News 
In 2026, Rolex is celebrating the Oyster, the brand’s first waterproof wristwatch. It represents a century of continuous innovation; of horological and human achievements – and one that has seen this model evolve into a broad family of watches.
Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf dreamt of seeing the wristwatch keep pace with the wave of modernity that transformed society at the turn of the 20th century. He made it as accurate as a marine chronometer, despite its small size – and to ensure it knew no limits, he succeeded in protecting its movement against any intrusion.
In 1926, the invention of the Oyster marked a major breakthrough in watchmaking. Rolex’s first waterproof wristwatch was hermetically sealed against water and dust thanks to a system comprising a bezel, caseback and winding crown screwed onto the case. The development in 1931 of a groundbreaking self-winding system – the Perpetual rotor – further enhanced the performance of the brand’s timepieces. Accurate, water-resistant and now self-winding, the Oyster became the Perpetual, offering every wearer complete freedom of movement.
This original design gave rise to a wide variety of models such as the Explorer, the Milgauss, the GMT-Master, the Submariner, the Cosmograph Daytona and the Yacht-Master. Each of these watches was developed to meet a range of requirements including enhanced resistance to pressure and magnetic fields, graduated rotating bezels, chronograph functions and a dual-time display.
This year, Rolex has made the Oyster Perpetual the symbol of its anniversary celebrations and the Oyster Perpetual 41 is now available in a yellow Rolesor version, a combination of alloys featuring a bezel and winding crown in yellow gold paired with an Oystersteel case and bracelet. The number “100” appears on the winding crown and the dial. This timepiece also embodies the reinforcement of the Superlative Chronometer certification introduced in 2026, illustrating Rolex’s constant pursuit of excellence.
A legacy driven by extraordinary individuals
Convinced that excellence is demonstrated in the field, Hans Wilsdorf adopted a philosophy based on the principle of “la preuve par l’épreuve” (proof through testing). This vision came to fruition in 1927 when the British swimmer Mercedes Gleitze swam across the English Channel wearing an Oyster, thereby demonstrating the watch’s water resistance and paving the way for the many longstanding partnerships the brand would forge with exceptional individuals. Over the years, the Oyster was put to the test in the most hostile environments on earth, worn by explorers, scientists and adventurers. These real-world tests enabled Rolex to develop new technologies and improve its watches’ performance.
August 12, 2026