In the 1900s, a whole century was progressing – in science, discovery, and thought. And then came a simple idea: The Oyster.
“It had all the future, and the whole world laid out before it,” said Hans Wilsdorf, as he pioneered what would become watchmaking’s most revolutionary waterproof case and design. With a dream of redefining the wristwatch as a reliable, robust, and practical object, the Oyster embarked on a conquest – triumphantly planting its flag in Earth’s toughest conditions as well as its highest peak. With a promise of precision, robustness, and self-winding mastery, the Oyster became a living laboratory of humanity’s most remarkable achievements in the 20th and 21st centuries. In 2026, Rolex celebrates the Oyster’s centenary – continuing its legacy of excellence. Discover their new releases, designed for the next century.
Consecrating Its Centenary: Oyster Perpetual 41
As a tribute to the original Oyster, Rolex unveils the strikingly opulent Oyster Perpetual 41. Cased in 41 millimetres of Oystersteel with a lustrous Yellow Rolesor bezel (a nod to 100 years), it embraces a brand new ‘slate’ dial – a fresh hue for the Oyster Perpetual family. Marking the celebrations, the inscription ‘100 years’ appears at 6 o’clock, replacing the traditionally etched ‘Swiss-Made’. Upon closer inspection, at each five-minute interval of the minute track, a square draped in Rolex’s emblematic green hue complements its central logo. The dial is also graced by Chromalight treatment, offering a long-lasting blue luminescence. Waterproof to 100 metres with a screw-down caseback, it’s equipped with the Manufacture’s self-winding calibre 3230 and blue Parachrom hairspring, delivering a –2/+2 sec/day precision and a 70-hour power reserve. Secured by a three-link Oystersteel bracelet with a folding Oysterclasp and 5 millimetre comfort extension link.
Letters of Legacy: Oyster Perpetual 36
A dial unlike any before, exploding with colours, and crafted with masterful technique, the Oyster Perpetual 36 displays a multi-coloured lacquer dial adorned with the Jubilee motif. Every letter of ‘Rolex’ takes a playful and artistic form, drawing inspiration from the brand’s dial-making heritage. With each of the ten dial hues applied one after the other, every motif is delicately configured to perfection. Cased in 36 millimetres of Oystersteel, it’s extremely resistant to corrosion and scratches, with a matching three-link Oyster bracelet. Inside, Rolex’s self-winding in-house calibre 3230 uses a blue Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers, delivering a 70-hour power reserve and Superlative Chronometer Certification.
The Golden Age: Oyster Perpetual 28 & 34
Encapsulating a centenary of excellence with the sheer lustre of gold, Rolex presents the Oyster Perpetual in sizes of 28 and 34 millimetres. Housed in 18-carat yellow gold, this 24-millimetre precious novelty is graced by a green stone dial – delicate yet bold and restrained yet expressive. Featuring a green stone lacquer dial, the Oyster Perpetual 34 arrives in Everose gold with a blue stone lacquer dial. The hour markers at three, six, and nine o’clock are crafted from natural stones – a first for Rolex. The Oyster Perpetual 28 & 34 are both equipped with Rolex’s calibre 2232, delivering a 55-hour power reserve. It employs a Syloxi hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers, receiving a Superlative Chronometer Certification.
A League of Its Own: Datejust 41
Designed to carry its legacy, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 arrives in a white Rolesor version, adorned with a green lacquer ombré dial. As a truly aesthetic configuration, Rolex has refined this icon to make its date window even clearer, contrasting against the dial’s ombré rim. Flawlessly uniting Rolex’s signature features: fluted bezel, green, and precious white gold, the new Datejust 41 houses the Manufacture’s calibre 3235, which is self-wound, employs a Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers, and delivers a 70-hour power reserve. Secured by a complementing three-link Oystersteel bracelet with a folding clasp and Easylink 5 millimetre comfort extension link.
Beyond the Horizon: Yacht-Master II
Returning with renewed clarity and technical purpose, the Yacht-Master II refines Rolex’s regatta chronograph with simplified operation and enhanced legibility. Designed for race starts, it features a programmable countdown with mechanical memory and on-the-fly synchronization, now reworked for intuitive use. The bidirectional graduated bezel with blue Cerachrom insert frames a highly legible display, while the redesigned countdown improves time management during critical sequences. Available in Oystersteel, the 44-millimetre model is powered by the new calibre 4162, delivering a 72-hour power reserve and Superlative Chronometer precision. Secured on an Oyster bracelet combining robustness, comfort, and nautical elegance.
Iconic Titles. Exceptional Watches
Reserved for the most refined expressions of watchmaking, Rolex presents the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 and Cosmograph Daytona, embodying the maison’s pursuit of horological excellence and refined performance. Gently shining, the Day-Date 40 arrives in 18-carat Jubilee gold with a warm, opulent glow and contrastingly paired with a green aventurine dial. On the other hand, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is a Rolesium version, combining Oystersteel and platinum – featuring a sapphire case back, held in place by a platinum ring, and an Oystersteel bracelet. Fusing traditional know-how and advanced technology, this watch deftly pairs the luminosity of a white enamelled dial with the metallic effect of an anthracite Cerachrom bezel in tungsten-rich ceramic, edged with a band of platinum. Echoing the original Cosmograph Daytona’s design, the tachymetric scale of the new bezel boasts ‘suspended’ numerals, which are inscribed in a thoroughly contemporary font.
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives