Since its founding in 1908, the brand has remained faithful to the deep conviction of its founder, Hans Wilsdorf, that the future of the wristwatch depended on superlative performance. The 1908 combines all the attributes that Wilsdorf believed were essential for a self-winding wristwatch: chronometric precision, waterproofness, autonomy, comfort, and durability.
Rolex Perpetual 1908
Avant-garde tradition
Elegant, classic and distinctly contemporary, the Perpetual 1908 is a further example of the boldness that has always distinguished Rolex.
Inheriting the brand’s historic codes as well as its many watchmaking innovations, this model perpetuates Rolex’s pursuit of excellence. Certified as a Superlative Chronometer, this refined timepiece, an illustration of the Manufacture's watchmaking expertise, brings classicism to the future.
Rolex
1908
39 mm, platinum, polished finish
€33,200.00
Rolex
1908
39 mm, 18 ct yellow gold, polished finish
€40,500.00
Rolex
1908
39 mm, 18 ct white gold, polished finish
€29,900.00
Rolex
1908
39 mm, oro giallo 18 ct, finitura lucida
€28.600,00
Rolex
1908
39 mm, oro giallo 18 ct, finitura lucida
€40.500,00
1908 embodies all the daring Rolex has shown since its origins
A classic style constantly reinvented
Hans Wilsdorf’s revolutionary innovations concerned the technical characteristics of his wristwatches, but they were also the result of a very strong aesthetic vision. The profile of the case and the design of the dial from 1908 reinterpret the classic – yet decidedly modern – spirit of the first Oyster Perpetual models. An authentic aesthetic signature, its elegant domed and fluted bezel translates a search for aesthetic delicacy in all its forms.
An essential design that combines past and present
With its numerals 3, 9 and 12, and small seconds counter at 6 o’clock, the 1908, available in 18 ct yellow or white gold and in 950 platinum, revisits the style of a 1931 Oyster Perpetual with a distinctly modern touch. The dial is a reference in terms of elegance and sophistication: Arabic numerals and faceted indexes in 18 ct gold stand out against the intense white or intense black dial, or the ice blue guilloché dial with a rice-grain motif. Protected by a domed sapphire crystal, it features a delicate railway track minute scale around its edge. The 1908 features different styles of hands: the minute hand is sword-shaped, while a hand with a pierced circle indicates the hours.
Refinement and comfort
The 1908 models are fitted with a leather strap, with the exception of one 18 ct yellow gold version, available with the exclusive Settimo bracelet. The brown or black alligator leather strap is distinguished by tone-on-tone stitching and an internal green lining, subtly paying homage to the Brand's emblematic colour. Made of 18 ct yellow or white gold or 950 platinum, the Dualclasp clasp offers greater comfort by adapting to the shape of the wrist. The Settimo bracelet, in 18 ct yellow gold, features delicate links that reveal reflections of unparalleled richness. Equipped with the invisible Crownclasp, it exhibits a harmonious design that evokes the bracelets of some elegant antique jewel-style watches.
A transparent case back to admire the excellence
By offering a timepiece that allows the movement to be admired through the transparent case back, Rolex continues to innovate while remaining true to its watchmaking tradition. Calibre 7140 features an openworked oscillating weight in yellow gold with three arms, bearing the inscription “Chronometer Perpetual” and equipped with an optimized ball bearing. The movement boasts exceptional finishes, such as the exclusive Rolex Côtes de Genève, a reinterpretation of a well-known traditional watchmaking decoration, from which it differs by the addition of a polished groove between each stripe. The virtually scratch-proof sapphire crystal case back is proof that, for Rolex, the aesthetics of the movement are as important as its performance.
Calibre 7140:
performance and elegance
To power the 1908, Rolex experts have developed a completely new self-winding movement, the calibre 7140, which allows time to be displayed thanks to two central hands and a small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. The development of this calibre, entirely designed and manufactured in-house, has led to several patent applications. In order to guarantee exceptional performance, its cutting-edge design incorporates some of the Manufacture’s key innovations, including the Syloxi hairspring in silicon, the Chronergy escapement in nickel-phosphorus – both resistant to strong magnetic fields – and the Paraflex shock absorber, which protect the watch’s regulating organ and escapement wheel from shocks.
“More than just a jewellery brand, we are a movement on a mission to revolutionise the jewellery experience.”