Rolex Corner - THE LEGACY
A Rolex is cult, built for perpetuity – and with a unique look. Why is that?
THE CROWN
Each winding crown is screwed down, making it waterproof and dustproof. Besides the Rolex coronet, there are also codes on the crown: a horizontal bar stands for stainless steel, two dots for gold and a case sealed with a twin lock. And three dots for a triple lock: these models are as waterproof as a submarine hatch.
FLUTED BEZEL
It reflects light almost as beautifully as a diamond: of all the Rolex bezels, the fluted one is the most characteristic. Originally, the fluting served to screw the bezel to the case, which ensured the water resistance of the watch. Today, it has become an aesthetic signature of Rolex.
THE ARCHETYPE
The Oyster Perpetual Datejust is the epitome of the classic Rolex watch. When it was launched in 1945, it combined all the important innovations that existed at the time and was the first automatic chronometer wristwatch
with a date display at three o’clock. Its timeless design and robustness make it the most successful Rolex model to this day.
THE CASE
The completely waterproof Oyster case protects the movement inside against water, dust, pressure and shocks.
THE MAGNIFIER
The “Cyclops”, the magnifying lens over the date, magnifies it two-and-a-half times. Bonded to the exceptionally scratch-resistant sapphire crystal of the watch, it is made of double-sided anti-reflective sapphire crystal for optimal readability. The fact that the number 28 is shown under the magnifying glass on many photos is purely aesthetic: no other number fills the window more beautifully.
THE HOUR HAND
The distinctive hour hand of the Submariner and other models is also part of the Rolex DNA. It came about for a purely practical reason: the hour and minute hands should be distinguishable at a glance (e.g. when diving). A circular area filled with luminous material proved brittle as it hardened: dividing it into three sections led to a reduction in the surface tension.
CLASPS
The most poetic of all Rolex clasps is the Crownclasp: a small, elegant coronet closes the bracelet almost invisibly – and perfectly transforms it into a piece of jewellery.
SMART (top):
The Jubilee bracelet was created in 1945 to celebrate Rolex’s 40th anniversary and the launch of the Datejust. It comprises well over 100 individual parts that are assembled by hand.
TIMELESS (middle):
Even if it is hard to believe because of its timelessly modern look – the Oyster strap was the first watch bracelet from Rolex.
ICONIC (middle):
The President strap is reserved for the day-date models and some versions of the Datejust in precious metal and is made exclusively in 18-carat gold or platinum 950.
FLEXIBLE (down):
The Oysterflex strap has longitudinal pads on the inside for maximum wearer comfort.
OYSTER PERPETUAL
The name does not actually refer to a particular model, it stands for two special features – water resistance (Oyster) and the automatic winding mechanism (Perpetual rotor).
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