The Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge is Rolex's most formidable dive watch
Rolex is no stranger to extreme sports—its watches regularly accompany explorers from the highest peaks to the lowest depths. For the latter, Rolex has an impressive history of developing advanced solutions for water resistance, from the Twinlock crown to the Ringlock system.
Now comes its most formidable dive watch yet, the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge that can withstand a depth of 11,000m—that's just slightly deeper than Omega's Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional.
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The 50mm watch is inspired by the experimental timepiece that accompanied Avatar filmmaker James Cameron on his historic 10,908-metre (35,787-foot) descent into the Mariana Trench on March 26, 2012. It is crafted in RLX titanium that is 30 per cent lighter than the 2012 version, and comes with a bracelet with Glidelock and Fliplock extension link that allows the it to be worn over the wet suit up to 7mm thick.
Its depth capability, which has been tested in partnership with Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises in an ultra-high pressure tank, is supported by a menu of the Swiss manufacture's own innovation: the Ringlock system, the helium escape valve, the Triplock crown with three sealed zones, and the Chromalight's long-lasting luminescence.