Rolex is a brand that needs no introduction. A brand that sits at the forefront of the luxury industry, Rolex bridges modern innovation with timeless design flair – creating timepieces that utilise the very finest in revolutionary features, but which retain that sophisticated and elegant look that’s heralded by horological enthusiasts everywhere.
One thing that you may notice about Rolex is that the brand does not release new makes and models particularly regularly. What it does, however, is release new iterations of the timepieces that work and that are praised by Rolex buyers.
Some of its most popular and in-demand watches have been around for decades. And it’s testament to the quality and versatility of each collection, that many Rolex owners will buy and own several watches from the same collection, just with different details and finishes.
Which brings us to the crux of this piece – considering the aesthetic value of Rolex’s differing colour palettes, and how to choose the right finish for you.
Rolex has a long history of quality and prestige at the heart of the brand and all of its timepieces.
In 1905, the Rolex name was launched, with its creator Hans Wilsdorf dreaming of the day when he could create and release a wristwatch that was precise, reliable, and timelessly stylish. This dream became a reality in 1910 when a Rolex wristwatch was presented with the Swiss Certificate of Chronomatic Precision – and ever since then, the brand and its releases have gone from strength to strength.
The Oyster Perpetual has become the norm at Rolex, by embracing two core innovations, which were initially released separately by Rolex in 1926 and 1931 respectively. The oyster function came first and references the watch’s waterproof case, which protects the moving mechanism from both water and dust.
The perpetual movement followed five years later, referencing the self-winding mechanism that transforms the motion of the wearer’s wrist into the winding of the mainspring. In terms of the wearer’s experience, this feature in particular transformed the popularity of wristwatches; by alleviating the need to manually wind a watch, and instead ensuring it automatically tells the time correctly.
Together, these features created a new era of Rolex watches. This era continues to frame and shape the industry and the way wristwatches are used, with buyers often considering the pre-Oyster Perpetual era as the vintage Rolex era, while everything that has come since is a more modern innovation.
The release of the oyster case design and the perpetual mechanism both sparked changes in the way watches were made – but combining them led to a whole new era of timepieces. Once these innovations became part of timepiece design, all watches could be waterproof to specific depths, free from dust, and able to be powered by an automated movement.
What this meant for wearers is that their watches were both more reliable and more durable. Even as new adaptations have been added to later collections and releases, especially across the Professional range that covers specific sporting and athletic needs, the foundation of the Oyster Perpetual structure remains the same.
Which brings us nicely on to the adaptations that separate different models, collections, and individual timepieces.
One of the most obvious distinguishing features between different Rolex models is the change in dial colour. This is influenced in part by trend, though Rolex maintains its core collection with colours that are recognisable as part of the brand’s identity. Added to this are the iconic stick-shaped hour markers, and the Chromalight finish on both hour markers and the watch hands – making them easy to read throughout the day and night.
Interestingly, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual as a simple standalone model has never received the same accolades as the Professional models – despite representing the foundation for the brand’s entire product line.
Nevertheless, as demand continues to soar for authentic Rolex watches, Oyster Perpetual timepieces are carving out a new place on the market, with an ever-changing roster of bold colour tones and finishes. And the brand-new collection, released in 2020 with a plethora of new dial colours, has done wonders for the reputation of this particular style of Rolex all across the luxury market.
Rolex green remains one of the most popular, reminiscent of the brand colours and logo. Other popular colours that span the Oyster Perpetual collection specifically include a turquoise blue (representative of Tiffany blue, another iconic luxury brand), yellow, candy pink, and a bright coral red. A selection of four additional colours are available, which include a sunburst pattern to add further texture to the dial. These are blue, silver, black, and another pink option.
Each of these coloured dials is available in different Rolex sizes and with different bracelet finishes.
With so much to consider, including the different styles of Rolex watches and the variety of colour tones and shades available, how should buyers approach the purchase of an authentic Rolex timepiece?
A Rolex is not simply a product you walk away from a retail store with. Backed by waitlists and the accolade of being one of the world’s most sought-after brands, each Rolex that the brand produces has an extensive list of potential buyers.
This means that most buyers are best turning to the secondary reseller market – visiting a local luxury boutique and browsing the stock available. Not only does this give you visibility of what’s available, but it protects your purchase with top-level authentication and valuation standards.
So, which Rolex Oyster Perpetual dial colour is calling to you – and are you keen to discover the magic of a vintage Rolex, or the wonders of an innovative newer model?
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