The Oyster
A revolutionary watch

The challenge of precision

An ongoing scientific quest, chronometric precision became a necessity at the turn of the 20th century in a world where the pace of change was accelerating on all fronts. A man of his time, Hans Wilsdorf placed it at the very centre of his work.

In 1910, a Rolex watch obtained a certificate for chronometric precision from the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. This wristwatch thus proved to be as precise as a pocket watch, the benchmark in those days.

The challenge of waterproofness

In 1926, the invention of the Oyster marked a major breakthrough in watchmaking. This watch case, which would later give its name to a wristwatch, was made totally waterproof and dustproof thanks to a system of screwing down the bezel, case back and winding crown against the middle case.

Hans Wilsdorf explained the choice of the name ‘Oyster’ for his waterproof watch as follows: “The fact that, like an oyster, it can remain an unlimited time under water without detriment to its parts, gave me the idea of christening it the ‘Rolex Oyster’, the name under which it has become famous throughout the world.”

It set the standard for the precise, reliable wristwatch. It became the archetype of the modern watch. A watch so innovative, efficient and ahead of its time that its design largely influenced the way all watches are made.

Today, chronometric precision remains an ultimate goal. Today, the majority of watches are waterproof. And today, most mechanical watches are self-winding.

Rolex has never ceased to innovate and push back the limits of what is considered possible in horology. For 100 years, and since the birth of the Oyster, the brand has always stayed one step ahead to fulfil the vision of its founder and apply its exceptional know-how to manufacturing exceptionally high-performance wristwatches.