Watch Paparazzi

Actor Odd-Magnus Williamson spotted wearing Rolex

Norwegian actor and comedian Odd-Magnus Williamson has been spotted wearing a Rolex Sea-Dweller reference 116600, and his explanation for the choice is one of the more honest pieces of watch commentary you will hear from a celebrity. No talk of heritage or investment. Just the psychological comfort of knowing your watch can survive conditions you personally never will.

The Rolex Sea-Dweller 116600 was introduced at Baselworld 2014, marking the model's 40th anniversary and its return to the spotlight after years of living in the shadow of the DeepSea. Rolex rated it to 1,220 meters — 4,000 feet — and fitted it with the brand's proprietary helium escape valve, a mechanism developed in collaboration with COMEX in the early 1970s to prevent crystal blow-outs during decompression after saturation dives. The case measures 40mm in Oystersteel, powered by the Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and Rolex's own Paraflex shock absorbers. The 116600 was notably the first Sea-Dweller to receive a Cyclops magnification lens on the date window — a change that divided collectors but aligned it more closely with everyday Submariner wearers.

The reference 116600 was discontinued in 2017 when Rolex introduced the 43mm Sea-Dweller 126600, which celebrated the model's 50th anniversary. That relatively short production window — roughly three years — has given the 116600 a quietly desirable status in the secondary market. It occupies a sweet spot: large enough to feel substantial, yet more restrained than the Deep Sea's 44mm bulk. Collectors who want serious dive credentials without the wrist presence of the DeepSea frequently land here.

Williamson, known for his work in Norwegian television and film, frames his ownership with a deadpan logic that resonates. His description of Monday mornings as "really deep water" and the helium valve as readiness for existential pressure is genuinely funny — and accidentally a fine summary of why tool watches appeal to people who never use them as tools.

On the grey market, the 116600 has held firm. Its discontinued status and loyal collector base keep demand steady, with prices sitting comfortably above original retail. For a watch Rolex never heavily marketed, it has aged well — on the wrist and on the balance sheet.