The Rolex Sea-Dweller 43mm is Perfectly Sized (But Not Perfect)

Leading up to Watches and Wonders 2024, I predicted that Rolex would release a 40mm version of the Sea-Dweller ref. 126600. In retrospect, and like most Rolex predictions that don’t come true, it reads like an undelivered letter to Santa Claus.

Considering that Rolex now offers the Explorer in multiple sizes, I (optimistically) thought that a 40mm Sea-Dweller could be in the cards. After all, 40mm is the model’s traditional case size. Like the Explorer, Rolex could just offer the original size alongside a larger “modern” version.

Of course, I selfishly wanted this smaller Sea-Dweller for my own wrist, and of course, this wish did not come true.

However, during a recent visit to Everest HQ, I spent a good amount of time with the Sea-Dweller 43mm (SD43) and, much to my surprise, it fit me quite nicely. In fact, I’m now convinced that 43mm is the perfect diameter for this watch . . . but I wouldn’t call it a perfect watch.

The Sea-Dweller 43mm is Perfectly Sized

During a brief but lovely visit to Everest HQ last week, I had carte blanche to play with, photograph, and wear almost every modern Rolex under the sun (and a handful of vintage ones). Naturally, my eyes drifted toward the dive watch with red dial text, and before I knew it, the 43mm Sea-Dweller 126600 became my companion for the day.

About one year ago, I tried on the SD43 and wrote it off as yet another cool watch that’s too large for my wrist. However, when I tried it on last week, I loved the way that it fit. I‘m chalking up this (perceived) difference to the watch being on a fitted rubber strap vs. an unsized bracelet. The SD43 from last week was on an Everest curved end rubber strap with tang buckle, perfectly adjusted to my wrist. My previous experience with the SD43 was at a Rolex AD. 

Dueling Dwellers

I’d say the Sea-Dweller 43 occupies just about all of my 6.75 inch wrist’s real estate, but doesn’t exceed it. This comes down to the watch’s lug-to-lug measurement. The Sea-Dweller 43mm measures 50mm from lug tip to lug tip. The lugs approach the edges of my wrist but don’t hang over them. For reference, the Rolex Sky-Dweller – a “smaller” 42mm watch – measures 50.5mm lug to lug. Although it’s just half a millimeter, the Sky-Dweller feels decidedly too large for me because of those long lugs (above, left).

Who Cares?

Why should you care that a 7-year-old watch fits a person on the internet that you’ve never met? Great question. In short, I’m not alone in (previously) assuming that this watch is too large for my wrist. There are likely people reading this article operating under the same assumption, perhaps wrongly so.

Those people are missing out. You can currently buy a nice pre-owned Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 for less than its MSRP, which isn’t always a given with steel Rolex. This is a lot of watch for just above $10,000. You’re getting a deep-diving modern Rolex with all the fixin’s: Cerachrom bezel insert, Glidelock clasp, Chronergy escapement, etc.

If you’re assuming that this watch – or any watch – isn’t for you based on its dimensions, pictures, or even brief encounters, I urge you to keep an open mind. With a bit of time (and maybe the right strap) you may find that it’s perfect for your wrist. 

Why 43mm is the Perfect Size for a Modern Sea-Dweller

Don’t get me wrong, I’d still love for Rolex to offer this watch in 40mm, but I’m now convinced that 43mm feels correct for a modern Sea-Dweller. Ultimately, this comes down to its older sibling, the Submariner. If Rolex shrunk down the Super-cased Sea-Dweller to 40mm, it would just feel like a thick Submariner, especially with that recently-added cyclops crystal. As the deeper-diving, helium-escape-valve-toting younger sibling, it only makes sense for the Sea-Dweller to be a bit larger than the Sub.

Final Thoughts + My One Complaint 

Realizing that the SD43 fit my wrist was a lot like realizing I could do a pull-up in high school gym class. I long assumed that it was out of the cards, but after giving it a proper try, I walked away with a smile on my face. 

My only complaint about this watch relates to its dial/crystal configuration. The SD43 has a glossy dial and a crystal without anti-reflective coating. There are a number of modern Rolexes that share this configuration and I can think of at least one watchmaker (who often comments on these articles) who hates it as much as I do.

Perhaps it's the amount of dial text on this model, maybe it’s the general lack of negative dial space, but reflections run amok. The dial text, coronet, and indices reflect off of the underside of the crystal which reflects off of the glossy dial, resulting in a strange “seeing double” effect. In the right lighting it feels like you’re in a mirror maze. And don’t get me started on fingerprints.

Here’s my “letter to Santa Claus” for the next Sea-Dweller (and every Rolex going forward for that matter): if the dial is glossy, please put some anti-reflective coating on the crystal. The underside will do just fine.