Film director James Cameron, who is famous for creating movies such as Titanic and Avatar, has been honoured by watch-making masters Rolex with a timepiece that draws inspiration from his latest film, Deepsea Challenge, which was shot in 3D.
In 2012, Cameron worked closely with Rolex to create a ground-breaking submersible vessel that was named 'The Deepsea Challenger'. This vessel was designed to reach depths of around 11,000 metres in the Pacific Ocean, and the collaboration was a huge success, with the resulting movie incorporating footage taken from this submersible vessel. Cameron piloted the vessel himself, and his aim of seeing another world and collecting data for scientific research was attained.
In a move that many consider very unlike Rolex, the brand has created a watch that pays tribute to Cameron, his movie and the vessel that was built. Rolex generally only releases new watches at the Baselworld Trade Show held every year, so this mid-year release is very unlike them, especially considering that Cameron is not even a brand ambassador. The unexpected release of the Deepsea D-Blue Dial timepiece shows the pride that the brand has in being part of such a monumental project, and it has also set a new standard by releasing the watch online.
An Incredible Diver's Watch
During the 2012 underwater exploration, Cameron donned a Deepsea prototype watch, and a not-for-sale version of the timepiece was mounted on the outside of the submersible vessel. This timepiece was named the Rolex Deepsea Challenge and was a super-sized version of the Deepsea piece, specially designed to withstand the massive pressure of being submerged under 12,000 metres of water. The watch withstood the pressure, and the version now on sale features a similar green tone as the Deepsea text found on the watch face.
A Timeless Timepiece
The watch has been based on Rolex's standard Sea-Dweller Deepsea 116660 timepiece, but it boasts some unique features that distinguish it from the usual model. The watch face starts out a royal blue and fades down to a very dark navy that is almost black, giving a sense of depth, and the gradient represents the dive that was undertaken. The tonality of the Deepsea text on the face is also unusual, and it draws its inspiration from the underwater vessel that made Cameron's journey possible, adding even more contrast to the darkly coloured watch face.
It may be the first time a Rolex design has been so poetically inspired, and this timepiece seems to have broken the mould in many ways. Aside from its innovative and creative design, the watch does, however, feature all the same specs as the original Deepsea version, ensuring that Rolex quality and craftsmanship are represented.
This watch is sure to become a collector's favourite, especially as Rolex usually shies away from honouring a specific individual and sticks to marking large events. The unusual time of the release has also drawn attention, and Mr Jean-Frederic Dufour, Rolex's new CEO, seems to have had a major influence on the brand's new direction. It looks as if we may see more personalised designs emerging in the near future.