The Oyster story
It was born from the intuition of Hans Wilsdorf. The founder of Rolex wanted the wristwatch to become an integral part of the technological innovations transforming society at the dawn of the 20th century. A hundred years after the Oyster revolutionized watchmaking, the range continues to expand, helping each wearer pursue their own goals.
Chronometric precision, waterproofness and automatic winding: these three essential challenges and fundamental watchmaking achievements highlight the success of a visionary and established the success of a revolutionary watch.
The challenge of precision
In 1910, a Rolex wristwatch received a chronometer certificate from the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. It was now as precise as a pocket watch, the benchmark at the time. In 1914, the watchmaking world was amazed once again when a Rolex wristwatch received a Class A precision certificate from Kew Observatory in Great Britain, a distinction previously reserved for professional marine chronometers.
These achievements helped establish confidence in the wristwatch, which had previously been regarded as little more than jewellery and considered highly unreliable in terms of precision. Having met the challenge of precision, Rolex turned to designing an impeccable case to protect the movement.
From the Oyster to the Oyster Perpetual
The invention of the Oyster case in 1926 was a milestone in watchmaking. The case that gave the watch its name was completely waterproof and dustproof thanks to a system in which the bezel, case back and winding crown were screwed down against the middle case.
In 1927, this watchmaking revolution was put to the test when English swimmer Mercedes Gleitze spent more than 10 hours in the icy salt water of the English Channel. The gold Oyster worn around her neck continued to function perfectly afterwards.
The development of a pioneering self-winding system – the Perpetual rotor – in 1931 further improved the performance of Rolex watches. The Oyster, precise, waterproof and now autonomous, became the Oyster Perpetual.
An open-air laboratory
“Performance under pressure” was Hans Wilsdorf’s philosophy. Following Mercedes Gleitze’s achievement, he equipped explorers, scientists, athletes, pilots, sailors, mountaineers and divers with Rolex watches. These women and men tested their reliability from the highest mountain peaks to the depths of the oceans, turning the planet into an open-air laboratory. Their feedback enabled the manufacture’s engineers to continually improve and perfect the Oyster.
A collection driven by innovation
Greater resistance to pressure and powerful magnetic fields, graduated rotating bezels and a second time zone... From the mid-1940s onwards, increasingly specialized models were created for a wide variety of needs. The first Oyster thus grew into an entire family of watches. Each set a standard in its category and many are celebrated as icons of watch design.
A commitment to the future
The story of the Oyster is also shaped by the countless achievements of legendary figures who wear a Rolex on their wrist.
The brand supports athletes whose expertise, discipline, technique and ability to inspire younger generations shape the history of their sport. Rolex continues this commitment through partnerships with leading institutions in equestrianism, golf, motor sport, tennis and sailing.
This pursuit of excellence also drives those supported by the Perpetual Arts Initiative, whose talent has made a lasting contribution to culture worldwide. By supporting these masters of emotion and the venues where they perform, Rolex seeks to preserve and pass on the fundamental human values it holds dear.
This commitment to the future is also expressed through the Perpetual Planet Initiative, driven by people who apply their expertise to the environmental challenges of our time. Building on the legacy of early explorers, they advance change and expand our understanding of the world in order to protect it.
The new Superlative Chronometer certification
In 2026, Rolex added three criteria to its Superlative Chronometer certification: resistance to magnetic fields, reliability and durability now join precision, waterproofness, self-winding and power reserve as the seven pillars of watchmaking excellence. Constant improvement has always been central to Rolex and this philosophy is reflected in every watch. The determination to continually push the limits is evident in the brand’s dedication to chronometric precision, which led to the development of pioneering optical atomic clocks offering the manufacture an unprecedented level of accuracy. These advanced tools are the new guardians of time at Rolex and form part of the international network that defines Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
