Oyster Story - A Visionary Undertaking

Precision, waterproofness, self-winding. Three major challenges, three fundamental achievements that would forge the success of a visionary individual and the destiny of a revolutionary watch.

The first waterproof watch: the Rolex Oyster.

The arrival in 1926 of the iconic Rolex Oyster

1927 An advertisement for the Oyster in the Daily Mail

1926 – The first waterproof wristwatch by Rolex: the Oyster.
“Like an oyster, it can remain an unlimited time under water without detriment to its parts.” Hans Wilsdorf
1927 – A front-page advert heralds the cross-channel feat of celebrated swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, effectively Rolex’s first Testimonee.
1927 – An advertisement for the Oyster in the Daily Mail stating: “The Rolex wrist watch: the world’s best by every test”.
1931 – The Oyster Perpetual with a yellow gold case, featuring the Rolex Perpetual rotor.
1964 – The Oyster was often displayed inside a fish tank or bowl to demonstrate its waterproof qualities.
1964 – Rolex “Swinging” advertisement highlighting the self-winding feature of the Rolex Datejust.
Rolex Founder Hans Wilsdorf at his desk in Geneva, Switzerland.

The challenge of precision

An ongoing scientific quest, chronometric precision became a necessity at the turn of the 20th century in a world where the pace of change was accelerating on all fronts. A man of his time, Hans Wilsdorf placed it at the very centre of his work.

In 1910, a Rolex watch obtained a certificate for chronometric precision from the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. This wristwatch thus proved to be as precise as a pocket watch, the benchmark in those days.

The challenge of waterproofness

In 1926, the invention of the Oyster marked a major breakthrough in watchmaking. This watch case, which would later give its name to a wristwatch, was made totally waterproof and dustproof thanks to a system of screwing down the bezel, case back and winding crown against the middle case.

Hans Wilsdorf explained the choice of the name ‘Oyster’ for his waterproof watch as follows: “The fact that, like an oyster, it can remain an unlimited time under water without detriment to its parts, gave me the idea of christening it the ‘Rolex Oyster’, the name under which it has become famous throughout the world.”

The challenge of energy

With the introduction of the Perpetual rotor in 1931, Rolex freed wearers from the need to manually wind their watches.

By devising this self-winding system with a free rotor, Hans Wilsdorf overcame a third fundamental challenge in pursuit of his vision. The success of this undertaking completed the Oyster revolution.

The Oyster Perpetual

The archetype of the modern watch

It set the standard for the precise, reliable wristwatch. It became the archetype of the modern watch. A watch so innovative, efficient and ahead of its time that its design largely influenced the way all watches are made.

National Physical Laboratory advertisement

Today, chronometric precision remains an ultimate goal. Today, the majority of watches are waterproof. And today, most mechanical watches are self-winding.

Rolex has never ceased to innovate and push back the limits of what is considered possible in horology. For 100 years, and since the birth of the Oyster, the brand has always stayed one step ahead to fulfil the vision of its founder and apply its exceptional know-how to manufacturing exceptionally high-performance wristwatches.

The challenge of precision

Rivalling the best

The rigour of certification

The challenge of waterproofness

Building an impenetrable defence

A promise of reliability

The challenge of energy

Liberated from manual winding

At one with the movement

The archetype of the modern watch

The challenge of precision

Rivalling the best

The rigour of certification

The challenge of waterproofness

Building an impenetrable defence

A promise of reliability

The challenge of energy

Liberated from manual winding

At one with the movement

The archetype of the modern watch