best movement for you guys ?

in stores right now, right now?

good luck getting one of these at your local AD in Australia or even see one at an AD.

Wonderful video

In stores right now... Good luck trying to get it!

The comments were right. Doesn't stay true to the title. How's it on the wrist? Top heavy? Well balanced? Comfortable? Is that power reserve increase doing anything noticeable? Ever needed to use the glidelock? Legibility? Etc..

I was extremely lucky this last September and got this watch from my Rolex AD at MSRP. I love this new Sea Dweller. however, I still like my Deep Sea Cameron more. Tho not a proportioned with lug width and bracelet as the new Sea Dweller, the DSSD's 5 mm (really thick) domed sapphire lens and the every changing gradient blue dial on the DSSD makes this my favorite Rolex. Regarding the cyclops on the new Sea Dweller, it's no biggie to me, makes no difference. I love my two Rolex divers.

The Sea-Dweller was originally designed to possess a date magnifier. Rolex tested the Sea-Dweller, and the cyclops dislodged at depth... so one could argue that the Sea-Dweller has finally received the date magnifier it was always originally designed to have.

Was it on your wrist? For a week? -.-

Great to see the return of Ben (yay!), but you forgot to mention anything about the week on the wrist. So hmmm.

sir which is the best watch for around 100 dollars

Couldn't believe it when I walked into my AD in Century City and they had one. I love everything about it! The size, the cyclops, and the lugs. It is my favorite watch at the moment and I can't seem to take it off. The Lume is gorgeous and the PVD platinum markers are a nice touch. For those of you who have your reservations, please see one in real life before you pass judgment. Rolex hit it out of the park with this reference.

But can it go on a NATO, Regards, TGV

Wish they kept the smaller size and no cyclops lense but i guess i am a bit of a purist

beautiful

As someone with an 8” wrist I’m really stuck between this and a Sub. Shame the video didn’t really show anything about actually wearing the watch

I always get the two mixed up...

How much does this weigh?

was this a paid/sponsored review? Where does Hodinkee disclose this info?

i think it is perfect but still probably a few mm too big for my wrist.

One ☝️ major correction! It’s not! In stores right now! Lol oh better still It won’t be in stores!

I thought this was Mike Wallace and Andy Rooney. (?)

I don't know why you think it's a "big" watch at 43mm. You all must have tiny wrists. I have an 8" and it fits slightly small.

I just don't get the cyclops...at that size, couldn't they just make the date big enough to read w/o it..

watch is amazing in terms of execution and quality, but its too big all these improvements in 40 mm package would suit it much much better.

Perfect watch. Im in love

..I have a Submariner... had it for years now..like it a lot... as a SCUBA diver use it as a back up timer..but I dont get down to 400fett..!!!190-220 is my max..!!!..

11600 will be so collectable

Honestly, thought he was going to say closer to 15k.

The new one is smaller at 43mm older ones are 44mm.

“It’s not a daily wearer for most” “it’s designed as a true tool watch”.... seriously common man! It’s a mid tier luxury brand with the best marketing that sells watches to a majority of people that know nothing about watches! It’s not a tool watch! It’s a nice Rolex watch that sells the idea of being a tool watch! It also happens to look the same as every other Rolex but a little bigger. Not a bad thing but it’s the truth! Same goes for the bracelet! It’s the same bracelet as a sub just proportioned a little better for this case! That’s it

You can buy it here fas.st/L80GvX

IMO, it will be perfect without a cyclops.

I was under strange impression this watch is advertised as diving one, and yet this experience fails to show and grade its main function - is it any good for diving??? For desk diving no need to give depth rating. This was waste of time watching week experience of allegedly diving watch without even cup of water next to it.

PHISTED! Nice review Ben, curious though which model do you think is the better one to go with 116600 or 126600. I prefer the 116600 due to it being a true 40mm Seadweller and it's limited run The new SD is just an an old person friendly version of the real 40mm SDs... Though the 126600 is nice it's no SD.

Only DateJust 41.

This is just the sort of watch that is destined to be űber-hot for a year or so & then become passé just as quickly. See if I'm wrong...

What was that? A week on the wrist produces ........................?? Really? Impressive observations!! Kindest Bob England

so how was it after a week on the wrist? anticlimactic..

Red text and new movement was the only improvement, hate to say it.

Just my luck, by the time Rolexes grew big enough, their prices were so crazy I won't be buying one. This should be ~$5K, which is what Rolex was charging about 10 years ago. The price increase isn't because of new patents, those costs are spread over the 800,000 watches they make every year. It's all margin! Thankfully, Tudor is being reasonable.

Rolex Submariner should have chromalite on the numerals on the bezel, otherwise it can't be used under water.

I gave in and bought this 126600 in the secondary market. paid 25% more than retail. ouch but no regrets. loving it.

Epic

You spent almost 4 minutes talking about this one . Big effort though.

