Rolex Oyster Timeline and Years of Model & Feature Introductions

It is easy to call Rolex a traditional Swiss watch, as they invented many of the features and styles that 100s of watch companies have used in the past century and are typically reluctant to reinvent models. Sometimes, this tradition causes them to lag behind trends, but Rolex does not have any public shareholders to answer to; it is a private company and they can do what they like, typically with a very long term vision. This strong tradition is also one of the factors that keeps the resale value of their watches so healthy. A Rolex made today will have much in common with a Rolex made 10, 20, even 50 years ago.

Rolex only recently began beefing up their watches to meet modern trends. Even the now ubiquitous sapphire crystal was phased in slowly well into the 1980s. Below you can find the years of introduction for various features and models. You can see that the last 15 years has been an exciting time for Rolex with many new models/movements and features introduced.

Rolex Model or Feature Year of Introduction

  • 1926 : Oyster Case (Water Resistant)
  • 1927 : Serial Numbers Engraved On Oyster Case
  • 1931 : Oyster Perpetual (Automatic movement)
  • 1938 : Bubble Back
  • 1938 : Oyster Bracelet (Steel)
  • 1945 : Datejust
  • 1945 : Jubilee Bracelet
  • 1947 : Oyster Bracelet
  • 1950 : Mercedes Hands
  • 1953 : Submariner
  • 1953 : Explorer
  • 1954 : GMT-Master
  • 1954 : Date Cyclops on Crystal
  • 1954 : Ladies Oyster Perpetual
  • 1956 : Day-Date (President)
  • 1956 : President Bracelet
  • 1959 : Crown Guards
  • 1961 : Oyster Cosmograph
  • 1962 : Cosmograph Daytona
  • 1970 : Submariner Date
  • 1971 : Sea-Dweller
  • 1971 : Explorer II
  • 1972 : Hacking Movement
  • 1977 : Quick-Set Date Feature
  • 1977 : Oyster Quartz Day-Date
  • 1977 : Oysterquartz
  • 1977 : Sapphire Crystal
  • 1980 : Sea-Dweller 4000
  • 1983 : GMT-Master II
  • 1988 : New Daytona (Utilizing Zenith movement)
  • 1992 : Yachtmaster
  • 1994 : Yachtmaster Ladies & Medium
  • 1998 : Solid End Links (SEL)
  • 1999 : Luminova (luminescence)
  • 2000 : New Daytona (Utilizing Rolex caliber 4130 with 72 hour power reserve)
  • 2001 : Laser Etched Hologram in Crystal
  • 2003 : "Green" Submariner Date
  • 2004 : Rolex Branded Rehaut / New Datejust case
  • 2005 : Parachrom Hairspring / Caliber 3186 / Cerachrom bezel
  • 2007 : Caliber 3131 (Milgauss) and 4160 (Yacht-Master II)
  • 2008 : Caliber 3156 (Day-Date II), Deepsea
  • 2009 : Datejust II
  • 2010 : Explorer 39mm (214270),
  • 2011 : Explorer II 42mm (216570)
  • 2012 : Sky-Dweller
  • 2014 : Sea-Dweller 4000 (116600)
  • 2015: Oyster Perpetual 39mm, Day-Date 40mm, Yacht-Master Everose