Rolex watches are arguably the most popular luxury watch brand. We certainly see many Rolex watches coming into our watch repair shop here in Midtown Manhattan – that’s because many New Yorkers own Rolex watches and want to keep them in tip-top shape. Plus, many New York City residents actually collect Rolex watches, and have more than one. Thus, they bring in a Rolex for a complete top-to-bottom service. When we service a Rolex, we “dig into the details” as that is where the value is. If you own a Rolex, let Ron inspect, service, and – if needed – repair your watch.
As we monitor the Rolex industry, our eye was caught an interesting article from WatchTime that shared several key details about the “Rolex Oyster Case,” among them –
- Developed in 1926, the Rolex Oyster (as it was named by the brand then), was the world’s first workable waterproof and dust-proof watch case.
- The Rolex Oyster combines a hermetically sealed case, winding crown, cyclops lens, fixed or rotatable fluted bezel, a helium-escape valve for the Sea-Dweller and Rolex Deepsea timepieces, and finally the Chromalight display.
- Starting from the top, the Rolex Oyster case is hermetically constructed to guarantee a water resistance of 100 meters (330 feet) to 300 meters (1,000 feet) for the Submariner and Submariner Date timepieces, 1,220 meters (400 feet) for the Sea-Dweller and 3,900 meters (12,800 feet) for the Deepsea collection.
- Released in 1953 and 1970, respectively, the Twinlock and Triplock winding crown is a patented feature of the Oyster case that was developed to ensure its high water-resistance. It was this part of the development of the Rolex Oyster case that gave Rolex watches their reputation as having among the most efficient waterproof case structures to date.
- One of the standout feature of the Oyster case is the “Cylops” lens that is present on the sapphire crystal.
- Rolex began using an innovative luminescent material called Chromalight. This material, which emits a blue glow, offers greater visibility and also extended time of visibility in dark conditions.
- A helium valve prevents the watch crystal from popping off when the diver is in a decompression chamber.
- The bezel is also one of the most visible parts of the watch that is prone to external corrosion. For this reason, Rolex developed and patented the Cerachrom bezel insert and the Cerachrom bezel in 2005 for specific Professional models in the Oyster collection.
Please read the full article for even more details on the watch; above, we are highlighting some of the most interesting.
Underwater or in New York City: The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Guides You on Your Way
OK, let’s be serious. Most New York City residents are hardly going to be deep sea diving, nor in a position to depend on the Rolex Oyster and its helium valve when coming up in a decompression chamber. It’s over-the-top. But a) it’s there if you ever need it, and b) a lot of the Rolex brand identity is showing off best-in-class technology, “because you can.” Similarly, many New Yorkers own Rolex watches “because they can.” No brand shows “you’ve made it” more than a Rolex. No brand. And a Rolex Oyster Perpetual is a best-in-class variant of this incredible watch brand. According to Rolex, “Watches in the Oyster Perpetual range are direct descendants of the original Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch, on which Rolex has built its reputation since 1926. These watches benefit from all the fundamental features of the Oyster Perpetual collection – excellent chronometric precision, a waterproof Oyster case, and self-winding of the movement via a Perpetual rotor. Displaying hours, minutes and seconds, made exclusively of Oystersteel and featuring a sophisticated finish, these are chronometer wristwatches in their purest form. The anti-reflective coating applied to the back of the sapphire crystal on the new generation Oyster Perpetual ensures optimal legibility of the dial” (https://www.rolex.com/en-us/watches/oyster-perpetual.html).
Got a Rolex? Let Ron Service or Repair It
If you’re lucky enough to own a Rolex, you want to keep it working well. These watches are complex, technologically advanced watches, and thus they benefit from regular service and repairs. Fortunately, our watch repair shop is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan. We’re know as the best Rolex service center in New York City, and many people prefer us over the more traditional, authorized Rolex service center. Whatever works best for you, reach out to Ron for a top-to-bottom Rolex repair service!