ROLEX STEEL WATCHES

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Datejust 41

Oyster, 41 mm, Oystersteel and white gold
Oyster Perpetual 39

Oyster, 39 mm, Oystersteel
Air-King

Oyster, 40 mm, Oystersteel
Sea-Dweller

Oyster, 43 mm, Oystersteel
GMT-Master II

Oyster, 40 mm, Oystersteel
Yacht-Master II

Oyster, 44 mm, Oystersteel
Explorer II

Oyster, 42 mm, Oystersteel
Milgauss

Oyster, 40 mm, Oystersteel
Rolex Deepsea

Oyster, 44 mm, Oystersteel
Sky-Dweller

Oyster, 42 mm, Oystersteel and white gold
Oyster Perpetual 36

Oyster, 36 mm, Oystersteel
Submariner

Oyster, 40 mm, Oystersteel

Rolex uses Oystersteel for its steel watch cases.

Specially developed by the brand, Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, alloys most commonly used in high-technology and in the aerospace and chemical industries, where maximum resistance to corrosion is essential. Oystersteel is extremely resistant, offers an exceptional finish once polished and maintains its beauty even in the harshest environments.

Few companies have been so consistently identified with the pursuit of excellence, the quest for the absolute, the discovery of original approaches and innovative solutions.

Rolex watches have proved themselves from the start in the most extreme conditions imaginable – from the depths of the deepest oceans to the summits of the highest mountains, in the air and on the race track. And to ensure that all Rolex watches can live up to these high expectations, every single one is tested to extremes before it is allowed to leave the Rolex site.

A little masterpiece of technical prowess, the winding crown of Rolex watches is made up of about 10 parts, and is screwed hermetically onto the watch case.

This is how Rolex, for the first time in the history of watchmaking, crafted a waterproof winding crown –– a secure interface between the protected, sealed world inside the watch and the harmful elements of the outside world.

Introduced in the late 1930s, the Oyster bracelet is a robust metal bracelet with flat three‑piece links, it remains the mainstay of the Oyster collection.

It is fitted on the entire range of Professional watches, but also on some classic models such as the Datejust, Day-Date and Sky-Dweller. It can be equipped with all types of Rolex clasps (Oysterclasp, Oysterlock and Crownclasp) and can include the Easylink comfort extension link system.

The history of Rolex and Swiss watchmaking are inextricably linked.

Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch, Rolex is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, and has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history.

Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet.

The Rolex crown, the logo and symbol par excellence of the brand, was registered in 1931.

It appeared for the first time on Rolex dials during the 1930s, then on the winding crown in the early 1950s. It also began to replace the 12 o’clock hour marker on some dials, such as on the Datejust, in the form of small 18 ct gold appliques.

The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

This exclusive designation attests that it has successfully undergone a series of specific final controls by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, in addition to the official COSC certification of its movement. This unique testing of the chronometric precision pushes back the boundaries of performance and makes Rolex the benchmark for excellence in mechanical watches.

Few companies have been so consistently identified with the pursuit of excellence, the quest for the absolute, the discovery of original approaches and innovative solutions.

The Perpetual movements that equip the Rolex models play a key role in the reputation for excellence of Rolex watches.

These self-winding mechanical movements, all rigorously certified as chronometers by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), are entirely designed and manufactured by Rolex based on common characteristics. These ensure high performance and adherence to uncompromising requirements in terms of precision, reliability, shock-resistance, efficient self-winding and ease of maintenance.

In a mechanical watch, the oscillator is the guardian of time.

Comprising a hairspring and a balance wheel, this regulating organ determines the precision of the watch by the regularity of its oscillations.

To guarantee excellent precision, in 2000 Rolex introduced a hairspring in an exclusive alloy of niobium, zirconium and oxygen: the Parachrom hairspring.

The Paraflex is an exclusive and highly efficient shock absorber developed and patented by Rolex.

Validated through extensive shock testing and laboratory measurements, it improves the shock resistance of Rolex watches by up to 50 per cent. The innovative geometry of the spring, designed by dynamic 3D modelling, ensures that it remains firmly positioned and with no risk of deformation.

A tiny component making a huge difference.

Why does a mechanical watch go “tick-tock”?

The ticking is produced by the escapement, which plays a key role in the movement’s measurement of time. “Tick”: a tooth of the escape wheel locks against one of the pallets of the lever. Then, released by the sweep of the oscillator, the pallet fork lets the wheel “escape”, until it locks against the second pallet: “tock”.

The pallet fork continues its infinite pendular beat against the oblique teeth of the escape wheel precisely 28,800 times every hour – 14,400 “ticks” and 14,400 “tocks”. That's 250 million times a year.

In 1931, Rolex invented and patented a self-winding mechanism with a free rotor, called the Perpetual rotor, based on a principle that would later be adopted by the whole watchmaking industry.

The self-winding mechanism consists of a half-moon-shaped oscillating weight, which pivots freely on its central axle, in one direction, then the other with the natural movements of the wrist. It transmits uninterrupted natural energy to the watch. The oscillations of the weight create energy which is stored in the mainspring, and provides the watch with a constant and stable source of energy.

The barrel supplies energy to the movement.

Inside is the mainspring whose powerful coils store the energy produced when the movement is wound, either manually or through a self-winding system. As the mainspring uncoils, it releases a continuous flow of energy which is controlled by the alternating movement of the escapement. Energy from the mainspring is transmitted to the escapement and the oscillator through the gear train. The movement’s autonomy or power reserve between windings depends therefore on how much energy the mainspring can store, and on energy efficiency.

The large balance wheel with variable inertia is fitted with four gold Microstella nuts enabling extremely precise regulating.

In new-generation movements, redesigned geometry and the high-precision machining have enhanced the poise threefold.

Insensitive to magnetic fields, the Parachrom hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations and remains up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks.

It is equipped with a Breguet overcoil, enhancing the isochronism of the oscillations in any position.

Rolex developed and synthesizes in-house exclusive high-performance lubricants with a considerably longer useful life and greater stability over time.

Rolex is the only independent manufacturer that has developed and synthesized its own lubricants.

Each type of oil has a specific application and requires about a decade of R&D. Low viscosity, or thinner, lubricants are used for high-speed contacts, such as in the oscillator. High viscosity, or thicker, ones are employed in high-pressure, impacting contacts such as the gear trains.