Rolex
Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660
The Rolex Sea-Dweller (reference 16660) is a 40 mm stainless Steel watch with a black dial. It runs on the automatic caliber 3035 and is water resistant to 1220 m. It was made from 1978 to 1989.
Specifications
Case
- Reference
- 16660
- Collection
- Sea-Dweller
- Case size
- 40 mm
- Case material
- Stainless Steel
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 1220 m
Dial and bezel
- Dial
- Black
- Bezel
- Rotating 60-minute
Movement
- Movement
- Automatic
- Caliber
- 3035
Production
- Production
- 1978–1989
Dial versions
This reference was made with these dials and finishes.
16660 Triple Six Matte dial
Matte dial (Mark I & II); printed hour markers, no surrounds · “Triple Six”
16660 Triple Six Glossy dial
Glossy dial (Mark III & IV); applied white gold hour marker surrounds · “Triple Six”
16660 Triple Six Comex matte dial, two text lines, ~100 pieces
Comex matte dial, two text lines, ~100 pieces · “Triple Six / Comex”
16660 Triple Six Comex glossy dial, four text lines, white gold surrounds, ~100 pieces
Comex glossy dial, four text lines, white gold surrounds, ~100 pieces · “Triple Six / Comex”
How it compares within the Sea-Dweller family
Side by side with other references in the same collection, from the catalog.
| Reference | Size | Material | Dial | Caliber | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16660 (This watch) | 40 mm | Stainless Steel | Black | 3035 | 1978–1989 |
| 116600 | 40 mm | Oystersteel | Black | 3135 | 2014–2017 |
| 116660 | 44 mm | Oystersteel and titanium | — | 3135 | 2008–2018 |
| 126067 | 50 mm | RLX titanium | Black | 3230 | 2022–2025 |
| 126600 | 43 mm | Oystersteel | Black | 3235 | 2017– |
| 126603 | 43 mm | Yellow Rolesor | Black | 3235 | 2019– |
| 126660 | 44 mm | Oystersteel and titanium | — | 3235 | 2018–2022 |
| 136660 | 44 mm | Oystersteel and RLX titanium | — | 3235 | 2022– |
| 136668LB | 44 mm | 18k yellow gold | Blue | 3235 | 2024– |
About the Sea-Dweller family
The Sea-Dweller was introduced in 1967 with ref. 1665 for professional saturation divers, adding a helium escape valve and a deeper water rating to the Submariner design. The ref. 16600 continued the line from the late 1980s, and the Rolex Deepsea joined in 2008 with its Ringlock case system and much greater depth rating.
In 2017 the Sea-Dweller grew to 43 mm with ref. 126600, which brought back a line of red text on the dial and added a Cyclops lens. A Rolesor version, ref. 126603, followed. The catalog also covers Deepsea references such as the 126660 and 136660, the yellow gold 136668LB and the RLX titanium Deepsea Challenge ref. 126067. Dealers note the dial version and, on Deepsea models, the dial colour.
Quick answers
- What size is the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660?
- The Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 has a 40 mm case.
- What movement does the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 use?
- It uses the automatic caliber 3035.
- How water resistant is the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660?
- It is water resistant to 1220 metres.
- Is the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 still in production?
- No. It was made until 1989.
- When did the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 come out?
- It was introduced in 1978 and made until 1989.
- What is the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 made of?
- The case is stainless Steel.
Catalog facts checked October 2026.