Rolex had already gained a great reputation for manufacturing wristwatches that could meet the demanding conditions of the ocean. Well, owing to new experiments with saturation diving – a method in which helium is used to replace nitrogen in the air mixture, enabling commercial divers to work at deeper depths and stay down longer – a new type of dive watch was needed, one that could survive the unique rigors of this kind of deep-sea diving. 
The manufacture of this fake Rolex Sea-Dweller lasted into the early 1980s, during which time it underwent several minor changes. For the first ten years of its production, Rolex made the Sea-Dweller with both the Submariner and Sea-Dweller names printed in red ink on its dial. These “Double Red Sea-Dweller” watches frequently had their dials replaced by Rolex Service Centers with later-era versions that had all white text and lacked the Submariner name entirely. As a result of this practice, original “Double Red” dials have become quite rare and valuable among collectors today.
The extended periods of time spent in pressurized chambers would force helium molecules into the cases of the divers’ watches. Upon decompression, the trapped helium would expand, often generating enough force to cause the crystals to pop off their replica watches. The Rolex’s solution to this problem was the Sea-Dweller, which incorporated a gas release valve into the side of the case, allowing trapped helium to safely exit the watch during decompression. Although several early prototype Sea-Dweller watches were manufactured, the Rolex Sea-Dweller made its official debut.
Even though it is not necessary to track down a Double Red Sea-Dweller, it has become much harder to find one with its original dial still in pristine, unaltered condition. This special Double Red Sea-Dweller has succeeded to survive all these years without its dial sustaining any inadvertent damage from bent hands, moisture intrusion, or careless watchmakers. Besides, the tritium hour markers have developed a rich, patina, which only adds to this watch’s well-preserved, unmistakably vintage aesthetic.
The Double Red Sea-Dweller was the first commercially available iteration of Rolex’s most capable line of professional sports watches and marked a lot of firsts – both for the Rolex brand and the dive watch industry as a whole. It has made the replica Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller a true classic and a common target for serious collectors looking to own an iconic piece with its rich history, timeless design, and unmistakably vintage aesthetic.