Sea Dweller 4000 or Deepsea.

[whiskymac]

Looking for some opinions please. :-)
I know it's subjective but if you had to choose between a 116600 Sea Dweller or 116660 Deepsea (black dial) what would you pick and why?
I have owned both in the past but can't really justify having both if that makes sense, they are similar pieces in many regards.
FWIW I currently own a Sea Dweller 116600 and have in the past had a Deepsea and I do love the look of the black dial Deepsea...it just sat a little cumbersome on my sub 7" wrist.
Thanks. :-)

[Karbo]

I have 116600 and sold the deepsea... Too big too heavy too much text but I love the dome !! NSD is the perfect sport watch imo only the dome missing but I really love mine.

[AF_Rob]

Your wrist isn't much bigger than mine. I'd stick with the SD. I've tried it on and like it. I would go much bigger.

[eonflux]

My strong preference is the DSSD, but if you've already tried one and found it too top heavy, then perhaps you're better off staying with the SDC.

But are there specific things you miss about the DSSD that compel you to contemplate getting another despite the issues that caused you to let go of your previous one?

You mention the black DSSD and SDC being too similar.
A possible option is the D-Blue DSSD, which adds an element further differentiating from the SDC, and perhaps pushes the balance more in favor of a DSSD, making it not just another black dial diver in the evaluation process.

[SearChart]

SD4000, the DSSD looks ridiculous on my wrists and I don't really like the watch either.

[whiskymac]

Yes I love the domed glass as well. :-)
My wrist is around 6 3/4" but pretty flat so the DS sat ok with regards the diameter, it was more the thickness that I felt was a little excessive on my wrist.
Having had a DS and now owning a Sea Dweller I think I need to get used to the slimmer profile again, for a long time I had a 16600 and thought it my ideal Rolex, if anything the new ceramic bezel makes the latest incarnation look a little larger IMHO, just feels very small in comparison with the Deepsea. Lol.

[RolexAuthority]

Nothing feels as nice

[dabbotjordan]

I personal love the deep sea,I did for a while think of flipping it,as it is a very heavy watch,then I came back to my senses! Deepsea rules!

[Bernie.H.]

Deepsea, no question.

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by whiskymac

Yes I love the domed glass as well. :-)
My wrist is around 6 3/4" but pretty flat so the DS sat ok with regards the diameter, it was more the thickness that I felt was a little excessive on my wrist.
Having had a DS and now owning a Sea Dweller I think I need to get used to the slimmer profile again, for a long time I had a 16600 and thought it my ideal Rolex, if anything the new ceramic bezel makes the latest incarnation look a little larger IMHO, just feels very small in comparison with the Deepsea. Lol.

Post a pic of the SDC on your wrist. If you have gotten used to larger watches, as I've had with my Panerai and Audemars experiences, then it's hard to go back to a smaller watch. Personally, I think the SDC looks a little smaller on the wrist than a SubC.

Yeah, the DSSD thickness takes getting used to. And the weight too.
But to me, the advantages vs other Rolex divers outweigh any relative drawbacks.
Of course, what advantage/disadvantage ratio is acceptable is a very personal decision.

[RazorD]

Of the two, I prefer the SD. The DSSD is nice, but I'd have a hard time wearing it in dressier situations.

[Singslinger]

IMHO the Deepsea offers better value for money and looks nicer as well.

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so you'll have to ask yourself which watch pleases you more when worn on your wrist.

[Abdullasaif]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[travisb]

If only one, it would be the SD. I could justify having the SD and D Blue though.

[Trailblazer]

DSSD is an awesome watch indeed and I love that dome and the whole package but wearing it was another story hence I sold mine, still miss it but I won't get it back.

SD4 was a dream came true, and I jumped at it and knew its a must have for me…and I got it. But yet the old 16600 is getting more wrist time than the new 116600.

[Gerry62]

I prefer the DEEP SEA.
However beautiful the SD 16600 .

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Gerry62

I prefer the DEEP SEA.
However beautiful the SD 16600 .

Nice shot! Had a DSSD but it was top heavy and traded it for the subc as I generally moved from 42mm plus watches to under.

[Gerry62]

Originally Posted by AK797

Nice shot! Had a DSSD but it was top heavy and traded it for the subc as I generally moved from 42mm plus watches to under.

Thanks Neil

[J!m]

I was not interested in either of them but I tried on the seadweller 4000 and really like it.

Fit, feel and function. A great looking and fitting watch with a matte dial- the last of the tool watches from Rolex in my opinion.

