Rolex’s Perpetual collection gets a brand new timepiece with the Perpetual 1908 model. The Perpetual 1908 was given this name in homage to the year that Hans Wilsdorf came up with the name Rolex and first registered the brand in Switzerland. This new Perpetual 1908 is certainly different from the rest of the models being released by Rolex in this year’s Watches and Wonders.
This three-hander timepiece was created as an elegant and understated dress watch. The 39mm slim case features a bezel composed of two parts: the bottom part is fluted while the top is domed. Taking cues from some of the iconic bezel designs Rolex has created, the brand has now brought them together in one watch. To give this timepiece its elegant design, the lugs have a slight curvature and have been gently chamfered along the top edges. The sapphire glass on the dial and underside of the timepiece is made from virtually scratchproof sapphire, which has an added anti-reflective coating.
The watch case comes in either 18 ct yellow gold or white gold, with each case type having two dial variants. Rolex is also starting to create more of their timepieces with an open case back. We saw with their latest Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona release (which you can find here) the 950 platinum edition was given an open case back, which is a first for the Daytona. Now, the Perpetual 1908 gets an open case back too, which allows for the technical sophistication and the decoration of the movement to be seen.
Each case material, whether 18ct yellow gold or white gold gets a sleek intense white or intense black dial. The dials have a mixture of Arabic numerals for 3, 9, and 12 o’clock positions and faceted index for the hour markers. At the 6 o’clock position, we can see an elegantly designed constant seconds sub-counter, along with the words “Superlative Chronometer” above the sub-dial. The hour hand has the iconic “circle just before the tip” design, while the minute hand has a sharp double-edged sword design.
The Perpetual 1908 was inspired by one of the first Rolex models fitted with the Perpetual rotor. It brings back traditional watchmaking with its stylistic design while staying up to date with modern times with Rolex’s quintessential watchmaking expertise. This latest edition to the Perpetual collection is easily defined by its design, which is portrayed through its simplistic and sharp design, and details such as a mixture of styles for hour indices and hands make this its own unique design.
Rolex has given the Perpetual 1908, the caliber 7140 movement, which was entirely developed by Rolex is unveiled for the first time this year. The caliber 7140 movement comes with Rolex’s patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Through this efficiency and thanks to the barrel architecture, the movement is able to put out a power reserve of approximately 66 hours.
This isn’t the only patented component in the movement, however, as it also contains the Syloxi hairspring, which is a silicon hairspring with a patented geometry that ensures the caliber’s regularity in any given position. To increase the movement’s shock resistance, the oscillator is mounted on patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers. The oscillating weight has been skeletonised and fashioned from 18ct yellow gold, which can be seen through the open case back.
An elegant timepiece designed from tradition, the all-new Rolex Perpetual 1908 is here to immortalise Rolex’s age-long spirit of creating sophisticated and beautiful timepieces. In the brand’s pursuit of excellence, this new timepiece brings together Rolex’s history and modern innovations through its many patented designs. Like all Rolex timepieces, this model is covered by the brand’s Superlative Chronometer certification and has an international five-year guarantee.
Reference: 52508, 52509
Specification:
- Case: 39mm
- Case Material: 18ct white gold or 18ct yellow gold
- Dial: Intense black or Intense white dial
- Crystal: Scratchproof Sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 5 Bar (50m)
- Movement: Automatic Rolex manufacture caliber 7140
- Power reserve: Approximately 66 hours
- Bracelet/Strap: Alligator leather strap with double folding Dualclasp in either black or brown.
