With all the hype around the new subs unveiled by Rolex (and rightly so) this year, I have to admit that I am a tad bit distracted by the splash of colours on the new Oyster Perpetual 36 collection, particularly that candy pink version. For a brand who’s always churning out serious, timeless, elegant watches, its refreshing to see them having a little bit of fun with this line.
Available in five original coloured lacquered dials – candy pink, turquoise blue, yellow, coral red and green, the Oyster Perpetual 36’s are great for those looking to kickstart their Rolex’s wardrobes. Great summer additions too! The dial is punctuated by hour markers fashioned from 18 ct gold to prevent tarnishing, enough for them to feel right at home. The new generation Oyster Perpetual models also have a Chromalight display: the hands and hour markers are coated or filled with a luminescent material that emit a long-lasting blue glow in dark conditions.
There are certain pieces you just have to see in the metal and the Oyster Perpetual 36 is clearly one of those. I’m quite keen on seeing how these colours pop on steel. Precious and dainty, the watch sits pretty at 36mm in an Oyster case made out of a solid block of Oystersteel. A paragon of robustness and elegance, the Oyster case of the Oyster Perpetual 36 is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). Other details include: the Twinlock winding crown and the scratch proof sapphire crystal.
These reasonable sized watches, which would perfectly accentuate slim wrists are fitted with an Oyster bracelet and an Oysterclasp with the Easylink comfort extension system. It is the first time that this extension system has been used on a bracelet for the Oyster Perpetual range. On this particular Oyster bracelet, the tops of the links are satin-finished, while the sides are polished.
Aesthetics aside, the other talking point here is the calibre. The new Oyster Perpetual 36 gets Rolex’s new Calibre 3230, which works even more efficiently than its predecessor (Calibre 3130). Calibre 3230 incorporates the Chronergy escapement patented by Rolex, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic fields. The movement is fitted with an optimized 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 case of shocks. The blue Parachrom hairspring is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is fitted on the Rolex-designed and -patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance. The movement is now powerful enough to deliver a power reserve of 70 hours and will also be accurate to +2/-2 seconds a day.
Priced at approximately USD $5,600, I’d say the new Oyster Perpetual 36 is a great“everyday” wear Rolex. It’s bright, light and a beautiful reflection of the crown.