I think the deep sea is a bit gimmicky, and missed an opportunity. Same size dial with a new funky case. Why not a larger, more legible dial? Larger markers and hands make a lot of sense for that watch. Maybe some color like a Ploproff Omega...

The new 4000 is honestly the only modern Rolex I would consider buying. The next newest for me would be a Y serial 16610LV and then it is all pre-sapphire.

[Ritch99]

I always find it very amusing when people say the Deep Sea is too heavy. Really? Too heavy... It's a freaking wrist watch! Come on really?

I wear my deep-sea every day. Every other one of my Rolex watches seem small in comparison, yes, but I love them all. If I could only have 1 watch, definitely it would be the deep-sea . Actually, I own a 116610LN, 116610LV, 114060, 16600 and a 116660. I love them all, but the deep sea is the one. Everything else revolves around it. It is a special watch from its conception to its mechanical realization and production . And in time, will prove to be a very important collectors item I believe. To me, on one side of the spectrum you have the sub on the other far side, you have the deep-sea. In the middle you have the SD4k. It's all a matter of where do you like to fall in, in the pack. I like to be in front.

[eltonbalch]

Originally Posted by eltonbalch

I own both. I've had the Deep Sea for about seven years and the Seadweller is a recent addition. Both are "heavy duty" and both will go to depths I will never see and both are "performance" watches. I prefer the glide lock deep sea bracelet over the Seadweller bracelet but that's nit picking. If you want a watch with some attitude the Deep Sea has that. The Seadweller flies under the radar and is a better choice if it's your only watch. I enjoy having both but if I could only have one, the Seadweller would win by the slimmest of margins. Here they are on my 7" wrist.

I'm probably leaning even a bit more towards the SD 4000 but I'm still keeping both.

[AS1]

SD4K gets my vote

[beer]

the obvious answer would be whether you dive deeper than the SD4000 allows then you need the DSSD

[antbkny]

Sub or Dssd if you can pull it off. The dssd and sd4k side by side looks like a his and hers set lol.

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by J!m

I was not interested in either of them but I tried on the seadweller 4000 and really like it.

Fit, feel and function. A great looking and fitting watch with a matte dial- the last of the tool watches from Rolex in my opinion.

I think the deep sea is a bit gimmicky, and missed an opportunity. Same size dial with a new funky case. Why not a larger, more legible dial? Larger markers and hands make a lot of sense for that watch. Maybe some color like a Ploproff Omega...

The new 4000 is honestly the only modern Rolex I would consider buying. The next newest for me would be a Y serial 16610LV and then it is all pre-sapphire.

Why not a larger dial and bigger hands is also something I've wondered about.
From what I can tell about the DSSD:
- Dial/markers same as on the SubC and SDC
- Minute and second hand same as on SubC, SDC, GMT
- Hour hand same as on the GMT

Rolex designed the DSSD around the 3135 movement and developed the Ring Lock system around it, which required a larger case.
Perhaps what Rolex came up with is the smallest case they could produce around the 3135 that can withstand 3,900m of pressure.

I would love to see the dial/markers and hands (and larger calendar wheel) from the 42mm Explorer II on the DSSD.
But then perhaps a new movement, a modification of the 3187 used in the Explorer II, would be required.

The diameter of the 3135 is 28.5mm, and the 3187 is 30.97mm.
If the current DSSD built around the 3135 is the smallest case Rolex could develop meeting their depth rating target, then a larger movement would require a larger case. (Of note, the DSSD may be the smallest 3,000+ meter dive watch, not including liquid-filled designs.)
Considering the complaints already about the size/weight of the 3135-based DSSD, a 3187-based DSSD may have been thought to be too large.

[Bhutton]

had a DSSD - loved it - braclet is awesome - But i had to get every shirt custom let out or made to allow it to slip under the cuff - every shirt i had made fora year had a 1/4" extra on the left arm. got annoying

if it's ONE watch i'd go the SD4k

if you already have an everyday sports watch the DSSD makes a MEAN tshirt and jeans watch (although when i had it and my Pam305 got more compliments on the PAM)

[huba01]

Sd4000 all the way

[captainnice]

Sea Dweller 4000

[Sifi273]

SD4k, DSSD is to big for my 6.75" wrist

[robbonds]

DSSD def. It is NOT too big for any man's wrist. 44mm is not considered large these days. I think a larger, heftier watch looks awesome! A Blue DSSD is my next watch and I plan to wear it as my daily.