Since 1925, date of the patent, Rolex has built a solid experience in water resistance for watches. Collecting many track records, the brand with the crown seems to have gone through all sorts of experimentation. After a first historic dive of nearly 11,000 metres (36,100 feet) in the Mariana Trench (Pacific Ocean) in 1960, Rolex went even further with director James Cameron in 2012 with his documentary Deepsea Challenge. On each trip down, the watch would take in tons of pressure without a flinch and without giving away an ounce of precision as it would return to the surface in perfect working order. Until now, the Deepsea guaranteed waterproofness to the extreme depth of 4000m despite the records, leaving a good margin of safety. To beat this performance, Rolex is now offering an even more powerful version: the Deepsea Challenge. Tested by Comex in a Hyperbaric Chamber at a pressure of 17 tons which is the equivalent to 13,750 metres deep, it is offered with an absolute guarantee at a depth of up to 11,000 metres  (36,100 feet). Made out of RLX titanium, which is 30% lighter than steel, this 50mm diameter submersible was tested during an exceptional dive of more than 7 hours beyond 11000m without showing the slightest weakness. This should allow for a peaceful swim next summer!

Translation: Jessica Jensen