SD43 126600. My humble review

[Rori]

After one week on my wrist, I can confidently say I'm amazed.
There's nothing I don't like abut this watch, but I can write pages about what I like.
Let's start from the top side, the Bezel. I love its liquid / wet appearance that shines and sparkles same way the sapphire crystal does, together they look like if they were made of a one single material. I think the ceramic treatment or Cerachrome as Rolex likes to call it works best with black bezels, colored bezels like the ones used on the GMT are better looking in aluminum in my opinion, that's why I skipped the BLRO and got my GMT from Tudor instead.
The Cyclops, it's like a jewel that it does not get in the way at all but whenever you look at the watch under a certain low angle the cyclops looks like a diamond on top of that crystal.
Dive a bit more, we get to the Dial. It's matte black but under sunlight it becomes lighter, a dark gray, it complement the silvery look of the steel case and bracelet. Visibility is indisputable, the blue chromalight is mesmerizing and that red line is a small line that makes all the difference. Don't know how Rolex manages to be that much good in design language.
The Sea Dweller 126600 is a deep sea diver, so let's dive deeper, right into the Movement. After one week, the watch is almost as accurate as my Apple watch. I'm not a technical guy and my brain gets dazzled by the mere thinking of how these moments can track time so accurately, so I better leave that abyss and resurface, this time at the opposite side of the watch, the Back-Case. I've always wondered why Rolex leave the back case of most of its models blank, The first time I looked at the back of one of these blank cases I thought it was a fake! Thankfully, with the Sea Dweller, Rolex decided to make it special again by adding a circular line of text on it. This Case back sinks into the wrist making the watch wears much lower, looks slimmer and more comfortable than a normal 14, 15 mm case height. I had it under sweaters, shirts and cuffling, it just goes with anything so so well.
Moving down north or south of that sexy case we get into the macho aspect of the watch, The 22mm Bracelet. The wide lugs / wide bracelet mix that looks like made out of the same piece of metal give the watch a great balance, feel, stance and comfort. One of the reason I prefer Rolex over the majority of watch brands in the same price range is actually its bracelet design. I think that nothing out there beats the oyster or the jubilee design. I was afraid the brushed steel on the Sea Dweller and probably all Rolex divers could feel a bit dull or opaque compared to the polished center links counterpart but I was surprised that the matte shines under in a very particular way.
Venturing even further away from that case and bracelet, we get to the south pole of the watch, the Oyster-lock. Diving extension was taken upon delivery, I was still left with the amazing 20mm glide-lock. Together with the boutique's watchmaker we resized the watch in a way that the glide-lock now sits halfway the adjustable zone. My wrist can get fatter or slimmer as it wishes now, who cares, the glide-lock will get me covered.
My Tip on fitting is to always wear the watch snug and behind the domed bone of the wrist. the comfort multiplies when the watch sits in that specific part of the wrist.
Many thanks for reading and for being such a great community that serves as an inspiration for big collectors or newcomers alike.

Finally, some pictures of the watch under a variety of lighting and angles, all taken in a bit of rush but but with lots of passion and love.

Rori

[joerivers1961]

Thank you for sharing. I regret passing on this watch a while back. It looks fantastic.

[Vamp]

Very cool write up! The Sd43 is amazing no doubt

[bravetony]

My favorite Rolex without a doubt. Great review & pictures!

[Tmac478]

Great write up. By "that red line", I assume you mean the red lettering of "Seadweller". In my opinion, this is one of the best and most distinct aspects of the SD43. The red lettering really make the dial pop! I've owned mine for almost 2 years and I'm still amazed by how beautiful and accurate it is. Wear yours in good health!

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[thekman]

Very nice write up. Congrats again!


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[alphadweller]

I thoroughly enjoyed your fresh look on the piece. Your second photograph belongs to a Rolex catalogue, seriously good. Congrats.

[bjlev]

Thanks for posting your thoughts! Beautiful watch.


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[Rori]

Thanks for the feedback. You can always have it back at some point.

Originally Posted by joerivers1961

Thank you for sharing. I regret passing on this watch a while back. It looks fantastic.

[Rori]

Thanks for looking dear.

Originally Posted by Vamp

Very cool write up! The Sd43 is amazing no doubt

[Rori]

Thank you. Yes the red lettering that is so minimal yet so great!
looks fantastic on your wrist, wear it in good health.

