“Grand Bleu Challenge” is a code name given to a custom watch project by Geneva based independent workshop ARTISANS DE GENEVE.

The process began when a private client approached the atelier to personalize his Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea watch (reference 116660).

The inspiration of this project was the 1998 film The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu in French). Passionate about the beauty of the ocean’s depths, the client requested ARTISANS DE GENEVE to rework his Deepsea®. He wanted to keep its look and shape, all the while bringing a blue elegance to it.

Blue was the central theme — a color that evokes the ocean depths. The client wanted to keep the same proportions and nautical aesthetic of his timepiece while adding a technical and elegant dimension.

To get as close as possible to the ocean itself, ARTISANS DE GENEVE developed a spectrum of different blues — majestic and xxx — exclusively for the project.

The client wanted his timepiece to be both sporty and refined, a balance that was painstakingly executed by ARTISANS DE GENEVE’s artisans. Each piece of the 3135 movement was reworked, some pieces are rhodium plated, others circular-grained then hand-polished to bring shine to the modified caliber. After being skeletonized by hand, the plate was coated blue.

Technical details

Base: Rolex® 116660
Bezel: Unidirectional steel, majestic blue ceramic insert
Dial: openwork, circular-grained Luminova
Hands: Black Regate, sandblasted and polished
Rotor: Tungsten
Movement: Modified 3235 Caliber, skeletonized and beveled
Balance Bridge: Handmade, extra-fine, flat- polished
Date disc: Sapphire
Back: Sapphire crystal
Diameter: 44mm
Water resistance: 300m waterproof

Disclaimer: Artisans de Genève is an independent company specialized in the personalization of timepieces. It not affiliated with ROLEX SA nor authorized by them to intervene on their products for any reason whatsoever. This personalization was ordered by a customer, who owns a Rolex® timepiece, for his private use.