![Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller](https://www.ablogtowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Rolex-Sea-Dweller-4000-watch-watch-if-21.jpg)
In this edition of aBlogtoWatch’s “Watch What-If,” designer Niklas Bergenstjerna takes a look at the 2014 Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 dive watch (hands-on here), and imagines what it would be like for this icon-inspired diver to have been inspired by other natural frontiers. In a sense, the concept is “what if the Sea-Dweller 4000” was not a dive watch at all, but rather inspired by water, land, air, and space? Of course, at heart, the design of the Rolex Sea-Dweller is all about diving, so this is a mere artistic taste of what it might look like rendered as though it were inspired by something else.
Above is what Bergenstjerna calls the “Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 Land,” inspired by just that. In his words it is “a watch sprung from the deep woods. It has surfaces from the trees with earth tone colors. What about exploring the wild wearing a gold watch with a cork dial? Sure, why not! The Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 Land is the ultimate ‘gold-digger’ watch!”
![Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller](https://www.ablogtowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Rolex-Sea-Dweller-4000-watch-watch-if-4.jpg)
The next one is inspired by the sky, namely space. This is an almost kitschy look at the achievements of space travel and how watches have been a big part of that celebration. The Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 Space is “a watch for the guys who took a giant step for mankind!” Be it in space or otherwise. It is “the no. 1 Star-Watch to wear when being among Stars!” It plays with the concept of luxury and stars (as they are part of the texture of the gold).
![Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller](https://www.ablogtowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Rolex-Sea-Dweller-4000-watch-watch-if-11.jpg)
Is a dive watch inspired by water? Yes and no. The Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 Water concept is just that and take inspiration from flowing liquid and sea creatures. Niklas imagines this Sea-Dweller design as “Damascus steel with the illusion of a flowing almost liquid metal surface. It has a dial with a close-up shark skin pattern. The ultimate dive watch should look shark sharp! This is a sea creature watch to maybe love or fear. Or both!” It is an interesting and polarizing concept that once again borrows from natural textures and aesthetics.
![Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller](https://www.ablogtowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Rolex-Sea-Dweller-4000-watch-watch-if-31.jpg)
What if the Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000 was an ultra-light-weight timepiece? That would make sense for something inspired by the air and cloud. The Rolex Sea Dweller 4000 Air concept would be “a light-weight and colored watch. High tech materials would making it extremely light yet almost indestructible. The Sea-Dweller Air gives the wearer the illusion that you better keep it on your wrist or it will simply float away like a balloon.”
Niklas Bergenstjerna is a freelance graphic designer and watch lover based in the south of Sweden. niklex.com