THE ADVENTURE OF THE OYSTER
The story of the Oyster is an adventure of vision and pioneering. First and foremost, it was a wager on the wristwatch. But, it has also been the constant pursuit of chronometric precision and waterproofness as the prerequisites of the success of the wager. Finally, technological and design innovations have made Rolex today an absolute symbol of quality and prestige throughout the world. This adventure and the spirit of enterprise, which is the essence of Rolex, have continued to evolve over time and inspire the creation of new models.

THE BIRTH OF THE OYSTER
In 1926, Rolex invented the Oyster, the first waterproof and dustproof case, thanks to a system featuring a screwed-down case back, bezel and winding crown. This innovation achieved optimal protection of the movement. In 1931, Rolex invented the first self-winding free rotor mechanism and named it “Perpetual”; it is at the origin of all modern self-winding watches.

In 1945, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust was the first wristwatch to show the date in an aperture on the dial.
In 1956, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date was the first wristwatch to show the date and day of the week spelt out in full. It gave rise to a long line of highly prestigious watches that have been worn by influential people the world over.

THE OYSTER PROFESSIONAL WATCHES
In the early 1950s, thanks to a perfect mastery of chronometric precision and waterproofness, Rolex developed the concept of the professional watches whose functions went beyond simply telling time. They were specifically designed for divers, pilots, mountaineers and explorers. The Oyster continued to prove its reliability and robustness. From then on, various professional models were added to the collection: the Explorer, the Submariner and the Turn-O-Graph (1953), the GMT-Master (1955), the Milgauss (1956), the Cosmograph Daytona (1963).

MATURITY AND CONSOLIDATION
With the advent of the quartz watch in the late 1960s, Rolex participated in the development of the first Swiss quartz movement and launched an Oysterquartz model in 1977, but nevertheless chose to remain firmly committed to the mechanical watch. This period marked a time of maturity and consolidation; a new generation of professional watches came into being: the Sea-Dweller (1967), the Explorer II (1971), the Sea-Dweller 4000 (1978, waterproof to a depth of 1,220 metres or 4,000 feet), the GMT-Master II (1982) and the Yacht-Master (1992).

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE OYSTER
As of the 2000s, the Oyster entered a new era. By opting for the vertical integration of its Swiss suppliers and the industrialization of its production, Rolex secured complete control over the manufacture of the essential components of its watches. Thus, it can introduce state-of-the-art technologies and draw on the most up-to-date research to perpetuate its avant-garde spirit. The Cosmograph Daytona (2000), GMT-Master II (2005), Yacht-Master II (2007) and Milgauss (2007), as well as the Submariner Date and the Rolex Deepsea (2008), are symbols of unmatched expertise and a commitment to continuing innovation.

The Yacht-Master II is the first watch featuring a programmable countdown with a mechanical memory, allowing the watch to be programmed for the countdown duration of each regatta. This new horological complication, featuring interaction between the movement, case and bezel, makes the Yacht-Master II a totally innovative creation, a new-generation watch.
Waterproof to the extreme depth of 3,900 metres (12,800 feet), the Rolex Deepsea is a new-generation divers’ watch. It responds to the most exacting demands of professional divers and confirms the supremacy of Rolex in the mastery of waterproofness. Entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex, the watch is equipped with the Ringlock System, a new case architecture patented by Rolex which allows the watch to resist the colossal pressure exerted by water at great depths. The bracelet is fitted for the first time with a double extension system making it easily adjustable to fit comfortably over a diving suit.
In the course of the decade, Rolex updated three pillars of the Oyster collection, the Day-Date, the Datejust and the Explorer, in that same pursuit of quality and prestige for which the brand has acquired its exceptional status. In 2008, featuring a bigger 41 mm case and a new movement entirely designed and manufactured by Rolex, the Day-Date II was introduced to perpetuate the Day-Date’s heritage par excellence as the watch of influential people. It was followed the next year by the Datejust II in a Rolesor version, also boasting a 41 mm case. In 2010, a new Explorer was introduced with a larger 39 mm case and a new movement.