Updated mechanics, cleaner design, and a few unexpected twists mark the centenary.

Almost every Rolex still traces back to the Oyster for a reason. Introduced in 1926, the waterproof case set the foundation for what a modern wristwatch could be. One hundred years later, that same idea continues to carry the brand forward, now reworked across a new generation unveiled at Watches &amp; Wonders 2026.
Instead of the expected, the centenary collection didn&rsquo;t go nostalgic at all. Across the lineup, Rolex streamlined what already worked, then pushes it further, whether through clarity, material upgrades, or subtle design shifts that make a difference in daily wear.

Leading the drop is the refreshed Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II. Still a tool watch at its core, it&rsquo;s been cleaned up in all the right ways. The regatta countdown, its defining feature, is now easier to set with a single pusher at 4 o&rsquo;clock. The hands rotate counter-clockwise, making the timing instantly legible, while a pared-back dial and blue ceramic bezel keep everything focused.

If that&rsquo;s Rolex at its most functional, the Oyster Perpetual 41 is where the anniversary comes into focus. Done in yellow Rolesor, the mix of Oystersteel and gold nods to early Oyster references without leaning too hard on heritage cues. The slate dial is new, too. Look closer and the centenary reveals itself, a &ldquo;100&rdquo; engraved on the crown, &ldquo;100 Years&rdquo; replacing the usual text at six o&rsquo;clock, and the brand&rsquo;s signature green marking the dial in small, controlled hits. Inside, the updated Superlative Chronometer certification raises the bar again, adding stricter testing standards to an already exacting benchmark.

The Oyster Perpetual 36, on the other hand, loosens things up. Its Jubilee dial, built from repeating &ldquo;Rolex&rdquo; lettering in ten different colors, is more expressive. The move isn&rsquo;t something the brand makes often which makes it extra special. Each color is applied through pad printing, one layer at a time&mdash;a detail that doesn&rsquo;t immediately show but is felt in the final result.

Elsewhere, Rolex expands the material story. The Oyster Perpetual 28 and 34 arrive in full gold, yellow for the 28, Everose for the 34, paired with lacquer dials in deep green and blue. Both introduce natural stone hour markers at key positions, a small detail that shifts the entire dial architecture. It also shows that there&rsquo;s always still room to experiment.
The Oyster&rsquo;s history is well documented, from Hans Wilsdorf&rsquo;s original vision to the 1927 English Channel swim that proved its durability in real time. But what stands out now is how little that core idea has changed. Waterproof, precise, self-winding, it was never meant to be one thing. It was meant to be everything a watch needed to be, all at once.

Courtesy of Rolex.

Rolex Marks 100 Years of the Oyster at Watches & Wonders 2026

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES APRIL 2026 - Rocio Zobel ₱600 

Rolex Marks 100 Years of the Oyster at Watches & Wonders 2026

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