If in the past Rolex Replica was a pioneer of epochal innovations such as the waterproof Oyster case or the self-winding Perpetual movement but that is only the tip of the iceberg, today the Geneva-based Maison is more oriented towards a gradual evolution that is consistent with its past. This does not mean that there is a lack of interesting innovations in its recent collections, but that these are part of a philosophy of continuous improvement without upheavals.

So let’s find out which were the 5 Rolexes that have stood out most for innovation, always according to the Maison’s canons over the last 20 years.

1.Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss with green sapphire crystal (2007)

This model introduced the characteristic green sapphire crystal, not the first to color it but undoubtedly a novelty for the watchmaking field, a detail that has become a distinctive sign of the Milgauss, the first watch – born in an analog era – for those who worked in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields such as nuclear or electrical power plants. Today, sapphire is also used to build elements of a mechanical movement but only twenty years ago very few were able to give it color.

2.Rolex Deepsea Challenge with 12,000 meter waterproofness (2012)

Developed in collaboration with James Cameron, this watch set a record for pressure resistance by reaching a depth of 10,916 meters, just as the Deep Sea Special had done in 1960, fixed to the outside of the bathyscaphe Trieste, piloted by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard, a Swiss explorer and engineer. In November 2022, Rolex released the Deepsea Challenge in a titanium case.

3.Rolex Yacht-Master II with programmable chronograph (2007)

Discontinued in 2024, 17 years earlier the Rolex Yacht-Master II was the first watch to feature a programmable countdown chronograph with mechanical memory, a complication designed specifically for regattas. Its movement, calibre 4161, comprises over 360 components and is one of the most complex ever developed by Rolex. The innovative Ring Command bezel enables a unique interaction between the movement and the bezel itself for simple management of the chronograph.

4.Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 with calibre 3235 (2016)

In typical Rolex style, where everything always seems the same, the seemingly “simple” Datejust 41 from 2016, available in yellow Rolesor or Everose Rolesor, brings together several advanced solutions that still characterize the brand’s mechanics today. The then completely new caliber 3255 with 70 hours of power reserve is regulated by the Chronergy escapement, first seen in 2015 – with a skeletonized escapement wheel to be further lightened, and made of nickel-phosphorus, an alloy insensitive to magnetic fields. Rolex claimed an overall efficiency 15% higher than a normal escapement.

5.Rolex Sky-Dweller with annual calendar and dual time zone (2012)

The Sky-Dweller stands out for its innovative calendar marked in a simple yet ingenious way. The SAROS is a sophisticated mechanism that takes its name from the astronomical phenomenon of the same name, displays the date at 3 o’clock and the month via a red marker that jumps from month to month in the distal part of the 12 hour markers. Like all annual calendars, the SAROS requires only one adjustment per year, at the end of February. The Sky-Dweller also offers a practical dual time function. With the departure of the Yacht-Master II with chronograph, it is the most complicated Rolex to date.