The Perpetual 1908 in 18 ct yellow gold features a 39 mm case, an intense white dial and a Settimo bracelet.

Each dial is a miniature work of art. The colour, reflections and surface texture, along with decorative elements and the overall design give the watch its intrinsic character. Rolex masters all aspects of its dial creation and production in-house. From the initial sketches to the final inspection, including colouring or the application of appliques, the process involves a series of steps and operations that call on specific expertise. Some of these professions – enamelling, for instance – date from the early days of watchmaking. Others are inherent to the use of cutting-edge technologies, such as magnetron sputtering, a complex technique for colouring the surface of a dial by depositing a thin film of material in a vacuum environment. A meeting of traditional skills and technology, the manufacture of Rolex dials perfectly encapsulates the philosophy that guides the brand: seeking the highest level of quality to achieve an impeccable, long-lasting result.

This elegant and understated watch features a slim case crowned with a bezel that is part domed and part finely fluted – the lower part being given an elegant fluting and the upper part domed.

By operating its own exclusive foundry, Rolex has the unrivalled ability to cast the highest quality 18 ct gold alloys. According to the proportion of silver, copper, platinum or palladium added, different types of 18 ct gold are obtained: yellow, pink or white. They are made with only the purest metals and meticulously inspected in an in-house laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, before the gold is formed and shaped with the same painstaking attention to quality. Rolex's commitment to excellence begins at the source.

This metal bracelet, fashioned from 18 ct yellow gold, exudes refinement and elegance. It gently hugs the shape of the wrist, making it extremely comfortable to wear. Thanks to its links made up of seven very small, slightly contoured link elements, polished on every surface, it also feels particularly lightweight. With a special system to attach it to the middle case, for which a patent has been filed, the Settimo bracelet is reserved for the 1908 model. It is equipped with a concealed folding Crownclasp.

The Perpetual 1908 is equipped with calibre 7140, a movement wholly developed and manufactured by Rolex, unveiled this year. A distillation of technology, this self-winding mechanical movement delivers outstanding performance in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability. Calibre 7140 demonstrates carefully finished aesthetics, notably on the bridges which feature Rolex Côtes de Genève – a decoration that differs from traditional Côtes de Genève for the slight polished groove between each band.

Dial

• Dial : Intense white

Case

• Case : 39 mm, 18 ct yellow gold, polished finish
• Diameter : 39 mm
• Material : 18 ct yellow gold
• Bezel : Domed and fluted
• Winding crown : Domed
• Crystal : Scratch-resistant sapphire
• Water resistance : Waterproof to 50 metres / 165 feet

Movement

• Movement : Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding
• Calibre : 7140, manufacture Rolex
• Precision : -2/+2 sec/day, after casing
• Certification : Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
• Functions : Centre hour and minute hands, small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. Stop-seconds for exact time setting
• Oscillator : Syloxi hairspring in silicon with patented geometry. High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
• Winding : Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
• Power reserve : Approximately 66 hours

Bracelet

• Bracelet : Settimo, seven-piece solid links
• Material : 18 ct yellow gold
• Clasp : Concealed folding Crownclasp