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Gold Standard: Rolex's new Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller is one that sets a new benchmark

When it comes to a timepiece with both style and substance, the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller meets the mark

First published in T Singapore By Angelyn Kwek

A closeup of the dial of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller watch.

IT HAS BEEN SAID that a Rolex never goes out of style. With the distinction of being the cornerstone on which the brand built its reputation, the Oyster Perpetual family of watches is synonymous with timeless form and function — a leitmotif made manifest once again in the new Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller. The first in the brand’s Classic category to feature the Oysterflex bracelet, this latest rendition has all the makings of a statement timepiece you’ll want on your wrist.

Cast in 18-carat yellow gold, the new Sky-Dweller features a gilded appearance that is at once flashy yet understated, centred by a dial in a bright black sunray-finish and outfitted with hands and hour markers in the same 18-carat yellow gold. The refined profile of the 42mm-sized watch is further emphasised by light reflections that play on the case sides and lugs.

An elegant watch for frequent travellers, the Sky-Dweller displays the time in two time zones simultaneously and has an annual calendar: the reference time is shown via an off-centre disc in 24-hour format while the local time is indicated using the conventional centre hands. The months of the year are marked by 12 apertures around the circumference of the dial, with the current month highlighted in red.

HARDWARE THAT FUNCTIONS BEAUTIFULLY
The Sky-Dweller doesn’t just sport a virtually scratchproof crystal sapphire over its dial, its Oyster case is also guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres. With a middle case crafted from a solid piece of 18-carat yellow gold, a Twinlock winding crown fitted with a double waterproofness system screwed down securely against the case, and a case back, edged with fine fluting, that’s hermetically screwed down with a special tool — making the delicate movement inside accessible only to Rolex watchmakers.

To round off its robustness and reliability, the watch is equipped with the innovative Oysterflex bracelet, developed and patented by Rolex to combine the sturdiness of a traditional metal bracelet with the flexibility, comfort, and aesthetics of an elastomer strap. Secured by a folding Oysterclasp in 18 carat yellow gold, the bracelet also features the Rolex Glidelock extension system that allows for tool-free adjustment of the length up to 15mm, by way of a particularly inventive mechanism that comprises a rack located under the clasp cover and a toothed sliding link that locks into the chosen notch.

Packshot of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller watch.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller is the first from the brand’s category of Classic watches to use the Oysterflex bracelet, which combines the sturdiness of a metal strap with the flexibility of an elastomer strap.

HOROLOGICAL FINESSE
At the heart of it all sits the calibre 9001, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Mechanical and self-winding with an approximate 72-hour power reserve, the Sky-Dweller’s movement features a blue Parachrom hairspring manufactured by Rolex in an exclusive paramagnetic alloy that makes it up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in the event of shocks.

Further upping the resistance factor are Rolex-designed and patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, ensuring that the oscillator and its frequency of 28,800 beats per hour stay unerringly precise, as guaranteed by its Superlative Chronometer-certified seal. This testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. The certification guarantees superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding capabilities.

And the final nod to the sophistication of the Sky-Dweller? The complexity of the calibre takes on an ease of use thanks to the ingenuity of the Ring Command system. This is an interface between the rotatable bezel, winding crown and movement that allows the wearer to select and set the watch functions one by one, easily, quickly and securely.