The Oyster case is one of the foundations of the reputation for excellence of Rolex watches. Invented by Rolex in 1926, it was the world’s first waterproof case for a wristwatch thanks to its patented system of screwing down the bezel, case back and winding crown against the middle case. Like the mollusc, the Rolex Oyster is robust and clamped shut.
It provides a hermetic environment that protects the high-precision Perpetual movement from water, dust, or pressure.

By operating its own exclusive foundry, Rolex has the unrivalled ability to cast the highest quality 18ct gold alloys. According to the proportion of silver, copper, platinum or palladium added, different types of 18ct gold are obtained: yellow, pink or white. They are made with only the purest metals and meticulously inspected in an in-house laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, before the gold is formed and shaped with same painstaking attention to quality. Rolex's commitment to excellence begins at the source.

By operating its own exclusive foundry, Rolex has the unrivalled ability to cast the highest quality 18ct gold alloys. According to the proportion of silver, copper, platinum or palladium added, different types of 18ct gold are obtained: yellow, pink or white. They are made with only the purest metals and meticulously inspected in an in-house laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, before the gold is formed and shaped with same painstaking attention to quality. Rolex's commitment to excellence begins at the source.

The screw-down winding crown and the case with screw-down back form the core of the Oyster. Created by Rolex in 1953, the Twinlock system ensures that the screw-down crown is water-resistant thanks to two sealed zones, one inside the tube of the crown, the other inside the winding crown itself. This system is used on all the watches in the Oyster collection that are guaranteed waterproof to 100 metres (330 feet).

The Cyclops lens enhances the date aperture, magnifying the date display by two and a half times for easy reading. It is one of the most distinctive Rolex features, and one of the most recognizable.

The watch case is rigorously tested to ensure it meets pressure-resistance requirements. The three-step process - a vacuum test, a compression test and a condensation test - will reveal the presence of even the smallest amount of moisture inside the case.

The Datejust Special Edition is equipped with calibre 2235, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Like all Rolex Perpetual movements, the 2235 is a certified Swiss chronometer, a designation reserved for high-precision watches that have successfully passed the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) tests. Its architecture, in common with all Oyster watch movements, makes it singularly reliable.

The four simple words Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified on a Rolex watch dial mean that the very movement inside the timepiece has endured 15 days and nights of testing by COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres – Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), an independent not-for-profit association. To receive COSC certification as a Swiss chronometer, a watch must demonstrate extreme precision in a variety of positions and temperatures. Rolex is unique in the industry: this is the standard level of quality required of every Rolex wristwatch movement.

Invented by Rolex in 1931, this ingenious mechanism harnesses the energy of natural wrist movements to provide a reliable and clean source of power for the watch movement. It consists of a half-moon- shaped oscillating weight, which pivots freely in both directions on its axle. As it rotates, the rotor continuously winds the Perpetual movement’s mainspring, ensuring a constant and stable source of energy. This enhances the watch’s precision and eliminates the need to wind it regularly. The Perpetual rotor mechanism features two distinctive red reversing wheels, which ensure efficient winding of the movement regardless of the direction in which the oscillating weight rotates.

By operating its own exclusive foundry, Rolex has the unrivalled ability to cast the highest quality 18ct gold alloys. According to the proportion of silver, copper, platinum or palladium added, different types of 18ct gold are obtained: yellow, pink or white. They are made with only the purest metals and meticulously inspected in an in-house laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, before the gold is formed and shaped with same painstaking attention to quality. Rolex's commitment to excellence begins at the source.