Rolex marks 100‑year Oyster case anniversary with new models at Geneva watch fair
Rolex commemorated the centenary of its Oyster case, patented in 1926 by founder Hans Wilsdorf. The original Oyster gained fame when English swimmer Mercedes Gleitze crossed the English Channel in 1927 wearing a Rolex equipped with the waterproof case, establishing the brand’s reputation for durability.
At the 2026 Watches & Wonders exhibition in Geneva, Rolex unveiled two limited‑edition Oyster Perpetual watches: a 41 mm steel model with gold‑tone accents and a second model featuring a multicolour lacquered dial with a Jubilee bracelet. The launch was highlighted in the July/August 2026 issue of WatchTime magazine, which placed Rolex’s 100‑year milestone on its cover alongside a feature on Vacheron Constantin’s dual‑time Overseas collection.
The celebration underscores the lasting influence of the Oyster case on modern watchmaking and signals Rolex’s continued focus on heritage‑driven innovation.
Entities: Geneva · Hans Wilsdorf · Mercedes Gleitze · Parivas · Rolex SA · WatchTime · Watches & Wonders
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The July/August 2026 issue of WatchTime magazine featured Rolex’s 100‑year Oyster anniversary on its cover. (WatchTime magazine article)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Mercedes Gleitze crossed the English Channel in 1927 wearing a Rolex Oyster watch. (Rolex anniversary article)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rolex patented the Oyster case in 1926. (Rolex anniversary article)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rolex unveiled two new Oyster Perpetual models at the 2026 Watches & Wonders show in Geneva. (Rolex anniversary article)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The same WatchTime issue highlighted Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points for its 30‑year anniversary. (WatchTime magazine article)