Our Inspiration: Timeless and Functional Design
Our Inspiration: Timeless and Functional Design
Rolex has a name for itself that is often associated with being a status symbol, but today we are featuring the original rolex oyster on our blog for a very different reason.
Rolex has a name for itself that is often associated with being a status symbol, but today we are featuring the original
rolex oyster on our blog for a very different reason. Jesse and I (John-Luke) consider this specific watch to be an item
that inspires us to continue to refine our craft of creating timeless designs, because of its timeless beauty that has
transcended fads, and set the stage for a century of watch making since. We first saw the original Rolex Oyster that
was used in the historic “English Channel test” on the wrist of a female swimmer, when we visited the Einstein
Museum in Bern, Switzerland. When staring at this timepiece, you can clearly see the level of detail it has been
designed with, a sentiment that lives on through later renditions. When staring at it, you cannot help but to feel the
weight of its presence, afterall it is the watch that significantly contributed to the creation of the world of horology as
we know it today. More importantly, we look at this watch as a perfect balance between timeless design and practical
function; a fact that has been reinforced by both decades of consumers and watch collectors around the world for
being the world’s first waterproof watch. The “English Channel” waterproofness test was completed on the hand of
female swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, who spent the better part of 10 hours swimming the chilly waters between France
and Great Britain. This history serves us today as an assertion that anyone who works consistently with dedication to
improvement is able to master their craft; a concept that we apply to every design. This concept is also in-line withthe
fitting idea that a Rolex owner has probably had to work as smoothly and consistently as the notorious sweeping
second hands of the Rolex itself to own such a watch.
Understanding that the Rolex Oyster design concept has not changed significantly over the last century, the brand
has stayed true to the principles noted above, as the improvements in the depth of waterproofing capabilities,
aesthetics, materials, and quality of refinement and fitment have undoubtedly improved through decades of minor
refinements through each years model releases. For these reasons, we believe that the Rolex oyster is a relevant
example of timeless design, as well as an example of the grit and consistency it takes to develop and improve on an
already perfect product in the eyes of the creator. This is the reason that Rolex was able to develop the Sea Dweller
Deep Sea, in 2008, which was able to achieve an underwater depth of 3,900 meter, or 12,800 feet. This is our
favorite watch of all time, and one we will certainly pass on to future generations of Sahlani’s, not because we aspire
to reach the bottom of Marianas Trench, but because the strength of the watch is measured by its depth. We see this
as yet another example of how continued development and refinement can benefit any design from watches to
homes. It is also an example of meticulous attention to detail, resulting in watches that are not only made to perform
at the highest level, but are sought after by the world’s elite, continuing to contribute to fashion, business, sports, and
watchmaking culture through their timeless relevance.
The Rolex Oyster: An Embodiment of Timeless Design
The timelessness of the Rolex Oyster has been proven to offer luxury in a reliable and functional format since the
early 1900’s. The story behind these legendary watches however is a far more impressive feat when looking at their
continuing product development, introduction of new materials, and the expansion of timeless products that watch
connoisseurs revere for their functionality and timeless style across the globe. As a result the brand has become
synonymous with the most timelessly designed and functional status symbols in the world. The name “Oyster” for
Rolex watches is derived from the unique waterproof case that was invented by Rolex in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf. The
original Oyster case was designed to keep moisture and dust out of the watch, making it suitable for a range of
outdoor activities, including diving and sailing.
The first Rolex Oyster was also tested in 1926 by a young English swimmer named Mercedes Gleitze. Gleitze was a
pioneering female swimmer who had already made history by swimming across the English Channel twice. Rolex
saw an opportunity to demonstrate the waterproofness of their new Oyster watch by asking Gleitze to wear it during a
swim across the English Channel.
The History of Rolex and the Iconic Brand Changing Oyster Design
The Rolex Oyster was created by the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf. In the early 1900s, Wilsdorf was a young
entrepreneur who saw the potential for wristwatches, which at the time were not considered accurate or reliable. He
founded Rolex in 1905 with the goal of creating high-quality, accurate wristwatches that would be both reliable and
elegant.
In 1926, Rolex introduced the first Oyster watch, which was the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. The Oyster case
was a major innovation in watchmaking, and it allowed Rolex to produce watches that were not only accurate, but
also durable and water-resistant. The Oyster case design is still used by Rolex today, and it has become a hallmark
of the brand’s watches.
