The 2011 Baselworld New Models From Rolex!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the Baselworld watch fair and trade show in Basel, Switzerland – my recent shoulder surgery is to blame there.  But, I still have a line on all the new models Rolex introduced at the Basel this year:

OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA

CASE
Type OYSTER (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back,
winding crown and chronograph pushers)
Diameter 40 mm
Material 18 ct EVEROSE gold, polished finish
Case back Screw-down with Rolex fluting
Bezel Monobloc black CERACHROM with engraved numerals filled
with pink gold via magnetron cathode sputtering
Winding crown Screw-down, TRIPLOCK triple waterproofness system
Shoulders to protect the crown
Crystal Scratch-resistant sapphire
Waterproofness 100 metres (330 feet)

MOVEMENT

Calibre 4130, Manufacture Rolex
Chronograph movement with column wheel and vertical clutch
Precision Officially certified Swiss chronometer
Functions Chronograph with accuracy to 1?8?th of a second,
30-minute and 12-hour totalizers
Tachymetric scale on the bezel to measure speed
Small seconds hand at 6 o’clock
Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Oscillator Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Non-magnetic blue PARACHROM hairspring
Breguet overcoil
Large balance wheel with variable inertia
High-precision regulating via four gold MICROSTELLA nuts
Traversing balance bridge
Jewelling 44 rubies
Winding Bidirectional self-winding via PERPETUAL rotor on ball bearings
Power reserve Approximately 72 hours
DIALS
Chocolate brown, totalizer borders in 18 ct pink gold
Hour markers Gold Arabic numerals, black PVD; phosphorescent hour markers
at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock
Hands 18 ct pink gold, filled with phosphorescent material

Ivory coloured, snailed totalizers in 18 ct pink gold
Hour markers 18 ct pink gold appliques, filled with phosphorescent material
Hands 18 ct pink gold, filled with phosphorescent material
STRAP
Material Black Alligator mississippiensis leather
Clasp 18 ct EVEROSE gold OYSTERLOCK folding clasp with safety catch
REFERENCE (CASE – STRAP):

The exhilaration of driving. A passion for mechanics. The exclusive feel of noble materials. The new Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is resolutely dedicated to those who enjoy the finer things in life. The owner of this chrono¬graph designed with speed and performance in mind is among those who avidly take advantage of all that life has to offer, love the freedom of the open road and are not afraid to take the turns tightly.

Speed and automobile sport
Launched in 1963, the Cosmograph Daytona is closely linked to speed and automobile sport. Its chronograph movement allows short periods of elapsed time to be measured to within 1?8?th of a second, and the tachymetric scale on the bezel enables the instant reading of speed over a given distance. Adopted by car racing drivers for its performance, reliability and exceptional readability, this prestigious chronograph carries in red letters on its dial the name “Daytona” – the most famous motor racing circuit in the United States.

Legendary heritage and exclusive technology
With its new, exclusive monobloc black CERACHROM bezel developed by Rolex – made of an advanced ceramic virtually impervious to scratches, corrosion-resistant and non-fading – this new version of the Oyster Perpetual
Cosmograph Daytona exhibits state-of-the-art technology and pays homage to its legendary heritage. Its black bezel is reminiscent of that of the 1965 model. The graduations on the CERACHROM bezel, offering perfect readabil¬¬ity, are obtained by the deposition of a fine layer of pink gold via a magnetron cathode sputtering PVD process.
This high-precision chronograph certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) is driven by calibre 4130, introduced in 2000, a movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch entirely designed and
manufactured by Rolex. Its revolutionary architecture, the fruit of years of research, has reduced its complexity and increased its reliability. A profusion of Rolex innovations, calibre 4130 is equipped with a PARACHROM hairspring with a Breguet overcoil. The hairspring is manufactured from a new alloy, developed and produced by Rolex, which makes it insensitive to magnetic fields and up to 10 times more resistant to shocks.
The new model’s sophisticated aesthetics are underscored by the noble materials used in its construction: the Oyster case in 18 ct EVEROSE gold, an alloy created by Rolex; the chocolate brown or ivory coloured dial with gold hour markers; and the comfortable strap in black alligator leather with an 18 ct EVEROSE gold folding clasp and safety catch.

