Rolex unveils new watches and materials
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognised the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Perpetual watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolised by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, and periodically validated by an independent external organisation. This year, the maison is presenting the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller, a new watch, as well as the GMT-Master II in Cerachrom
Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller
Rolex is unveiling the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller, a new watch in two sizes, 36 mm and 40 mm. No fewer than 32 patent applications and patents pertain to the Land-Dweller; 18 are exclusive to this watch and 16 of those concern its movement. The Land-Dweller is paired with a brand-new metal bracelet – the Flat Jubilee – which merges seamlessly with the Oyster case. Bracelet and case form a balanced, harmonious whole, with the alternation of polished and technical satin finishings further enhancing the interplay of the shapes and volumes. The top edges of the bracelet’s outer links are bevelled, as are those of the middle case, and the resulting chamfers polished, creating the appearance of a continuous ribbon of light. The Land-Dweller sports an Oyster case that has been specially restyled. The bezel, fluted or set with diamonds, showcases a finely detailed dial with a honeycomb motif.
At the heart of the Land-Dweller beats calibre 7135 at a frequency of 5 Hz. Thinner than the majority of Rolex movements, it nonetheless offers exceptional performance. Featuring a regulating system composed of an innovative escapement – the Dynapulse – and a state-of-the-art oscillator, it enables the watches to display the date as well as the hours, minutes and seconds. The Land-Dweller 40 in a white Rolesor version (combining Oystersteel and white gold) features a fluted bezel and an intense white dial with a honeycomb motif. The Land-Dweller 36 is fashioned in 18 ct Everose gold. Its dial is identical but is set with ten baguette-cut diamond hour markers and surrounded by a bezel glittering with 44 trapeze-cut diamonds. Crafted from 950 platinum is the Land-Dweller 40 with a fluted bezel and a dial in ice blue – a colour reserved for watches made of this prestigious metal – which is also adorned with a honeycomb motif.
GMT-Master II
Rolex is introducing its first-ever dial made of high-technology ceramic. This inaugural green Cerachrom component makes its debut on an Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II with winding crown on the left side of the case and date aperture at 9 o’clock, a version which additionally, this year, is presented in 18 ct white gold. The new Cerachrom dial – created in the same way as dials in natural stone, by fitting a disc of material onto a brass plate – displays the same shade of green as the lower half of the two-colour green and black Cerachrom bezel insert that frames the watch face. This perfect tonal harmony, under all lighting conditions, is achieved by using the same type of ceramic to produce both elements.
The watch has a unique and instantly recognisable design with a bidirectional rotatable bezel and a 24-hour graduated insert, available in single-colour versions as well as in various dual-colour combinations – the lower half symbolising daytime hours and the upper signalling night-time hours. In 1982, Rolex unveiled the GMT-Master II, with a movement allowing the hour hand to be set independently of the other hands. With traditional hour, minute and seconds hands, a triangle-tipped 24-hour hand, and a bidirectional rotatable bezel with 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert, the GMT-Master II can display the time in two time zones simultaneously: either the local time and a reference time, or the local time and that of an alternative time zone. The date is synchronised with the local time. This edition, mounted on an Oyster bracelet equipped with an Oysterlock safety clasp, is driven by calibre 3285, a movement that displays the date and an additional time zone in 24-hour format, as well as the hours, minutes and seconds. The timepiece carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, ensuring excellent performance on the wrist.
