Oyster Story - A New Watchmaking Era

One hundred years of achievements that have profoundly shaped the world of watchmaking. A human and technical journey that now extends into the future.

In 2026, Rolex unveils a new, more demanding certification with strengthened criteria. And continues its quest for extreme precision by drawing on quantum physics to further redefine the measurement of time.

Watchmakers in the Rolex workshops, 1942.
The Research and Development Division at Rolex is dedicated to upholding the founder’s vision.
The Rolex offices were set up in 1919 on rue du Marché in Geneva.
Hans Wilsdorf with Rolex watchmakers.
Technical drawings of movements at Rolex Bienne, late 1950s.
Watchmakers at work in the Rolex workshops on the rue du Marché, 1960s.
Waterproofness test conducted using a fathometer, ensuring the case withstands pressure at depth.
A Rolex watchmaker assembling a movement, 2022.
The introduction of the Oyster marked a fundamental milestone in the realization of Hans Wilsdorf’s vision.

Strengthened certification

Pushing the boundaries of excellence

In 2026, Rolex has reaffirmed its commitment to the wearers of its watches by strengthening its Superlative Chronometer certification with three new testing criteria, implemented during the design and manufacturing stages: resistance to magnetism, reliability, as well as sustainability – an overarching criterion.

These criteria supplement the ones established when the certification was redefined in 2015 – precision, waterproofness, self-winding and autonomy (power reserve) – which are validated during tests on the finished watch.

The Rolex second

Redefining the measurement of time

Rolex has always made chronometric precision a fundamental goal. It is a cornerstone of the brand’s watches and of its Superlative Chronometer certification.

This quest of precision also underlies the culture of constant innovation that has spurred the brand to develop innovative, high-performance optical atomic clocks. These one-of-a-kind instruments allow Rolex to guarantee the precision of a second with unrivalled accuracy.