Rolex 1665 · Dial Reference · Double Red Sea-Dweller
DRSD Mark VII
If you are keeping count, this is the third replacement dial from Rolex — and it is an attractive new configuration worth knowing in detail.
Dial Overview
The Mark VII is a Luminova dial carrying two lines of red text. The red writing is approximately the same size as the Mark I and is printed directly on the dial — not applied over a white base coat. The coronet appears similar in form to the then-upcoming Rolex Deep Sea. The depth markings are rendered in italics, continuing the convention established by the Mark V.
The dial was being issued as a replacement for correct original dials beginning in the early part of 2008.
An attractive new dial indeed — and a significant one for collectors to document, as it represents Rolex’s third generation of service-replacement dials carrying the double-red configuration.
Key Characteristics
Mark VII · Dial Features
Lume Material
Luminova — third consecutive Rolex replacement dial to use Luminova in place of tritium
Red Lines
Two lines of red text — consistent with the classic double-red configuration
Red Text Size
Similar in scale to the Mark I — notably proportioned relative to the dial
Print Method
Red text printed directly on the dial — not applied over a white paint layer
Coronet Shape
Similar in form to the Rolex Deep Sea (then-upcoming at time of issue)
Depth Font
Italic typeface for depth markings — ft and m
Issue Date
Issued as replacement for correct original dials — early 2008
Replacement #
Third Rolex-issued replacement dial in the DRSD lineage (after Mark V and Mark VI)
Reference Photos
DRSD Mark VII — full watch view showing the two lines of red text, Luminova markers, and Deep Sea-style coronet. Photo by macfever.
Mark VII — dial detail. Note the direct red print and italic depth font.
Mark VII — coronet close-up. Compare to prior marks for shape differences.
Collector Context
The Mark VII is the final known Rolex-issued replacement dial in the double-red configuration. Its 2008 issue date places it at the tail end of the 1665 service lifecycle — well beyond the original production era of the early 1970s. For collectors, a watch wearing a Mark VII is definitively identified as having been serviced by Rolex after its original dial was replaced.
The coronet design, referencing the then-new Deep Sea model, provides a useful dating anchor. Combined with the italic depth fonts and Luminova fill, the Mark VII is straightforward to identify once the key features are known.
Photos by macfever · Additional information courtesy of macfever and Addict