The case was made of three parts: the bezel, case back, and middle case. The middle case was screwed to the case
back and bezel, and the crown was fitted with a screw-down system that ensured a watertight seal. This revolutionary
design earned Rolex a reputation for producing highly durable and reliable watches.
The Rolex Oyster Submariner was introduced in 1953 as a diver’s watch that was water-resistant up to 100 meters
(330 feet). The Submariner was the first wristwatch to be designed specifically for underwater use and was created in
response to the growing demand for reliable and functional dive watches.
The Submariner’s design was based on the Oyster Perpetual, but it had a number of key features that made it
suitable for use underwater. These included a unidirectional rotating bezel that allowed divers to keep track of their
dive times, and luminous hour markers and hands that made the watch easy to read in low-light conditions.
Over time, the Submariner evolved to become one of the most iconic watches in history, and it has been worn by
everyone from professional divers to James Bond. Today, the Rolex Submariner is still in production and is considered a must-have for any serious watch collector. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless design and durability of the Rolex Oyster.
The Rolex Sea-Dweller was created in 1967 as a response to the growing demand for a watch that could withstand
even greater depths than the Submariner. The Sea-Dweller was designed specifically for professional divers and was
water-resistant up to 610 meters (2,000 feet).
The Sea-Dweller was based on the Submariner, but it had several key features that made it more suitable for
deep-sea diving. The most significant of these was the inclusion of a helium escape valve, which allowed the watch to release helium gas that had built up inside the watch during long periods of decompression. This feature was necessary for divers who spent long periods in diving bells or decompression chambers, where the pressure was reduced more slowly than in the water.
In 2008, Rolex introduced the Sea-Dweller Deepsea, which was designed to withstand even greater depths than the
standard Sea-Dweller. The Deepsea was water-resistant up to 3,900 meters (12,800 feet), making it one of the most
water-resistant watches in the world.
The development of the Sea-Dweller and the subsequent Deepsea was driven by Rolex’s commitment to producing
watches that were not only accurate and reliable, but also capable of withstanding the most extreme conditions.
These watches are highly prized by collectors and professionals alike, and they represent the pinnacle of Rolex’s
expertise in producing high-quality, functional timepieces.
A Timeline of the Oyster’s Development
While we are skipping much of a rich history of watch making in between that doesnt mention several iconic models
that were spurred by the original (full disclaimer to the watch junkies out there), we wanted to share arguably some of
the most important bulletpoints in this iconic watch’s development:
● 1926: Rolex introduces the first Oyster watch, which features a waterproof case that is dustproof and
moisture-resistant.
● 1931: Rolex introduces the Oyster Perpetual, which is the first self-winding wristwatch with a perpetual rotor.
● 1945: Rolex introduces the Datejust, which is the first wristwatch with an automatically changing date
function.
● 1953: Rolex introduces the Oyster Perpetual Submariner, which is the world’s first waterproof watch
designed for diving.
● 1967: Rolex introduces the Sea-Dweller, which is a more water-resistant version of the Submariner,
designed for professional divers.
● 1971: Rolex introduces the Explorer II, which is a watch designed for speleologists and polar explorers.
● 1985: Rolex introduces the Sea-Dweller 4000, which is a new version of the Sea-Dweller with improved
water resistance and other features.
● 2008: Sea Dweller Deep Sea: The Sea Dweller Deep Sea, introduced in 2008, was designed to withstand
even greater depths than the standard Sea Dweller. It was water-resistant to a depth of 3,900 meters
(12,800 feet) and featured a number of design innovations to make it more suitable for use in extreme
deep-sea environments. These included a 5mm thick sapphire crystal, a reinforced caseback, and a larger
helium escape valve.
In addition to these specific design innovations, Rolex has made a number of other advances in the production of its
watches over the years. These include the use of new materials, such as Cerachrom ceramic, which is highly
scratch-resistant, and the development of new movement technologies, such as the Paraflex shock absorber and the
Chronergy escapement, which increase the accuracy and reliability of the watch. Overall, the advances made by
Rolex in the design and production of its watches have helped to establish the brand as a leader in the luxury watch
market.
