Dreaming of a Rolex Christmas
From classic elegance to colourful fun, there’s a watch for every wrist on your list
THE QUESTION THIS CHRISTMAS IS not so much whether to give someone a Rolex, but which one to give. The choice won’t be easy, but our recommendations include a brand-new model, and others that feature playful and colourful dials, encased in gold or steel.
Perpetual 1908
The Perpetual 1908 ushers in a new Rolex collection. Elegant and classic, it’s a modern take on a traditional Rolex with a Perpetual rotor. And it’s named after the year Rolex’s trademark was registered.
The name isn’t on the dial, but it’s clear where its classic look comes from. The Arabic numerals and faceted indexes in yellow gold, accentuated by the intense white or black dial, hark back to the Rolex watches of a bygone era.
Despite the Perpetual 1908’s link to the past, it’s powered by an ultra-modern automatic movement that’s visible through the watch’s transparent sapphire case-back.
Worn with an alligator strap with a double-folding clasp, the timepiece is styled for formal evenings, with its slim profile complementing the refined cut of a suit or tuxedo. The slender 39-mm yellow- or white-gold case, ringed by a bezel that’s part domed and part finely fluted – emblematic of Rolex’s watchmaking heritage – fits discreetly under the cuff, yet commands attention on the wrist.
Price: S$30,800
Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36
Turquoise has been prized for thousands of years as a stone of rare beauty, its unique blue a mesmerising sight. Which well explains why it’s so hard to take your eyes off the new Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36.
The turquoise dial of the dainty 36-mm watch is encased in pure white gold, meticulously set with 56 diamonds by Rolex’s in-house gem-setters. Not just a perfect gift for the special lady on your list, it also stands out for its uniqueness. Turquoise is reserved solely for the Day-Date 36, which belongs to Rolex’s most prestigious collection of timepieces that come only in precious metals.
Like all watches in the Day-Date line, the Day-Date 36 is paired with the President bracelet. Created in 1956 for the launch of the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date, the iconic bracelet with its trademark semicircle three-piece links epitomises refinement comfort, not to mention timeless appeal.
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Price: S$67,300
Oyster Perpetual 31
Rolex has been sporting colourful dials in recent years, but it’s since taken a step further with the new Oyster Perpetual 31 sports watch, which embraces a playfulness not seen before.
Bubbles in a riot of colours – candy pink, yellow, coral red and green – recall the vivid hues of the lacquered dials that were launched in 2020. Big and small and outlined in black, the bubbles appear to float in a sea of turquoise on the dial, which sits in an Oystersteel case (in 31 mm, 36 mm and 41 mm).
The “celebration” theme which inspired the dial’s “effervescent, euphoric” design makes the timepiece, worn with a robust and snug three-piece link Oyster bracelet, a fun companion on the dance floor on Christmas night.
Yet, the Oyster Perpetual 31 (Celebration) isn’t all about the dial. The watch is carved from Oystersteel, part of the 904L steel family. Alloys from this family are used in high-technology, aerospace and chemical industries, where strong resistance to corrosion is essential.
The movement that automatically keeps the watch ticking on time has a Syloxi hairspring that’s impervious to magnetic fields – and 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring when faced with shocks.
Price: S$7,900
Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40
With its green dial, this elegant timepiece looks like it’s made for the Yuletide season.
Framed in a 40-mm, 18-karat yellow-gold case, the dial is in the exact shade of Christmas green and showcases an intense and smooth finish that can be attained only with lacquer.
The green dial is painstakingly produced by layering six thin coatings successively on a brass baseplate. It’s then given a clear varnish to bring out the depth and shine of the lacquer’s hue. After the varnish dries, the dial’s surface is polished to magnify the colour.
The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 also has all the requisite trimmings of Rolex’s most prestigious model: the President bracelet, fluted bezel and precious metal.
Price: S$53,900
Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II
Can’t decide between a gold or steel watch for your loved one this Christmas? The Rolex GMT-Master II in Oystersteel and yellow gold is the perfect alternative.
The watch’s two-tone case and bracelet is a combination of 18-karat yellow gold and steel – or yellow Rolesor, in Rolex-speak. The 40-mm case, rimmed by a bezel insert in grey and black ceramic, houses a black dial displaying two time zones at the same time.
This is very useful for travellers when tracking the local time, and the time back home. An arrow-tipped 24-hour hand points to the “home” time, while the “local” time is easily set by “jumping” from hour to hour with the winding crown.
The five-piece link Jubilee bracelet has a patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which prevents accidental opening. It can be adjusted up to 5 mm by an Easylink mechanism, so the bracelet fits well on the wrist.
Price: S$23,000
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