WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL

When stepping into the world of Rolex, the Oyster Perpetual serves as the starting point, offering legendary quality at an accessible price point. With a long and prestigious history, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual has been a staple in the watchmaker’s collection since 1926 and has served as a foundation for all their other timepieces..

With its no-frills design, the Oyster Perpetual is Rolex at its purest, and many consider it the perfect “one watch” for any occasion. This blog will guide you through everything to consider when buying an Oyster Perpetual, including its history, key features, most popular models, and other burning questions that demand to be spilt. So, here’s a little background check to start with.

What is a Rolex ‘Oyster Perpetual’?

The Oyster Perpetual is Rolex at its truest form, including all the elements that make a Rolex, a Rolex. The terms ‘Oyster’ and ‘Perpetual’ come from the model’s key features, which serve as the cornerstone of today’s Rolex watches.

In 1926, Rolex released the Oyster, a completely sealed and waterproof watch case. The Oyster case was the first in the world to be water and dust-resistant. And Perpetual means an automatically winding movement, first released by Rolex in 1931. It was the world’s first self-winding mechanism, powered by the natural movement of the wearer’s wrist.

The union of these two notable inventions led to the introduction of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection in 1931, marking a significant milestone in the world of watchmaking. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches feature an Oyster case made of stainless steel, a time-only dial with baton hour markers and three hands, an Oyster bracelet, and a Twinlock screw-down crown. In short, they offer both durability and mechanical ingenuity.

Key features of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual

There are a few key design elements that typically comprise most Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches.

• Oyster Case & Bracelet:

  The Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches are always equipped with an Oyster case and a three-piece Oyster bracelet. Initially made in two-tone gold and steel models, equipped with Jubilee bracelets, the Oyster Perpetual is now available in stainless steel with matching smooth bezels and Oyster bracelets. The 904L steel ensures the watches are anti-corrosive and maintain a spectacular lustre.

  
  

• Case Sizes:

  Over the years, Rolex has expanded the Oyster Perpetual collection with a diverse range of case sizes, catering to both men and women. Here’s a quick breakdown:

  · 24mm & 26mm (discontinued)

  · 28mm

  · 31mm

  · 34mm

  · 36mm

  · 39mm (discontinued)

  · 41mm

• Bezels

All modern Rolex Oyster Perpetual models are crafted from stainless steel and come with smooth bezels. However, in history, Rolex also outfitted this historic model with engine-turned and fluted bezels, which were available in various styles, depending on the model and the period during which it was produced.

• Dial

The dial is one of the key defining characteristics of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. It has a simple dial with no date function. Throughout its existence, Rolex has equipped the OP watches with a range of stunning dial colours, from conservative black, silver, and white to more vibrant options, as seen in the current range of Oyster Perpetual timepieces.

• Movement

A perpetual rotor movement powers the watches as per their original release in 1931. This perpetual rotor utilises an oscillating rotor that moves in both directions when the watch is moved, thus subsequently winding the mainspring. The current Rolex Oyster Perpetual timepieces are powered by two specific calibres: 3230 Calibre and 2232 Calibre. These movements are regarded as one of the most reliable movements made by Rolex, having passed the COSC tests.

Most Popular Rolex Oyster Perpetual models

Given that the Rolex Oyster Perpetual has been in production for centuries, there is a near-endless number of Oyster Perpetual models available on the secondary market. Here are some of the most popular references to consider buying:

1. Oyster Perpetual Ref. 124300

   Released in 2020, the Rolex 124300 is a stylish and practical Oyster Perpetual model. This large 41mm watch is crafted from 904L-grade stainless steel, which is both scratch and corrosion-resistant. Giving a modern-sporty aesthetic, this model is available in a wide range of dial colours with double batons at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Coupled with the Calibre 3230 Perpetual movement, this timepiece is extremely accurate.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Oyster Perpetual Ref. 116000

   Versatile and handsome, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 116000 is a very popular model in the pre-owned market. Aside from its appealing 36mm size, the watch offers two dial options: all baton dials with double markings at 3, 6, and 9, or a combination of Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9 and indices. This Rolex Oyster Perpetual model also comes in a variety of dial colours, from blue and black to silver, white, or red grape.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Oyster Perpetual Ref. 126000

   Among the current production, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126000 is the most sought-after. Featuring an impressive 41mm case size, the watches come in lacquered dial versions, inspired by the ‘Stella’ lacquered dials from the 1970s Day-Date and Date just models. Find the OP 126000 in striking colourways, such as coral red, forest green, canary yellow, and ‘Tiffany’ or turquoise blue. It’s a fan-favourite model.

   
   

   

   Celebration Dial

   
   

Is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual a good investment?

Similar to most Rolex models, the Oyster Perpetual is a good investment. This watch is an undisputed classic, consistently drawing attention among collectors and watch enthusiasts.

Additionally, like most Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual can retain its value over time, despite being worn regularly. For instance, the current production Rolex Oyster Perpetual models are selling for significantly more than their brand-new retail prices on the secondary market, making them excellent investment options and, thanks to the affordable pricing of their older models, they make great entry-level Rolex watches for new collectors.

Conclusion

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual will never disappoint, whether aesthetically, practically, or financially. The watches are extremely durable and effortlessly stylish, and are also phenomenal investment pieces. Therefore, if you can get your hands on one such desirable novelty.. go for it!