Since the brand’s creation in 1908, Rolex has pursued the fundamental conviction of its founder, Hans Wilsdorf, for whom the future of the wristwatch was inseparable from superlative performance. The 1908 combines all the essential attributes of a self-winding wristwatch according to him: chronometric precision, waterproofness, autonomy, comfort and durability.

With its 3, 9 and 12 numerals and its small seconds counter at 6 o’clock, the 1908 watch, available in 18 ct yellow or white gold as well as in 950 platinum, revisits the style of an Oyster Perpetual from 1931 and resolutely endows it with modernity. The dial is a model of elegance and sophistication: Arabic numerals and faceted index hour markers in 18 ct gold against an intense white or intense black dial, or an ice blue dial featuring a guilloché rice-grain motif. Protected by a domed sapphire crystal, it features a delicate ‘railway’ minute track around the circumference. The 1908 is equipped with hands of distinctive styles: the minute hand is shaped like a two-edged sword, while a hand with a pierced circle marks the hours.

By offering a watch that reveals its movement through a transparent case back, Rolex continues to innovate whilst echoing its watchmaking tradition. Calibre 7140 bears a cut-out oscillating weight in yellow gold with three arms, engraved with the words ‘Chronometer Perpetual’ and benefiting from an optimized ball bearing. The movement boasts some remarkable finishes including the exclusive Rolex Côtes de Genève – a celebrated traditional watch decoration, reinterpreted with a polished groove between each band. The window, made of virtually scratchproof sapphire, provides proof that, for Rolex, the aesthetics of the movement are as important as its performance.