Rolex debuted a radiant men’s luxury timepiece on Sept.1, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, brightening up this gloomy year with a vibrant array of colour.
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Interestingly, this year Rolex decided to discontinue the Rolex Submariner 116610LV, better known as the ‘Hulk’, which featured a green dial and bezel, causing a frenzy on the secondary retail market.
That may be why a green dial option has been made available in this new line of colourful offerings. That’s alongside a fun candy pink, a mystifying turquoise blue, a bold coral red, and a sensational yellow. Then there is a bright black and silver for those who are looking for something a little more conservative.
New 41 mm size
This time around there is no longer a 39 mm option. It has been replaced by a 41 mm option, in addition to the 36 mm offering.
The robust Oyster bracelet, introduced in the late 1930s, with flat three-piece links, remains the bulwark of the Oyster collection. It can be equipped with all Rolex clasps, be it the Oysterclasp, Oysterlock or Crownclasp.
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High-tech steel bracelet
The Oystersteel belongs to the 904L alloys, an austenitic steel, meaning a solid solution of carbon in a non-magnetic form of iron. This type of steel used for the bracelet is most commonly used in high-technology such as in the aerospace and chemical industries.
The exquisite colour palette of the model’s dials are created using what is called the “sunray finish” method of watchmaking. That achieves the pure metallic colour dials such as shades of silvery grey and red.
Silver-plating is mostly used as a base layer, where further colour is added to the prepared dial. This product lineup offers some of the most adventurous colour combinations Rolex has offered to date. They are playful yet classy and elegant in their own right.
This may be seen as an attempt to appeal to more youthful or less conservative clientele. The price of these watches may also be an indication that Rolex is trying to tap into some of the competition brands like Breitling. Or, all of this may be due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
70-hour power reserve
Nevertheless these watches remain a superb purchase and the construction upholds the Rolex name. Inside the hardware is a Calibre 3230 movement, offering a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The jeweling is 31 rubies. And if you’re wondering what this means, jewel bearings are used to provide smoother surfaces that prolong the life of the mechanism by preventing wear in the pivot bearings.
Pricing
A standard mechanical watch usually consists of 17 jewels, just for better comparison. The Rolex Superlative Chronometer promises a precision of -2/+2 seconds per day. An international five-year guarantee warranties this most distinguished purchase.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual goes for $6,590.00 CAD in the 41mm, and $6,550 CAD in the 36 mm option.
Daron Halajian received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ryerson University. He has worked for American Express as a Travel and Lifestyle Consultant servicing elite clientele. He writes in both English and Armenian and his works have appeared in publications in Beirut, Los Angeles, Montreal and Toronto.
