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INTRODUCING: The new Rolex Sky-Dweller on Oysterflex for the first time

Zach Blass

The Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller is back – pairing Yellow and Everose versions with Oysterflex bracelets for the first time. Oysterflex has become a fan favorite due to its tough, sporty, and adjustable build. The complicated cosmopolitan of the Rolex catalogue with this new configuration becomes a bit more casual and approachable in terms of look and fit.

The case & bezel

The two new Sky-Dweller models are, for the moment, limited to yellow and Everose gold cases with sophisticated fluted bezels that blend a sporty watch with formal wear aesthetics. At 42mm in diameter, the watches are by no means classically sized, but are well within the diameter of professional sports watches. While previously on a bracelet with fixed end links, the Oysterflex strap should have a higher degree of conformity around the wrist – possibly making the watch more wearable on smaller wrists intimated by its size. Thanks to its Twinlock crown, they are guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet) – and considering they are now on rubber Oysterflex bracelets, it only makes sense the watch is ready for a dip in a pool, lake or ocean.

The dial

There are six dial configurations for the two precious cases. In yellow gold, you can find white, champagne, and black, while in Everose you have the option of white, chocolate, or dark rhodium. The crystal is made of virtually scratch-proof sapphire and is fitted with a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimum protection for the watch’s movement. The genius move from Rolex in the Sky-Dweller’s design is the fact that they utilised the 12 hour markers to indicate the current month as well. Small square cutouts behind each marker signal the current month when the square turns red (that is, the month indicated in the pictures above is the 8th month of August). In its centre, the dials also each display a second time zone of the wearer’s choosing. This allows for a high level of complication, with little clutter to the dial.

The bracelet

The Oysterflex bracelet on this new version of the Sky-Dweller is equipped with a folding Oysterclasp in 18k yellow gold, designed and patented by Rolex. In addition, it features the Rolex Glidelock extension system, also developed and patented by the brand. This particularly inventive mechanism comprises a rack located under the clasp cover and a toothed sliding link that locks into the chosen notch. The Rolex Glidelock on the Oysterflex bracelet has six notches of approximately 2.5mm, allowing the length of the bracelet to be adjusted easily, and without tools, up to some 15mm. While 5mm less than the Glidelock found on a Submariner, this should provide ample adjustment for the wearer. I can’t imagine anything less than a perfect fit.

The movement

This new version of the Sky-Dweller is equipped with calibre 9001, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. It is the most complicated movement created by the brand. It makes the Sky-Dweller one of the most robust and revolutionary Annual Calendars on the market. Via the “Ring Command Bezel”, the Annual Calendar complication can be manipulated by the wearer. The three bezel positions determine which of the three functions you are able to set— date, local time or home (24-hour) time. The crown is then used to make changes to the function selected via the bezel position. Once mastered, setting the time and other complications becomes second nature to the wearer. A neat feature to note – when changing the time, the watch does have an independent hour hand for the local time, allowing the wearer to change the local time without desynchronising the home time set in the centre ring. This shows Rolex really does think of everything.

Specifications:

CASE

Oyster, 42mm, Everose or Yellow gold

OYSTER ARCHITECTURE

Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown

DIAMETER

42 mm

MATERIAL

18k Everose or Yellow gold

BEZEL

Fluted, bidirectional rotatable Rolex Ring Command

WINDING CROWN

Screw-down, Twinlock double waterproofness system

CRYSTAL

Scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date

WATER RESISTANCE

Waterproof to 100 metres/330 feet

MOVEMENT

Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding, dual time zones, annual calendar

CALIBRE

9001, Manufacture Rolex

PRECISION

-2/+2 sec/day, after casing

FUNCTIONS

Centre hour, minute and seconds hands. 24-hour display on off-centre disc. Second time zone. Instantaneous annual calendar at 3 o’clock and rapid-setting of the date. Month display via 12 apertures around the circumference of the dial. Stop-seconds for precise time setting

OSCILLATOR

Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring. High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers

WINDING

Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor

POWER RESERVE

Approximately 72 hours