How perfect is it to begin the inaugural day of Watches and Wonders, the exhibition in Geneva where the elite of watchmaking convene yearly to unveil their latest wristwatches, with a new release from? Rolex, among the most renowned watch brands globally, ?
Style had an exclusive look at the Land-Dweller, a cutting-edge design that is bound to be one of the most talked-about watches at the entire event.
Up until now, Rolex has maintained secrecy regarding the upcoming additions to their renowned Oyster Perpetual collection. However, it’s been revealed that the newly launched Land-Dweller boasts an impressive total of 32 patent filings and granted patents: 18 specifically designed for this model, including 16 related to the mechanism itself, along with one each for the dial and bracelet. The timepiece comes either in a sleek 40mm combination of platinum and Rolesor—a blend of Oystersteel and white gold—or within a more delicate 36mm frame crafted from 18k Everose rose gold adorned with diamonds.
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The new models feature the alluring Flat Jubilee integrated bracelet, which draws inspiration from the iconic 1969 and 1974 Datejust watches where this type of bracelet was initially debuted for Rolex.
The modern aesthetics of the Land-Dweller speak to the entrepreneur type, a client who appreciates a flowing silhouette with an unbroken line from bracelet to watch case, and the combination of polished and satin finishes creating a play of light. The wider bracelet is built for comfort, with an intricate and discreet mechanism joining the case to the strap, giving 90-degree movement in the hinge - an innovation that is among the patent applications.
The reflection seen on the bracelet extends to the bezel as well. Introduced in 2023, the 1908 Perpetual features an intricate bezel adorned with 180 flutings; however, the Land-Dweller model reduces this number to 60 flutings, resulting in a more spacious design that captures light in a strikingly architectural manner. On the Everose version, Reference No. 127286, along with the platinum variant, Reference No. 127386, trapezoid-shaped diamonds enhance the sparkling effect, contributing to an overall look that is both sleek and modern.
A honeycomb design adorns the dials — also seen on the second hand — with ice blue being Rolex’s distinctive hue for their platinum series. The hour indicators feature an open-ended style, whereas the typography at the 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions closely resembles that found on Rolex’s Explorer collection.
The Land-Dweller is a flagship of design and development that will launch a new generation of Rolex watches. This is especially noticeable in the development of the new movement, calibre 7135, which Rolex says is an evolution of the calibre 7140 in its 1908 model.
In the world of horology one of the biggest challenges is developing a watch that beats at 5Hz, or 10 beats per second. In the Land-Dweller, this makes huge demands on a movement already packed into a case 2mm slimmer than Rolex's Datejust case. To achieve such a high frequency requires cutting-edge technology, with the brand developing innovative escapement systems that keep the watch ticking.
Many of the patent applications involve the application of the self-winding system to the energy-efficient Dynapulse escapement, made from silicon with a new design that is less sensitive to wear than the traditional Swiss anchor design and which has taken years of research to perfect. The state-of-the-art oscillator is another major component development for the calibre 7135, with each element designed to be robust enough for it to operate at 5Hz, with Rolex introducing a brass balance wheel on a ceramic axis and incorporating a thicker Syloxi hairspring for greater rigidity.
There is so much innovation packed into these new Land-Dweller models that the watch world will surely be talking about them long after preparations begin for 2026's Watches and Wonders.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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