The White Seadweller 1665

by Clayton

As with most things Rolex, there are no “exact” dates, serial numbers, etc. so take that into consideration when reading the following... Somewhere around the 5.3 Mil mark in late 1977 the DRSD (1665) became what many people like to call “The Great White”......

-Away went the RED lettering....To be replaced with WHITE lettering... (Hence the name Great White...Da!!)

-Away went the words: “SUBMARINER 2000” -The case back was also altered....

The word ROLEX no longer ran across the case back but around the outer edge and is now flanked by two Rolex crowns.

The watch retained it’s silver date wheel and nice beefy case with gas escape valve.

Rolex also no longer engraved any part of the serial number inside the case back.... Needless to say with Rolex there are always exceptions.......

For example:

I have seen Great Whites that people say do have the serial number engraved inside the case back.... I have even seen a couple of Great Whites with the DRSD case back.

There were four regularly excepted Tritium dial configurations:

-The MK1 which ran into the early 6 mil.

-MK 2 from about mid. 6mil.

The font has changed.

The “ft” & “m” markings are now larger and italicized.

The “6” is now “closed”

-MK 3:

I believe somewhere in 1978 or 1979 this dial came out and was produced along with the MK 2 but in much lower numbers.....

-New Font and layout -”ft” & “m” are smaller The “6” is open.

-There is also talk of a BIG WHITE that predates the MK 1 dial.......I have seen only one picture of this watch as it is extremely rare.

-There were also two versions of a Luminova replacement dial that Rolex made available.