The oyster case turns 100 this year, and Rolex found a subtle way to acknowledge the milestone at Watches & Wonders with the release of a yellow Rolesor Oyster Perpetual. The watch is, for all intents and purposes, a modern Oyster Perpetual rather than a bespoke recreation of a watch from 1926, as was shown in the teaser video leading up the event, but there are plenty of small details presented here that allude to the iconic history being celebrated. What began as the first water proof case from Rolex has come to serve as a defining pillar of their modern identity. It underpins everything from the Submariner to Daytona, and is the backbone of their case design language.
The oyster case takes its name from the humble mollusk for its ability to protect its content from the ingress of water with a tight seal. The naming convention has migrated to other elements within the Rolex pantheon of registered trademarks over the years, from the Oystersteel to the no longer produced Oysterquartz collection. The word graces the dial of nearly every Rolex reference housing an automatic movement, i.e. an Oyster Perpetual. It’s safe to say that the word has been woven into the very fabric of the brand at this stage.
There is, however, only one collection that uses the name, which is also, quite simply, the Oyster Perpetual. Available in five sizes and a myriad of colors and materials, it is Rolex’s most diverse collection. It is here that Rolex has decided to honor the Oyster’s centennial with a special Oyster Perpetual rendered in steel and yellow gold (Rolesor). This special configuration is available in three sizes: 31mm, 36mm, and 41mm. Each uses a slate grey sunray finished dial with green pad printing at each hour marker, as well as for the Rolex branding at 12 o’clock.
What sets this dial apart is sat at the bottom, where you’d typically expect to see a “Swiss Made” Rolex have instead written out “100 Years” in honor of, well, 100 years of the Oyster case. Additionally, the crown also bears the “100” marking under the crown. In total it’s a suitably subtle acknowledgement of the anniversary from Rolex set within the brand’s most accessible range. Pricing begins at $7,700 for the 31mm variation, rising to $8,450 in 36mm, and finally up to $9,650 in 41mm.
The oyster case lives on in a timeless fashion, while it represents more than mere watertightness these days, it still does exactly what it says on the tin with a 100 meter depth rating. The shape has changed very little over the generations, which lends to the general pleasant on-wrist experience of these watches.
The rest of the watch is standard fare in the Oyster Perpetual collection, using the Rolex caliber 3230 (in the 36mm and 41mm cases; caliber 2232 for the 31mm case) with the Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring, and 70 hours of reserve. None are limited edition, though when it comes to availability, all bets are off. Rolex
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