Rolex Perpetual 1908
Cutting-edge classicism
Elegant, classic and undeniably contemporary, the Perpetual 1908 extends the original audacity of Rolex. Heir to the brand's aesthetic heritage, as well as its watchmaking innovations, it perpetuates the manufacturer's quest for excellence. An illustration of Rolex's watchmaking expertise and certified Superlative Chronometer, it combines classicism with the future.
The 1908 perpetuates the original boldness of Rolex
Since 1908, the year the brand was founded, Rolex has pursued the core belief of its founder, Hans Wilsdorf, that 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, water resistance, power reserve, comfort, and durability.
Classic style, perpetually reinvented
While Hans Wilsdorf's revolutionary innovations concerned the technical characteristics of the wristwatch, they also resulted from a very strong aesthetic vision. The silhouette of the case and the design of the dial of the 1908 reinvent the classic – already very modern – spirit of the first Oyster Perpetual. A true aesthetic signature, its finely domed and fluted bezel testifies to the search for delicacy in forms.
A sleek design linking the past to the present
With its 3, 9, 12 numerals and small seconds counter at 6 o'clock, the 1908 watch, available in 18 ct yellow or white gold and 950 platinum, reinterprets the style of a 1931 Oyster Perpetual, while giving it resolutely modern features. The dial is a model of elegance and sophistication: Arabic numerals and faceted indexes in 18 ct gold on an intense white or intense black dial or on an ice blue dial with a guilloché rice grain pattern. Protected by a domed sapphire crystal, it displays a fine railway minute track around the edge. The 1908 is equipped with different styles of hands: sword-shaped for the minutes and with a hollowed-out circle for the hours.
Refinement and comfort
The 1908 models are equipped with a leather strap, with the exception of the 18 ct yellow gold version, which is exclusively paired with the Settimo bracelet. Its brown or black alligator leather strap is distinguished by its tone-on-tone stitching and green interior lining, a discreet tribute to the watch brand's signature color. Its Dualclasp clasp, crafted in 18 ct yellow or white gold, or 950 platinum, enhances wearing comfort by molding to the shape of the wrist. The Settimo bracelet is made of 18 ct yellow gold and its refined links reveal reflections of incomparable richness. Equipped with an invisible Crownclasp clasp, it presents a harmonious design that evokes the jewelry-inspired bracelets of certain vintage watches.
A transparent case back for an exciting reveal
By offering a watch revealing its movement through a transparent caseback, Rolex innovates while echoing its watchmaking tradition. Caliber 7140 reveals a three-armed openworked yellow gold oscillating weight engraved with “Chronometer Perpetual” and featuring an optimized ball bearing. The movement features remarkable finishes, including the exclusive Rolex Côtes de Genève – a famous traditional watchmaking decoration, reinterpreted with a polished groove between each rib. This virtually scratch-resistant sapphire window demonstrates that, for Rolex, the aesthetics of the movement are as important as its performance.
Calibre 7140: performance and elegance
To power the 1908, Rolex watch engineers developed Caliber 7140, a completely new automatic movement capable of displaying the time via two central hands and a small seconds hand at 6 o'clock. Several patent applications have been filed for this movement, which is entirely developed and manufactured in-house. Its avant-garde design incorporates some of the manufacture's major innovations to ensure exceptional performance: a Syloxi balance spring in silicon, a Chronergy escapement in nickel-phosphorus alloy – both resistant to high magnetic fields – and Paraflex shock absorbers, which protect the oscillator and escape wheel from any possible impacts to the watch.
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