THE GEOMETRY OF ELEGANCE

Rarely has solid gold felt so supple and light on the wrist. The Perpetual 1908 in 18 ct yellow gold is now available on a bracelet fashioned entirely in this precious metal. An innovative geometry endows this seven-piece link bracelet with refinement and comfort in all-round elegance.

Rolex has unveiled a new metal bracelet, named Settimo, created exclusively for the Perpetual 1908 and presented on a version of the watch in 18 ct yellow gold with an intense white dial.

Refined, supple and comfortable, this completely new bracelet composed of rows of seven very small links is entirely polished, producing a sparkle of reflected light. Evoking the jewellery-inspired bracelets that graced some elegant vintage watches, its design captures the essence of the Perpetual collection, conceived by Rolex as a tribute to watchmaking tradition. It is fitted with a concealed Crownclasp, ensuring seamless visual harmony across its surface.

The 1908 is equipped with calibre 7140, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling the watch to display the small seconds as well as the hours and minutes. Calibre 7140 features bridges decorated with Rolex Côtes de Genève and a cut-out oscillating weight.

Like all Rolex watches, the Perpetual 1908 carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.

CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY

Inspired by one of the first Rolex watches fitted with the Perpetual rotor, the 1908 belongs to the Perpetual collection. Launched in 2023, this collection is a reinterpretation of traditional horological style imbued with the brand’s quintessential expertise and aesthetic heritage. This elegant and understated watch was named ‘1908’ in homage to the year Hans Wilsdorf devised the name ‘Rolex’ to sign his creations and registered the brand in Switzerland. The 1908 is defined by its design, which conveys the full strength of the watch’s character in the simplicity of the display, and by details that confer its unique identity. It perfectly embodies the spirit of the Perpetual collection, at whose core lies the celebration of the art of watchmaking in its noblest form.

The 1908 features a sleek dial graced with Arabic numerals 3, 9 and 12 and faceted index hour markers. The hour hand is Breguet-style, while the minute hand is shaped like a two-edged sword. Above the small seconds counter at 6 o’clock, the words ‘Superlative Chronometer’ are inscribed in an arc shape.

THE ELEGANCE OF THE CASE

The 1908 is housed in a 39 mm case, with graceful lines and a transparent back that allows the detailed aesthetics of the movement to be admired as well as the pivoting of the oscillating weight. The curve of the middle case lugs is highlighted thanks to a gentle chamfering on their top edges, while the bezel is divided – the lower part embellished with elegant fluting and the upper part domed. Made of virtually scratchproof sapphire, the domed crystal and the transparent case back benefit from an anti-reflective coating. Guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 50 metres (165 feet), the case provides optimal protection for the movement nestled inside, and on the version presented, it is crafted in 18 ct yellow gold.

CALIBRE 7140

The 1908 is driven by calibre 7140, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2023 for the launch of this model, which it exclusively equips. A distillation of technology, this self-winding mechanical movement delivers outstanding performance, particularly 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.

Calibre 7140 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorous, this escapement is resistant to strong magnetic fields. The movement also includes the patented Syloxi hairspring, produced by Rolex. This silicon hairspring has a patented geometry that ensures the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is mounted on the patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, designed by the brand, which increase the movement’s shock resistance. The oscillating weight is fashioned in yellow gold and cut out.

Calibre 7140 is equipped with a self-winding system via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of this movement extends to approximately 66 hours.

SETTIMO BRACELET

The 1908 version presented is fitted on a Settimo bracelet. This new 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 furnished with a concealed folding Crownclasp.

SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER CERTIFICATION

Like all Rolex watches, the Perpetual 1908 is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). These in-house certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by COSC for official certification of the movement alone.

The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

Perpetual 1908
Case reference: 52508
Bracelet reference: 13HC08 Settimo
Certification: Superlative Chronometer(COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
International five-year guarantee

Case
Measurements
– Diameter: 39 mm
– Thickness: 9.50 mm
– Lug width: 20 mm
Material
– 18 ct yellow gold
Middle case
– 18 ct yellow gold, polished finish
Bezel
– 18 ct yellow gold, domed and fluted
Case back
– 18 ct yellow gold and sapphire crystal
with anti-reflective coating
– Screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown
– 18 ct yellow gold, domed
Crystal
– Scratch-resistant sapphire
with double anti-reflective coating,
domed
Waterproofness
– 50 metres (165 feet)

Movement
– Calibre 7140, Manufacture Rolex
– Mechanical movement with bidirectional
self-winding via Perpetual rotor
– Rolex Côtes de Genève decoration
– Oscillating weight in yellow gold
Precision
– −2/+2 sec./day, after casing
Functions
– Centre hour and minute hands,
small seconds hand at 6 o’clock
– Stop-seconds for exact time setting
Oscillator
– Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
– Syloxi hairspring in silicon
– Balance wheel with variable inertia
– High-precision regulating via two gold
Microstella nuts
– Traversing balance bridge
– High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
Escapement
– Chronergy with optimized energy efficiency
– Paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus pallet fork
and escape wheel
Jewelling
– 38 rubies
Power reserve
– Approximately 66 hours

Dial
– Intense white, matt, fine satin finish
– 3, 9 and 12 numerals and faceted
index hour markers in 18 ct yellow gold
– Hands in 18 ct yellow gold

Bracelet
– Settimo, seven-piece solid links
– 18 ct yellow gold, polished finish
– Concealed folding Crownclasp in
18 ct yellow gold