During the 2023 Watches and Wonders exhibition in Geneva, Rolex unveiled a brand-new wristwatch collection known as Perpetual. Perpetual 1908, the debut model of this new range, is a tribute to the year Hans Wilsdorf devised the name ‘Rolex’ to sign his creations and registered the brand in Switzerland.
Available in 18 ct yellow and white gold versions, this elegant and refined dress watch stands out with its part domed and part finely fluted bezel.
The precious metal case measures 39mm in diameter and 9.50 mm in thickness. A transparent sapphire crystal case back allows the technical sophistication and the decoration on the movement to be seen and admired.
Available in white or black color depending on the version, the dial features Arabic numerals 3, 9 and 12, and faceted index hour markers.
It also displays a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock, with the words ‘Superlative Chronometer’ above it in an arc shape. The hour hand is distinctive for the circle just before the tip, while the minute hand is shaped like a two-edged sword.
The Rolex Perpetual 1908 is equipped with calibre 7140. Unveiled this year, this in-house self-winding mechanical movement includes the Chronergy escapement, the Syloxi hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers. The bridges are finished with Rolex Côtes de Genève, a reinterpretation of a well-known decoration in watchmaking.
The open-worked oscillating weight in 18 ct yellow gold is fitted with an optimized ball bearing. Equipped with a self-winding system via a Perpetual rotor, Calibre 7140 offers an approximate power reserve of 66 hours.
The other features include domed sapphire crystal glass with AR coating, 50 metre (165 feet) water-proofness and curved lugs.
Each Rolex Perpetual 1908 watch comes with an alligator leather strap. Matt brown or matt black, this elegant strap has a green calfskin lining and tone-on-tone stitching. It also features a Dualclasp, a double folding clasp, in 18 ct yellow or white gold.
Like all Rolex watches, the Perpetual 1908 is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015.
Technical details
Case
Diameter: 39 mm
Thickness: 9.50 mm
Lug width: 20 mm
Crystal: Scratch-resistant sapphire with double anti-reflective coating, domed
Waterproofness: 50 metres (165 feet)
Movement
Calibre 7140, Manufacture Rolex
Mechanical movement with bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
Rolex Côtes de Genève decoration
Oscillating weight in 18 ct yellow gold
Precision: −2 /+2 sec./day, after casing
Oscillator Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Syloxi hairspring in silicon with patented geometry
Balance wheel with variable inertia
High-precision regulating via two gold Microstella nuts
Traversing balance bridge
High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
Escapement: Chronergy with optimized energy efficiency; Paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus pallet fork and escape wheel
Jewelling: 38 rubies
Power reserve: Approximately 66 hours
Functions
Centre hour and minute hands, small seconds hand at 6 o’clock
Stop-seconds for exact time setting
Certification
Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
Guarantee
International five-year guarantee
Models
(1) Rolex Perpetual 1908 in 18 ct Yellow Gold, Reference 52508-0006
Case
Middle case: 18 ct yellow gold, polished finish
Bezel: 18 ct yellow gold, domed and fluted
Case back: 18 ct yellow gold and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating; Screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown: 18 ct yellow gold, dome
Dial
Intense white, matt, fine satin finish
3, 9, 12 numerals and faceted index hour markers in 18 ct yellow gold
Hands in 18 ct yellow gold
Strap
Matt brown alligator leather, green calfskin lining, tone-on-tone stitching
Dualclasp (double folding clasp) in 18 ct yellow gold
(2) Rolex Perpetual 1908 in 18 ct Yellow Gold, Reference 52508-0002
Case
Middle case: 18 ct yellow gold, polished finish
Bezel: 18 ct yellow gold, domed and fluted
Case back: 18 ct yellow gold and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating; Screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown: 18 ct yellow gold, domed
Dial
Intense black, matt, fine satin finish
3, 9, 12 numerals and faceted index hour markers in 18 ct yellow gold
Hands in 18 ct yellow gold
Strap
Matt black alligator leather, green calfskin lining, tone-on-tone stitching
Dualclasp (double folding clasp) in 18 ct yellow gold
(3) Rolex Perpetual 1908 in 18 ct White Gold, Reference 52509-0006
Case
Middle case: 18 ct white gold, polished finish
Bezel: 18 ct white gold, domed and fluted
Case back: 18 ct white gold and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating; Screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown: 18 ct white gold, domed
Dial
Intense white, matt, fine satin finish
3, 9, 12 numerals and faceted index hour markers in 18 ct white gold
Hands in 18 ct white gold
Strap
Matt brown alligator leather, green calfskin lining, tone-on-tone stitching
Dualclasp (double folding clasp) in 18 ct white gold
(4) Rolex Perpetual 1908 in 18 ct White Gold, Reference 52509-0002
Case
Middle case: 18 ct white gold, polished finish
Bezel: 18 ct white gold, domed and fluted
Case back: 18 ct white gold and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating; Screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown: 18 ct white gold, domed
Dial
Intense black, matt, fine satin finish
3, 9, 12 numerals and faceted index hour markers in 18 ct white gold
Hands in 18 ct white gold
Strap
Matt black alligator leather, green calfskin lining, tone-on-tone stitching
Dualclasp (double folding clasp) in 18 ct white gold