Rolex Marketing Department wrote the text for the ad and Ben read it in an effort to promote the flop that is Ref. 126600

43mm is nice and big

"A week on the wrist" Don't even mention how actually wearing the watch is. Ok, right. This was basically a commercial.

$11,000 "tool watch" ? Yeah right. If you want a diving tool watch just buy an Oris, or Tudor, or Doxa or Edox or even a bloody Seiko!

Title says a "week on the wrist", then shows watch on wrist for 6 seconds and never mentions what it's even like to wear for a week. Complete utter failure. I don't understand why watch reviews always spend time showing macro shots of the watch. Would be great to see wrists shots of what it looks like in perspective, like a few feet at the distance others see the watch on your wrist. No one looks at their watch twelve inches from their nose. Macro is good for the detail, then lets see the watch in a normal setting, like sitting across a table, this way we can get an idea of it's size and whether it looks big, floppy, etc

In no way did this video give me a sense of your thoughts about the watch after a week of wearing it. Basically rattled off the specs and said "its big"

I wear mine every second day

Thats not a Sd

Own it. Love it. You can see my Rolex collection on my channel. This one is on my wrist now. Unlike you, I do see it as a daily wearer. My Submariner Hulk is a bit small for my taste, but it is fine. My 2018 James Cameron Deepsea Sea-Dweller is a bit big for everyday use. This one is like the baby bear... everything is just right. I mix other watches into my rotation, but this one gets the most wrist time. 3:22 "In stores right now". Uhhh, no. Fortunately, I'm at the top of the list at my dealer when the hard to get watches come in...but we all know that Rolex stainless steel sports are extremely hard to come by for the general public.

i like how he's trying to refrain himself from saying he hates it. Ben is an antique guy that appreciate historic time pieces. I am into modern pieces that draws from historic references, but even all I can see with this SD is just a bigger Sub (which I own and love). Guess is perfectly fine for Rolex to rip their own designs, since they own both. Pass on this SD.

Nice Rolex, but I'd rather spend 11,000 on a muscle car. No offense. Dont get me wrong. I'm a watch collector myself. Got over 30 of them.

It's like the underdog that no one wanna buy?

Just when watches made for humans are in fashion again, Rolex goes 43mm. *rolls eyes*

If i own this watch one day i think i will remove the cyclops.

dial is too small, its all case

I hate the cyclops but it's a nice desk diver, who cares about the bracelet, no serious diver is going to dive with a 11.000$ watch, and if you would put it on a zulu strap so it's not going to the bottom of the ocean when a pushpin fails.

And the prices for Rolex continue their climb...

I picked up a brand new 126600 yesterday and have been looking for one for 3 years (Was never going to pay inflated second hand prices) really thought I loved it, but after getting it home I hate to say it but I don't like it.......Im gutted. Will continue wearing my 16600 which is much nicer.

Sea-Dweller is not supposed to have cyclops. Oh well.

They should remove the date from the sea dweller

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Available in stores now!?? Whats this pancakes?? Lol. This is a joke. The proper title of this video should be a review of rolex SD 50th anniversary.

Looks too big, is too big and why-oh-why did Rolex put a cyclops on a Sea-Dweller... and then you have the price (grey market supported by Rolex).. Is Rolex trying to lose customers.. The old 40mm is the one to get if you want a Sea-Dweller and even then, you'll have to pay too much. Rolex and Tudor seem a little desperate these days. I wonder if they will put a buy-button on their website 😂 like IWC (and Chinese Micro-Brands).. could this be the end of the high street retailer? I do like Rolex, I like their designs but when I've gone to buy (Sea-Dweller) I've walked out the shop thinking the price is just too high.

Trolololololo

101th comment

This watch isn't designed as a tool, who is gonna really buy this and use it as a tool?, They're are more than aware most will buy this as a non tool watch

i take 116600 sea dweller over this any day !!

The hype dropped off faster than it built up. A few poor souls paid close to 18k on the grey market the first few days they became available. 2 days later, prices kept dropping to right around retail. Now, its talked about no more than a regular GMT. Rolex basically took a page out of Breitling's book on this one. They made it larger with no technical improvements or benefits. The dial is the same size as the previos SD, depth rating is the same etc. They made it larger for the sake of making it larger. At least when Rolex increased the size of EXP2, they increased the dial size making it more legible. At arms length, it looks like a bloated sub. The SD's DNA has been lost with this version. The only thing its got going for it, is the new movement. The DSSD is far more special than the current SD! End of the day, it seems their goal is to attract more people to the brad that arent familiar or dont care to know much about the brands history. Type of buyers that want that "big face Rollie" lol I'll stick with my SD4000;)!

How many people really wear a diver suit ?

i rather buy 10 steinhart divers instead of 1 rolex

Is it that hard to give a little criticism?

More like 30 seconds on the wrist.