Wave Action

The incredible story of a 1968 Rolex Sea-Dweller and its enigmatic owner. Josh Sims tells the tale of innovators, adventurers, dealers and spies.

IT WAS AROUND 20 years ago that leading watch dealer, Tom Bolt, of London-based Watch Guru, became a partner in the purchase of what at the time seemed like an unusual Rolex SeaDweller. Dated to 1968, it was, according to watch buffs, a single red – one of the early Sea-Dwellers, identified by the model name being printed on the dial in a single red line.

It had an escape valve, which only four examples were known to have had, but more intriguing was the serial number, which didn’t tally with those issued for models of the time. It gave pause for thought and a reason to doubt.

“This kind of watch was, at the time, so different that few collectors were comfortable with it – you’d have one but wonder if maybe it was a fake,” says Bolt. “We paid peanuts for it really, but nobody knew what the watch represented then.” Bolt commissioned some forensic, horological detective work in a bid to uncover the information that he expected a potential buyer would require. He would go on to sell the timepiece, however, and time went by.

Nearly two decades passed, and then this year, the purchaser asked Bolt if he’d be interested in buying back the watch. An unusual deal was struck and it was exchanged for Bolt’s Ferrari 599 Aperta – one of the rarest Ferraris made in the last 30 years.