1908 – Sergio Capone – Gioielli e Orologi

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Rolex Perpetual 1908
Tradition at the forefront

The Perpetual 1908, elegant, classic and markedly contemporary, is another example of the boldness that has always distinguished Rolex. Inheriting the historical codes of the Brand as well as its many watchmaking innovations, this model perpetuates Rolex's pursuit of excellence. Certified Superlative Chronometer, this fine timepiece, an illustration of the Manufacture's watchmaking mastery, lends classicism to the future.

The 1908 embodies all the boldness Rolex has shown since its origins.

Since its founding in 1908, the Brand has remained true to its founder Hans Wilsdorf's deep conviction that the future of the wristwatch depended on superlative performance. The 1908 combines all that Wilsdorf saw as indispensable attributes of a self-winding wristwatch: chronometric precision, water resistance, autonomy, comfort and durability.

A classic style constantly reinvented

Hans Wilsdorf's revolutionary innovations concerned the technical features of his wristwatches, but they were also the result of an extremely marked aesthetic vision. The 1908 case profile and dial design reinterprets the classic-if decidedly modern-spirit of the early Oyster Perpetual models. An authentic aesthetic signature, its elegant domed and knurled bezel translates a quest for aesthetic delicacy in all its forms.

An essential design that combines past and present

With numerals 3, 9 and 12 and a small seconds counter at 6 o'clock, the 1908, available in 18k yellow or white gold and 950 platinum, revisits the style of a 1931 Oyster Perpetual in a distinctly modern key. The dial is a reference in terms of elegance and sophistication: Arabic numerals and faceted 18K gold hour markers stand out on the deep white, or deep black, dial, or on the ice blue guilloché dial with a rice grain pattern. Protected by a domed sapphire crystal, it features delicate track detailing along the edge. The 1908 features different styles of hands: the minute hand is gladius-shaped, while a hand with a pierced circle indicates the hours.

A transparent back to admire excellence

By offering a timepiece that allows you to admire the movement through the transparent case back, Rolex continues to innovate while remaining true to its watchmaking tradition. Caliber 7140 features an openworked yellow gold three-armed oscillating weight, which bears the words "Chronometer Perpetual" and is equipped with an optimized ball bearing. The movement sports exceptional finishes, such as Rolex's exclusive Côtes de Genève, a reinterpretation of a well-known decoration in traditional watchmaking, from which it differs by the addition of a polished groove between each striation. The virtually scratch-resistant sapphire crystal case back proves that, for Rolex, the aesthetics of the movement are as important as its performance.

The 7140 caliber: performance and elegance

To bring the 1908 to life, Rolex experts developed an entirely new self-winding movement, caliber 7140, which allows the time to be displayed by two central hands and a small seconds hand at 6 o'clock. The development of this caliber, entirely designed and manufactured in-house, has led to several patent filings. In order to ensure exceptional performance, its state-of-the-art design encompasses some of the Manufacture's key innovations, including the Syloxi silicon balance spring, the Chronergy nickel-phosphorus escapement-both resistant to strong magnetic fields-and the Paraflex shock-absorbing device, which protect the watch's regulating organ and escape wheel from shocks.