Rolex Oyster Perpetual, the classic: design and prices

If you like high-quality and expensive watches, you simply must love Rolex. There are probably only a handful of watch manufacturers who can keep up with the level of the traditional watch manufacturer Rolex. But what actually makes a Rolex so special and above all so expensive? We have looked at the most famous Rolex models and present them to you. In this case the “Rolex for beginners” and an absolute classic: the Rolex Oyster Perpetual.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual: the Rolex for beginners

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual is now an absolute classic, with a simple and timeless design. It is considered the perfect watch for Rolex “newcomers”. According to Rolex, it is the epitome of the classic Oyster and is also quite affordable by Rolex standards, although it still offers many technical refinements. Since this model is available in different case sizes, the Oyster Perpetual is suitable for both men and women.

The watches are in the direct tradition of the original Oyster, the world’s first water-resistant wristwatch, which established the Rolex brand’s reputation in 1926. They feature all the basic attributes of the Oyster Perpetual collection: chronometric precision, water-resistant Oyster case and automatic self-winding movement with perpetual rotor. With hour, minute and second indications and exclusively in Oystersteel stainless steel, they represent the wristwatch chronometer in its purest form. The anti-reflective coating on the back of the new generation Oyster Perpetual sapphire crystal ensures optimal readability of the dial.

Prices

The Oyster Perpetual from Rolex is one of the most affordable models in the Rolex family. Usually the price is between 4.500€ and 5.500€. Of course, special requests or custom-made products can exceed this price range.

  • Oyster Perpetual 28mm Oystersteel: 4.600€
  • Oyster Perpetual 31mm Oystersteel, yellow dial: 4.700€
  • Oyster Perpetual 34mm Oystersteel, blue dial: 4.750€
  • Oyster Perpetual 36mm Oystersteel, pink dial: 5.050€
  • Oyster Perpetual 41mm Oystersteel, turquoise blue dial: 5.350€

Design

The Oyster Perpetual is considered the classic and mother of Rolex watches. In contrast to younger models such as the Daytona, the Oyster Perpetual is somewhat more limited in terms of design possibilities. It is available (except on special request) exclusively in Oystersteel stainless steel, alloys such as gold or platinum are not offered. However, the dial is available in several colors and the case can have a size between 28-41mm, just as you like it.

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Design choices

  • Housing: 28mm, 31mm, 34mm, 36mm, 41mm
  • Dial: Light, dark, colored (yellow, blue, turquoise, pink, red, green)
  • Material: always Oystersteel
  • Bracelet: always Oyster-Band

Classical style with individual details

The Oyster Perpetual line of wristwatches features a universal, classic style and offers useful functions for everyday life with its hour, minute and second display. The new version of the Oyster Perpetual 41 features an unusual configuration: Its radial-cut silver dial features hands and indices in 18-carat yellow gold.

Material: The famous Oystersteel

Rolex uses stainless steel Oystersteel for the cases of all its stainless steel watches. The stainless steel Oystersteel, specially developed by the company, belongs to the steel grade “Stainless Steel 904L” – an alloy that is mostly used in the high technology, aerospace or chemical industries, where the highest corrosion resistance is required. Stainless steel Oystersteel is extremely durable, has an exceptional shine after polishing and retains its beauty even under extreme conditions.

Technical Features

Chromalight display

The light reflections on the flanks of the central part emphasize the refined shapes of the Oystersteel stainless steel case, which is fitted with a cambered bezel. The new generation of Oyster Perpetual watches also features the Chromalight display, whose hands and indexes – covered or filled with a blue luminous substance that glows for a long time – are visible for longer in the dark.

Novelty: Caliber 3230

The Oyster Perpetual 41 and the new versions of the Oyster Perpetual 36 are equipped with Caliber 3230 – a movement entirely designed and manufactured by Rolex, presented this year. Several patents have been filed for this mechanical self-winding movement. This mechanical self-winding movement has made great strides in terms of precision, power reserve, shock resistance, resistance to magnetic fields, ease of use and reliability. Caliber 3230 is driven by the Perpetual-Rotor automatic self-winding mechanism. Thanks to the construction of its barrel and the increased efficiency of its escapement, it now boasts a power reserve of around 70 hours.

Winding crown

The winding crown, made from around ten different individual parts, is hermetically screwed to the case. Thus, for the first time in the history of watchmaking, Rolex created a watertight winding crown – a secure interface between the protected and sealed inner workings of the watch and the harmful influences of the outside world.

The radial cut

Radial grinding on Rolex dials is a preferred process in watchmaking for applying color with an intense metallic tone to the dial, as is the case with silver-gray, rhodium and ruthenium. In most cases, galvanic silver plating serves as a base layer for radial grinding. Another color is then applied to the dials prepared in this way. Sometimes color shades – like champagne – are created from several metals.

The Oyster strap

The Oyster bracelet, a particularly robust three-row metal bracelet with flat elements introduced in the late 1930s, is still the most popular bracelet in the Oyster collection. It is used on all Professional models, but also on some classic models such as Datejust, Day-Date and Sky-Dweller. It can be fitted with all types of Rolex clasps (Oysterclasp, Oysterlock and Crownclasp) and is suitable for use with the comfortable Easylink extension system.

Oscillator and spiral spring

The combination of balance and hairspring is the rate regulating mechanism that determines the precision of a wristwatch by the regularity of its oscillations. In the quest for extreme precision, Rolex introduced in 2000 a hairspring made from an exclusive alloy, a compound of niobium, zirconium and oxygen: the Parachrome hairspring.

Rolex introduces: The Oyster Perpetual