Here's Why There Are No Entry Level Models in the Rolex Collection
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Whenever Rolex announces its new collection, it’s always big news. Last July, when Tudor staged its global debut of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue and after months of speculation, the 2020 Rolex collection was unveiled last September 1st.
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Both the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue and the new Rolex collection were supposed to debut at Baselworld 2020 but the event never happened. At first, it was just supposed to be reset to another date due to the pandemic according to the organizers, but Rolex and some other key brands decided to totally pull out from the show.
Production was also put to a halt last summer which aggravated the situation. As result, Rolex timed its release this September. It was worth the wait. Aside from a new Submariner collection, here are some of the other notable pieces from the 2020 Rolex collection.
Rolex Sky-Dweller
This year’s Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller is fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet for the first time in the model range. The Oysterflex is an innovative, bracelet cladded with a high-performance rubberized elastomer and comes with an 18 ct gold Oysterclasp that also features Rolex Glidelock extension for the first time for enhanced comfort on the wrist. The Glidelock extension was first seen in the 2017 Rolex Daytona models that allows the bracelet to be adjusted without any use of tools.
The Sky-Dweller with its dual time and annual calendar function is the brand’s most complicated timepiece. It still uses the same Calibre 9001 movement as previous generation models with a bi-directional self-winding rotor with an instantaneous annual calendar and dual time function. The date aperture at the 3 o’clock position while the month indicator is displayed via 12 apertures around the circumference of the dial with the current month indicated in red.
The reference time (second time) is indicated via its 24-hour, off-center disc. The annual calendar function automatically differentiates between 30 and 31-day months using an ingenious patented mechanism and you only need to adjust the date once a year because the month of February only has either 28 or 29 days in the case of a leap year.
The new version is also equipped with the fluted rotatable bezel unique to the Sky-Dweller, which is used to set the watch in conjunction with the Rolex Ring Command system. The dial comes with the hands and hour markers that are coated or filled with a luminescent material that emits a long-lasting bluish glow in dark conditions.
The quintessential Oyster
These 2020 watches in the new Oyster Perpetual range can be called direct descendants of the original Oyster, and is considered the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. It is the foundation on which Rolex has built its reputation since 1926.
The basic features of the Oyster Perpetual collection are its chronometric precision movements, a waterproof Oyster case, and self-winding of the movement via its Perpetual rotor.
Brahim Drissi, the country manager for Rolex Philippines who made the exclusive media presentation was quick to point out that the Oyster Perpetual collection should not be considered as “entry level” watches.
“Every watch in this range undergoes the same rigorous testing and has all the qualities of Rolex watches as the other models in the entire Rolex range.” He clarifies. He does have a point, considering the price range of these watches starts at P270,000 and up.
This includes the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This exclusive designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex. Drissi also added that the precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer timepiece is only deviates −2 /+2 seconds per day, which is more than twice that required of an official chronometer.
This year’s Oyster Perpetual timepieces sports both classic dials including a very beautiful silver sunray finished dial with classic hour markers in 18 ct yellow gold, highly legible Chromalight luminescence, and matching yellow gold hands.
Another standout in the collection are the very colorful dials ranging from green, yellow, turquoise blue, candy pink and coral red lacquer finish. Though they may not be for everyone, these attractive dials offer a refreshing introduction to a more youthful and playful market. The case size ranges from 41mm, 36mm, 34mm, 31mm and 28mm.
All watches in this range continue to use the Oyster bracelet, the classic and robust metal bracelet with flat three?piece links designed in the 1930s. The Oyster bracelet is also used in the brand’s entire professional range and some models of the Sky-Dweller, Datejust and Day-Date models.