CASE
Type OYSTER (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back
and winding crown)
Diameter 42 mm
Material 904L stainless steel superalloy, polished and satin finished
Case back Screw-down with Rolex fluting
Bezel Fixed, 24-hour graduated, sun satin finished, polished bevelled edge
Winding crown Screw-down, TWINLOCK double waterproofness system
Shoulders to protect the crown
Crystal Scratch-resistant sapphire
CYCLOPS lens (2.5??) over the date, double anti-reflective coating
Waterproofness 100 metres (330 feet)
MOVEMENT
Calibre 3187, Manufacture Rolex
Precision Officially certified Swiss chronometer
Functions 24-hour hand
GMT with independent rapid-setting of the hour hand
Instantaneous date at 3 o’clock
Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Oscillator Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Non-magnetic blue PARACHROM hairspring
Breguet overcoil
Large balance wheel with variable inertia
High-precision regulating via four gold MICROSTELLA nuts
Traversing balance bridge
High-performance PARAFLEX shock absorbers
Jewelling 31 rubies
Winding Bidirectional self-winding via PERPETUAL rotor
Power reserve Approximately 48 hours
DIALS
White lacquered
CHROMALIGHT display with long-lasting luminescence
Hands White gold, wide, hollowed, black lacquered
Orange 24-hour hand

Black, satin finished
CHROMALIGHT display with long-lasting luminescence
Hands White gold, wide, hollowed, “phantom effect” (black base on black dial)
Orange 24-hour hand, “phantom effect” (black base on black dial)

Hour markers Highly legible white gold appliques
BRACELET
Type OYSTER, three-piece solid links
Material 904L steel superalloy, satin finished, polished edge
Clasp OYSTERLOCK folding clasp with safety catch
EASYLINK 5 mm comfort extension link
REFERENCE (CASE – BRACELET):

CASE
Type OYSTER (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and
winding crown)
Diameter 44 mm
Material EVEROSE ROLESOR (combination of 904L stainless steel superalloy and
18 ct EVEROSE gold), polished finish
Case back Screw-down with Rolex fluting
Bezel Bidirectional 90° rotatable RING COMMAND bezel in 18 ct EVEROSE gold
Blue CERACHROM insert with engraved numerals filled with pink gold
via magnetron cathode sputtering
Winding crown 18 ct EVEROSE gold, screw-down, TRIPLOCK triple waterproofness system
Shoulders to protect the crown
Crystal Scratch-resistant sapphire
Waterproofness 100 metres (330 feet)
MOVEMENT
Calibre 4160, Manufacture Rolex
Chronograph movement with column wheel and vertical clutch
Precision Officially certified Swiss chronometer
Functions Programmable regatta countdown with mechanical memory,
retrograde minute hand and on-the-fly synchronization of the
countdown seconds and minute hand to the nearest minute
Small seconds hand at 6 o’clock
Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Oscillator Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Non-magnetic blue PARACHROM hairspring
Breguet overcoil
Large balance wheel with variable inertia
High-precision regulating via four gold MICROSTELLA nuts
Traversing balance bridge
Jewelling 42 rubies
Winding Bidirectional self-winding via PERPETUAL rotor on ball bearings
Power reserve Approximately 72 hours
DIAL
White lacquered, snailed pink gold small seconds counter
CHROMALIGHT display with long-lasting luminescence
Hour markers 12 appliques in pink gold
Hands Pink gold, blued
BRACELET
Type OYSTER, three-piece solid links
Material EVEROSE ROLESOR (combination of 904L stainless steel superalloy
and 18 ct EVEROSE gold), polished centre links, satin-finished outer links
with polished edges
Clasp OYSTERLOCK folding clasp with safety catch
EASYLINK 5 mm comfort extension link
REFERENCE (CASE – BRACELET):

As the start draws near, the skipper’s pulse quickens. Already visualizing the action of the race, he manoeuvres as close as possible to the line.
The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II embodies all of the intense emotion a regatta arouses. By its impressive size, evocative power and sleek design, this unique regatta chronograph echoes directly the Maxi Yachts built to brave the oceans. The new version is the first Professional watch in the Oyster collection to be available in EVEROSE ROLESOR – an exclusive combination of the 904L steel superalloy and 18 ct EVEROSE gold.

Sights on the horizon
Equipped with a programmable countdown with a mechanical memory, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II is an innovative and pioneering watchmaking complication, based on interaction between the movement and the bezel. It allows the skipper to programme a regatta countdown sequence from 1 to 10 minutes. Once the countdown has been launched, the skipper can, if necessary, synchronize his chronograph to the official race countdown. Thanks to the Yacht-Master II, experienced sailors and yachting enthusiasts have at their disposal an efficient tool to assist in crossing the starting line at the very moment the horn sounds.

