The Deeply Rooted Heritage of Rolex and the Birth of the Oyster
The story of Rolex begins with the visionary Hans Wilsdorf, who founded the company in London in 1905. However, the event that transformed the brand from a successful watchmaker into a global legend and laid the foundation for the massive celebration in 2026 took place exactly 100 years ago, in 1926. The Oyster, the world's first waterproof and dustproof watch case, was invented. Inspired by the sealing mechanism of an oyster shell, this design was an unprecedented revolution in the watch industry. When combined with the Perpetual free-rotor movement invented in 1931, Rolex became not merely a timekeeping tool but a symbol of resilience that endures against all challenges.
The Legacy of Colored Dials: From Stella Dials to the Present Day
When one thinks of Rolex, conservative and timeless tones - steel, black, white - typically come to mind. Yet there exists a very special chapter in the brand's history where wild colors reigned supreme: the Stella Dials. Introduced in the 1970s for the Middle Eastern market, these dials derived their name from a specialized Geneva-based lacquer company. High-saturation enamel dials in vivid red, turquoise, green, yellow, and pink were considered "unacceptably bold" for their era. Initially, they gathered dust in shop windows. Over time, however, they transformed into cult, rare collector's items commanding astronomical prices at auction. Rolex had etched the devastating allure colors create in the collector world firmly into its institutional memory.
format_quote"Rolex reimagined this classic monogram with exactly 10 different, highly saturated colors. The letters repeat with high contrast like a pop-art masterpiece - a vintage soul dressed in an incredibly avant-garde outfit."
Hasan Bekmezci
The Return of Colors: The 2023 "Celebration" Dial
Following the immense secondary-market frenzy triggered by the vibrant-colored Oyster Perpetual models released in 2020 (coral red, yellow, turquoise), Rolex raised the bar to a completely different level in 2023 with the "Celebration" dial. Shattering the brand's characteristically serious and reserved demeanor, this dial featured an array of multi-sized bubble motifs in the colors of the 2020 series on a turquoise background. It instantly became a phenomenon by showcasing the brand's joyful, daring, and playful side - a clear rehearsal for the true storm that would arrive in 2026.
The Showstopper of 2026: The Multicolor "Jubilee" Dial
To celebrate the centenary of the Oyster case in 2026, Rolex introduced a model that collided nostalgia with ultra-modernism, dominating the fair entirely: the Oyster Perpetual Multicolor Jubilee Dial (Ref. 126000). What made this dial such a sensation?
- Revival of Historical Heritage: The "Jubilee" pattern is a classic monogram motif from the late 1970s and 80s, where the letters R-O-L-E-X repeat geometrically across the entire dial.
- Visual Explosion: In the 2026 version, Rolex reimagined this classic monogram with exactly 10 different, highly saturated colors. The letters repeat with high contrast like a pop-art masterpiece - a vintage soul dressed in an incredibly avant-garde outfit.
- Incredible Production Difficulty: Each of these 10 vibrant colors is applied to the dial individually using the pad printing technique, requiring immense craftsmanship with zero tolerance for misalignment.
- The Counter-Intuitive Twist: Placing such a complex and maximalist dial on the most accessible Oyster Perpetual was the clearest proof of how comfortably Rolex can break its own taboos.
Technical Specifications: Calibre 3230 and the New Standards of 2026
At the heart of the timepiece beats the automatic Calibre 3230 movement, manufactured entirely in-house by Rolex, governing hours, minutes, and seconds.
- Power Reserve and Efficiency: Thanks to the advanced Chronergy escapement, the movement delivers an excellent power reserve of 70 hours.
- 2026 Superlative Chronometer Update: From 2026, movements undergo three new rigorous tests focusing on anti-magnetism, high durability, and sustainability.
- Magnetic Shielding: The Paramagnetic Blue Parachrom hairspring and high-performance shock absorbers ensure the watch remains minimally affected by daily magnetic fields or sudden impacts.