The Rolex Oyster celebrates a hundred years of watchmaking excellence.
Nineteen twenty-six will forever be known as the year the world of horology witnessed a tectonic shift in watchmaking. That was the year the Rolex Oyster was born, the brainchild of Hans Wilsdorf, Rolex founder who dreamed of adding the wristwatch to technological innovations transforming society. Since then, the Oyster has been steadfastly robust, practical and reliable on the wrists of those facing the toughest conditions. It has been a century that saw the Oyster evolve into a family of watches that are now considered definitive references.
A VISIONARY UNDERTAKING
At the foundation of the technology are the three fundamental achievements that have forged Rolex’s unmitigated success – precision, waterproofness and self-winding. These developments transformed the way we use timepieces, and altered the face of watchmaking.
“ROLEX OYSTERS HAVE FLOWN OVER EVEREST… CROSSED DESERTS AT RECORD SPEED… WITHSTOOD THE HUMIDITY OF JUNGLES AND RESISTED THE COLD OF THE ARCTIC – WITHOUT EVER ALTERING THE PRECISION OF THEIR MOVEMENT.”
HANS WILSDORF, 1948
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.
Although compact in size, the Oyster could match the precision of a large marine chronometer. Most importantly, it was Rolex’s first completely waterproof and dustproof wristwatch. A few years later, the invention of the Perpetual rotor, a self-winding system with a free rotor, patented in 1931, provided the Oyster with an inexhaustible source of energy. Wilsdorf’s vision had therefore been fully realized, crowning a watchmaking revolution that was already underway.
A LIVING LABORATORY
From then on, Rolex Oyster watches, time and time again, showed exceptional performance and reliability, proven in real-world conditions. Some of them reached the most remarkable records and achievements of the 20th and 21st centuries. The legend of the Oyster was forged on the wrists of pioneers and trailblazers who have shaped the modern world.
In October 1927, the young British swimmer Mercedes Gleitze wore an Oyster while swimming the English Channel. This landmark moment solidified Hans Wilsdorf’s conviction that excellence is demonstrated in the field, over time and under pressure.
Rolex later entrusted Oyster watches to various explorers, scientists, athletes, pilots, seafarers, mountaineers and divers. From the highest peaks to the depths of the oceans, these men and women put Rolex watches to the test in the living laboratory of our world. Their feedback enabled the brand’s engineers to continually develop and improve the timepieces so that, over time, Oyster watches became benchmarks for all those who relentlessly push the limits of their discipline and broaden the horizons of knowledge.
A COLLECTION SHAPED BY INNOVATION
The Rolex Oyster presents a case that would lend its name to a wristwatch, and then to a collection. One hundred years after its creation, the Oyster continues to symbolize the unique expertise of Rolex.
From the original innovation – the Oyster case – a line of emblematic watches was born. Not only are all models in the Oyster Perpetual collection fitted with an Oyster case, but they also carry many of the brand’s other groundbreaking developments. Each Rolex watch, down to the smallest detail, reiterates the pledge made in 1926 with the Oyster: to provide a reliable, precise and waterproof timepiece capable of accompanying its wearer in all their activities.
A COMMITMENT FOR THE FUTURE
The story of the Oyster is inextricably linked to the many achievements of iconic Rolex wearers. Men and women, athletes, artists, and conservationists who have made their mark on the world.
The word ‘Perpetual’, associated with the Oyster since 1931, underlines a determination to establish Rolex’s values for the long term. This philosophy guides the brand in numerous fields and draws on history to gain a better understanding of future challenges.
Rolex supports athletes whose skill, dedication, technical flair and ability to inspire younger generations have helped to shape the history of their sport. The brand continues to demonstrate this commitment by partnering with the most prestigious institutions in the fields of equestrianism, golf, motor sport, tennis and sailing.
This quest for excellence is also what drives the individuals championed by the Perpetual Arts Initiative, whose talent leaves a lasting impression on our global culture. By supporting these masters of emotion, as well as the institutions where they perform, Rolex strives to preserve and pass on the fundamental human values they so cherish.
This commitment to the future is also expressed through the Perpetual Planet Initiative, driven by those who share their expertise in order to tackle the environmental challenges of our time. Today, these changemakers build on the legacy of the early explorers, striving to increase our understanding of the world in order to find ways to protect it.
A NEW ERA IN WATCHMAKING
In 2026, Rolex not only celebrates a hundred years that have profoundly shaped the watchmaking world, but also unveils a new, more demanding certification with strengthened criteria. The company continues its quest for extreme precision by drawing on quantum physics to further redefine the measurement of time.
Rolex is expanding its Superlative Chronometer certification to seven testing criteria. Resistance to magnetism, reliability and sustainability now join precision, waterproofness, self-winding and autonomy. The constant drive for improvement has always been at the heart of Rolex, and this philosophy is reflected in every Oyster.
One of the ways in which the desire to constantly push boundaries is expressed is the brand’s ongoing quest for chronometric precision. This has resulted in the development of pioneering optical atomic clocks, giving the manufacture access to an unprecedented level of timekeeping accuracy. These cutting-edge, innovative tools are the new guardians of time at Rolex and will be incorporated into the international system that establishes Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
“Rolex must continuously strive to think and act differently from the rest,” said Hans Wilsdorf in 1951. A century since Wilsdorf gave birth to what is still one of the most sought-after timepieces in the history of watchmaking, the success and excellence resulting in his words still ring true.