Regatta meets watchmaking technology
With its numerous innovative watchmaking features, the Yacht-Master II model, launched in 2007, is the epitome of the brand’s creative force and technology. Its functions depend on a major innovation: the exclusive RING COMMAND bezel, designed and developed by Rolex. Rotatable through 90° and interacting with the movement, it serves to initialize and then lock the countdown programming.
The model’s 4160 movement, entirely designed and developed by Rolex, is fitted with a PARACHROM hairspring, 10 times more resistant to shocks and insensitive to magnetic fields. The countdown is operated by a column
wheel and a vertical clutch. A number of microcomponents in this unique movement are produced by UV-LiGA – a new technology, entirely mastered in-house by Rolex, which enables the production of components whose fineness or geometry makes them impossible to manufacture by traditional means.
The Yacht-Master II’s case, stamped from a block of 904L steel extremely resistant to corrosion, offers all the
qualities of waterproofness that have made the reputation of Oyster watches. Not least thanks to its TRIPLOCK winding crown, which screws down tightly against the case like the hatch of a submarine. The pink gold of the bezel and the bracelet’s centre links is 18 ct EVEROSE gold, an exclusive alloy developed by Rolex and manufactured in its own foundry. The blue CERACHROM bezel insert, virtually impervious to scratches, corrosion-resistant and non-fading, is also patented and manufactured by Rolex.
The excellent legibility of the Yacht-Master II’s dial demonstrates the constant attention to functionality in the Oyster Professional collection. The red countdown minute and seconds hands are readable at a glance against the graduations on the dial or bezel.
The bracelet, in 904L steel and 18 ct EVEROSE, is fitted with an EASYLINK 5 mm comfort extension link and an OYSTERLOCK clasp with a safety catch, two further Rolex innovations.

The horn has sounded. The course is set. The Yacht-Master II forges ever forward, sailing towards new horizons.

OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST SPECIAL EDITION

CASE
Type OYSTER (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back
and winding crown)
Diameter 34 mm
Material 18 ct EVEROSE gold, polished finish
Case back Screw-down with Rolex fluting
Bezel Set with 12 brilliant-cut diamonds (~0.39 ct)
Winding crown Screw-down, TWINLOCK double waterproofness system
Crystal Scratch-resistant sapphire
CYCLOPS lens (2.5?×) over the date, double anti-reflective coating
Waterproofness 100 metres (330 feet)
MOVEMENT
Calibre 2235, Manufacture Rolex
Precision Officially certified Swiss chronometer
Functions Instantaneous date with rapid setting at 3 o’clock
Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Oscillator Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Hairspring with Breguet overcoil
Balance wheel with variable inertia
High-precision regulating via two gold MICROSTELLA nuts
Traversing balance bridge
Jewelling 31 rubies
Winding Bidirectional self-winding via PERPETUAL rotor
Power reserve Approximately 48 hours
DIALS
GOLDUST DREAM (motif via deposition of 18 ct pink gold
on white mother-of-pearl)
GOLDUST DREAM (motif via deposition of 18 ct pink gold
on black Tahiti mother-of-pearl)
Hour markers 18 ct gold Roman numerals, large gem-set VI
Hands 18 ct pink gold
BRACELET
Type OYSTER, five-piece links
Material 18 ct EVEROSE gold, polished finish
Clasp Folding with invisible CROWNCLASP
REFERENCE (CASE – BRACELET):

The new Oyster Perpetual Datejust Special Edition is more sensual and more dazzling than ever. This bold incarnation of a feminine classic, in its 34 mm 18 ct EVEROSE gold case, enriches a collection already offered in yellow and white gold.

Seductive charm of EVEROSE gold
The 18 ct EVEROSE gold of the case, bracelet and bezel sets the tone from the outset: an exclusive Rolex alloy, captivating in its inherent lustre and nobility. A mixture of serenity and vitality, sobriety and audacity, it exerts an
irresistible power of seduction and gives the watch its strong personality. Around the bezel sparkle 12 brilliant-cut diamonds, elegantly showcased in 18 ct white gold settings. The effect is luminous, exquisite, enchanting.

Dream dials
Dazzlingly delicate, the GOLDUST DREAM dial is a subtle, refined marriage of white or black mother-of-pearl and gold dust. The mother-of-pearl is embellished with a new nature-inspired motif and an exquisite design in pink gold dust applied in a fine layer via a patented PVD process which preserves the mother-of-pearl’s natural structure while giving it a highly original metallic sheen. The slightest ray of light illuminates this magical dial with iridescent reflec¬tions that make the fine strata of the mother-of-pearl shimmer in a subtle play of light. Each of these dials, with a large gem-set numeral at 6 o’clock, is a unique, refined work of art, striking in its delicate splendour.

Distinction and precision
The new Oyster Perpetual Datejust Special Edition stands out thanks to its gracious, curved lines, its feminine form and its new, elegant invisible clasp. It is also an Oyster with peerless precision and reliability, a waterproof
chronometer equipped with a PERPETUAL rotor self-winding mechanical movement. A trusted companion under all
circumstances.

The lady who wears this watch looks ahead, stepping confidently towards her future. She glances at her watch, living the present to the full, her sights already set on expanding horizons.

Written by: John B. Holbrook, II on March 23, 2011.