Rolex is known across the globe as the manufacturer of some of the most iconic timepieces in the world. These are watches that represent success and a keen eye for engineering excellence and style. The Rolex collection features watches that have become the blueprint for groundbreaking attention to detail, advanced technology and exquisite design.
However, one of Rolex's most iconic watches is elegant in its simplicity and ageless design - and this is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The Rolex Oyster was first launched in 1926 and was the first truly waterproof watch on the market - a groundbreaking achievement. So great was its reputation for reliability that the watch (waterproof to at least 100 meters) that it was worn by Mercedes Gleitze who became the first woman to swim the English Channel.
In 1931 Rolex had perfected its self-winding mechanism. And in 1945 the name of the Rolex Oyster was amended to 'Rolex Oyster Perpetual' when the timepiece first featured the self-winding movement. It was also this year that saw Rolex add the 'Datejust' automatic date change feature to the watch, a feature that was to be dropped from later models including the Perpetual Stainless Steel Red Dial.
In all models (and there are over 30), the watches have three hands – hours, minutes, and the center seconds. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual is available in a number of dial colors, styles of bezels, and sizes, from 28mm – 41mm.
The case of the 31mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual Red Dial is designed using 'Oystersteel'. Oystersteel is part of the 904L steel family. These are alloys mostly used in high-technology applications, as well as the aerospace and chemical industries. Oysterstell offers extremely high corrosion resistance and will retain its striking appearance even in the harshest and most testing environments.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel Red Dial may not boast the price tag of some other models in the Rolex collection. But is elegant in its style, simplicity, and engineering quality. It is a Rolex model that is desirable not for these reasons - but also because it has stood the test of time.