Originally Posted by Tmac478

Great write up. By "that red line", I assume you mean the red lettering of "Seadweller". In my opinion, this is one of the best and most distinct aspects of the SD43. The red lettering really make the dial pop! I've owned mine for almost 2 years and I'm still amazed by how beautiful and accurate it is. Wear yours in good health!

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[Rori]

Thanks for looking guys.

Originally Posted by thekman

Very nice write up. Congrats again!


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Originally Posted by bjlev

Thanks for posting your thoughts! Beautiful watch.


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[Rori]

The fact that you liked it is enough to me. Thanks for the feedback.

Originally Posted by alphadweller

I thoroughly enjoyed your fresh look on the piece. Your second photograph belongs to a Rolex catalogue, seriously good. Congrats.

[ndrs63]

Great watch, great write-up. I need to learn to savor every aspect of my watches the way you do :)
Btw, the watch fits you perfectly. You have a large wrist, and the Sub would probably look smallish. Sd43 is a perfect choice for you


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[Rori]

Thank you. I don't know if my 7.5” wrist is considered large but after trying all 40mm models I was interested in I felt they were small to my taste.
This 43 model looks like if it was tailored to my wrist.

Originally Posted by ndrs63

Great watch, great write-up. I need to learn to savor every aspect of my watches the way you do :)
Btw, the watch fits you perfectly. You have a large wrist, and the Sub would probably look smallish. Sd43 is a perfect choice for you


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[ndrs63]

Originally Posted by Rori

Thank you. I don't know if my 7.5” wrist is considered large but after trying all 40mm models I was interested in I felt they were small to my taste.
This 43 model looks like if it was tailored to my wrist.

Yes, I would consider 7.5 in to be a large wrist :)


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[Rori]

Then big it is

Originally Posted by ndrs63

Yes, I would consider 7.5 in to be a large wrist :)


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[Travelller]

Congrats once again on your SD43 and T4S your thoughts and great photos with the community

[Jesse_Livermore]

Great write up. Thanks for posting.

[Rori]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Originally Posted by Travelller

Congrats once again on your SD43 and T4S your thoughts and great photos with the community

Originally Posted by Jesse_Livermore

Great write up. Thanks for posting.

[abozz]

The SD43 is my favourite and grail Rolex, nice review!!!

[brandrea]

Nice you review Rory, glad to see you enjoying it.

Thanks to you, I’m off to go get mine from the vault today

[axelbrass]

Enjoyable review and I like the pictures.

[Xkwazexboy]

it looks awesome on you and thanks for sharing.

[Rori]

Originally Posted by abozz

The SD43 is my favourite and grail Rolex, nice review!!!

Glad to hear is is considered a grail watch. Did a good choice then :-)

Originally Posted by brandrea

Nice you review Rory, glad to see you enjoying it.

Thank you.
Thanks to you, I’m off to go get mine from the vault today

Hahahah, your SD43 must be enjoying his days out :-)

Originally Posted by axelbrass

Enjoyable review and I like the pictures.

Good to hear you enjoyed dear.

Originally Posted by Xkwazexboy

it looks awesome on you and thanks for sharing.

Thank you. An awesome watch. Glad I went for it.

[bjlev]

Thank you for sharing this, have yet to own this model but I’m more intrigued after reading.


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[strafer_kid]

It's a brilliant watch. I was very fortunate to get offered one really by chance by an AD at list price at the beginning of last year. At the time I was unsure if it work for me due to its size since I had already found the 42mm Explorer II a bit too big. Very quickly however I realised it was a keeper. Superb design and engineering, and a really great time keeper. Highly recommended!

[Rori]

Thanks for looking BJ.
May I ask why you're more intrigued?

Originally Posted by bjlev

Thank you for sharing this, have yet to own this model but I’m more intrigued after reading.


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[Rori]

Glad you kept it, for mid to big size wrist this watch ticks all boxes. It's the classic Sub with augmented presence and technology. A keeper for sure.

Originally Posted by strafer_kid

It's a brilliant watch. I was very fortunate to get offered one really by chance by an AD at list price at the beginning of last year. At the time I was unsure if it work for me due to its size since I had already found the 42mm Explorer II a bit too big. Very quickly however I realised it was a keeper. Superb design and engineering, and a really great time keeper. Highly recommended!

[bjlev]

Originally Posted by Rori

Thanks for looking BJ.

May I ask why you're more intrigued?

Sure. I’ve always wanted a Sea Dweller, and reading your thoughts have made think again about purchasing one. Its such a versatile watch that looks good for any occasion.


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