From Geneva, the new titanium Rolex Deepsea Challenge in titanium has just been presented, the new chapter for the brand’s extreme diving watches and which follows James Cameron’s feat in the Mariana Trench. This time, however, the brand has gone in a new direction, with a new material for the collections.

Let’s find out what came from the Plan-les-Ouates manufacture after the news of April.

The origins of the Deepsea Challenge

In 2012, the first prototype of Deepsea Challenge was created together with James Cameron, the famous director who in that year became the first man to reach the deepest point in the world alone, at a depth of 10,898 meters.

With the new Rolex Deepsea Challenge in titanium, the challenge started in 2012 follows, with a massive model for the official catalogs, no longer just as an experimental prototype. The case is a good 50mm in diameter with a thickness of 23mm (huge considering the 13mm of the Submariners and the 17.7mm of the Deepsea).

The Titanium RLX in the new Deepsea

With the presentation of the new Deepsea Challenge, Rolex has inaugurated for the first time the use of a titanium case, but not just any one of course, it is the Titanium RLX. In fact, the Geneva-based Maison places particular emphasis on the development of its materials, to the point of having created its own internal foundry and numerous patents.

James Cameron’s 2012 Deepsea Challenge prototype was made of 904 Oystersteel, the one used for all Rolex sports watches. With this change of metal in the case, a weight less than 30% was achieved compared to the experimental model.

Any type of dive up to 11,000 meters

Thanks to the helium escape valve and the patented Ringlock system, this new watch can withstand exceptional pressures, which almost no man on earth will ever reach.

During diving, helium is one of the best known enemies for movement, as its particles are very small and able to penetrate inside the seals. This is why Rolex devised a 1967 solution with this particular patented valve, which is automatically activated when the pressure inside the watch is too high.

Thanks to the partnership with Comex (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises) which originated several years ago, Rolex was able to develop a very high pressure chamber, to effectively check the waterproofing of the Deepsea Challenge at the highest levels. These tests subject the watch to a real pressure present at 13,750 meters, with a safety margin of 25%.

The Caliber 3230 inside the massive titanium case

Inside the 50mm Titanium RLX case, the caliber 3230 introduced in 2020 beats, equipped with a particularly long power reserve of 70 hours. This was achieved thanks to a longer spring in the barrel and the patented Chronergy escapement made of nickel-phosphorus.

Price of the new Rolex Deepsea Challenge

The new Rolex Deepsea Challenge with reference 126067 will have a retail price of € 26,100. What do you think of this new release of the brand?

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