Rolex double Red Sea Dweller watch
This watch was purchased along with two others from the Superintendent of Diving’s own emergency funds for the 300-metre-Deep trials in the Mid 1970’s.  At the time there were stories of the faces blowing off the ordinary issue Rolex Submariners in the North sea.  One way around this was to leave the winder undone for the dry trials of course. There was no Sea Dweller watch available through the normal store’s channels in the RN and no time to arrange such a thing hence their purchase direct from Civil Jewellers.
Consequently, they had no Military numbers on them. They were scratched on NO 1 ,2, and 3.  On this point it needs mentioning that many of the Rolex Military Submariners that have RN numbers were not necessarily used by divers.  Going back in time you could buy these watches through MOD auctions quite cheaply as indeed I did but you never knew if they were worn by a Stores accountant, a Hydrographer or any other person who could prove a need.  So the only way you could be sure a diver had worn it was if he managed to leave the RN with it and you purchased it from him.
I am selling this watch for a friend but I do know pretty much the full history of it,  at least enough to know it is one in the same watch that was in the Bell aboard Seaforth Clansman when I did my Sat course in 1981 (My certificate tells me that date)  I also was aware of the three Sea Dwellers whilst I was in charge of the Stores in the Saturation trials team in 1981. They were not listed in the Permanent loan Book but there was a record of them in the Temporary loan book as being aboard Seaforth Clansman.  They had been in the Sat Team up until Clansman was taken on by the RN in 1981.
What happened to the other two is unknown but this one came to my possession via a Dealer friend who had bought it from an MOD sale in the late 80s early 90s.  I immediately had recognised it as ex Clansman and particularly as it had a Mates name scratched on it. I managed to purchase it from the Dealer and sold it for cost to the guy who’s name is on it and has had it all these years.
A signed paper will be sold with this watch from me as a one-time owner but also as proof of knowing the watch in my Saturation days.  Also a signed letter from the owner and pictures from his log and mine showing many of the dives done with the watch, several to 300 mts.
We are awaiting verification from its serial numbers as to its actual age by purchase. The owner is fairly sure he used it on the USA Mk1 trials to 300 mts in 1975 but this is yet to be verified.
It certainly did 50 to a 100 dives on Clansman and possibly more.