A collection shaped by innovation
Chapter III
A case that gave its name to a watch, and then to a collection. One hundred years after its creation, the Oyster continues to symbolize Rolex’s unique innovative spirit and craftsmanship.
Presented in 1931, the Oyster Perpetual represents an important milestone in watchmaking history.
The direct descendant of the original Oyster, it takes its name from the innovative self-winding system housed within it: the Perpetual rotor. The Oyster Perpetual represents the quintessential wristwatch according to Rolex.
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When it was released in 1945, the Datejust represented, in the words of Hans Wilsdorf, “the pinnacle of watchmaking science”.
This self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch was the first Rolex watch to display the date in a window at 3 o’clock on the dial.
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With the introduction of the Submariner in 1953, Rolex offered a divers’ wristwatch guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet); this waterproofness rating was increased to 300 metres (1,000 feet) in 1989.
The Submariner Date, a version of the model with a date function, released in 1969, was in turn guaranteed waterproof to 300 metres (1,000 feet) as of 1979. The rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel is one of the emblematic features of these two Rolex tool watches.
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Created in 1953 in the wake of the historic ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the Explorer is exceptionally robust, capable of withstanding temperature fluctuations, high altitudes and repeated shocks.
The characteristic sleek black lacquer dial of the Explorer, with its contrasting aesthetics and 3, 6 and 9 numerals, also offers outstanding legibility in all environments.
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Unveiled in 1982, the GMT‑Master II is the successor to the GMT‑Master, whose launch in 1955 came at a point when people were beginning to move around the world faster and distances were becoming shorter.
With its two-colour rotatable bezel and triangle-tipped 24-hour hand, the GMT‑Master II is recognizable at a glance. Its dual time zone function makes this watch the trusted companion of globetrotters, strengthening their connection to their own special ‘somewhere out there’.
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At its launch in 1956, the Day-Date was the only calendar wristwatch to display, in addition to the date, the day of the week spelt out in full in a window on the dial.
The day display is currently available in 26 languages. The Day-Date is always paired with its emblematic President bracelet.
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From the mid-1950s, scientists began using new instruments and equipment that produced strong magnetic fields. These can be harmful to mechanical watches, disrupting performance or even causing the movement to stop completely.
Aware of this phenomenon, Rolex engineers developed the Milgauss, a watch fitted with an internal shield that protects the movement from magnetic interference. The Milgauss was tested by researchers at CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics, close to Geneva. With its famous lightning-bolt seconds hand, the Milgauss embodies the links between Rolex and science.
The classic Rolex feminine watch, the Lady-Datejust made its first appearance in 1957, carrying the elegance of the Datejust in a small case size – 25 mm at its launch.
Available in Oystersteel or Rolesor versions, in 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold, it remains today, with a diameter of 28 mm, the brand’s smallest wristwatch with a date display.
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The Air‑King formally joined the Rolex watch family in 1958.
On its dial, the name ‘Air‑King’ was written in a distinctive italic typeface – an exception within the brand’s Oyster Perpetual range. This lettering has remained unchanged ever since. The Air‑King dial also displays a prominent minutes scale. This special design offers instant and optimal legibility for navigational time readings.
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Launched in 1963, the Cosmograph Daytona has become a true watchmaking icon.
Symbolizing the steadfast ties that have connected Rolex and the world of motor sport for almost a century, this emblematic watch, immediately recognizable by its design, is a universal reference among chronographs.
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Rolex created the Sea-Dweller to meet the challenge of prolonged underwater missions at great depths.
Waterproof to 610 metres (2,000 feet) at its launch in 1967, then to 1,220 metres (4,000 feet) from 1978, it was optimized over the years in partnership with Comex (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises). The Sea-Dweller is specifically designed for ʻsaturation’ diving and features an helium escape valve.
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Released in 1971, the Explorer II is the worthy heir to the Explorer. It shares the same qualities of resistance to extreme conditions while setting itself apart from its predecessor by its unique face.
The Explorer II is recognizable for its additional orange hand and fixed 24-hour graduated bezel, which enable the wearer to distinguish between daytime and night-time hours.
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Launched in 1992, the Yacht‑Master was designed specifically for yachting enthusiasts. It embodies the rich heritage that has bound Rolex and the world of sailing since the 1950s.
The bidirectional bezel with raised 60-minute graduations is a key feature of the Yacht‑Master. This elegant Professional watch blends functionality and nautical style, making it equally at home on and off the water.
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The Yacht-Master II, launched in 2007, is the product of the long-standing relationship between Rolex and the world of competitive sailing.
In 2026, the brand presented the new generation of this regatta chronograph, whose countdown function with mechanical memory has been entirely redesigned. Sleek, simplified, modernized and with enhanced legibility, the new Yacht-Master II allows sailors to manage the crucial start sequence of races even more effectively.
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Since 2008, the Rolex Deepsea has continued the history of Rolex watches dedicated to deep-sea exploration.
Guaranteed waterproof to 3,900 metres (12,800 feet) – a depth at which no human can survive while scuba diving – it is equipped with the Ringlock system, enabling it to resist the extreme pressure of the abyss.
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Elegant, sophisticated, perfectly in sync with the world, the Sky-Dweller offers frequent travellers a complete and intuitive view of the time, wherever they may be.
Unveiled in 2012, the Sky-Dweller indicates the time in a second time zone via a red triangle pointing to a 24-hour graduated rotating disc. The current month is indicated in red in one of the 12 apertures that punctuate the hour markers around the circumference of the dial.
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Unveiled in 2025, the Land‑Dweller begins a new chapter in Rolex’s history.
With its Flat Jubilee bracelet and redesigned Oyster case, it reinterprets the style of watches with integrated bracelets in a distinctly contemporary way.
Resistant to strong magnetic fields, its revolutionary movement beats at the frequency of 5 hertz, a high rate that enhances its ability to maintain chronometric precision.
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