Reinventing the present lays foundations for the future. Rolex begins a new chapter in its history with the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller. This most contemporary watch represents the culmination of the brand’s expertise today, fruit of more than a century of experience in watchmaking. The Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller is designed for those well-grounded men and women who build their own destinies, seeing opportunity in every moment.

Rolex is unveiling the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller, a new watch characterized by bold aesthetics and cutting-edge technology. Offered in two sizes, 36 mm and 40 mm, it exemplifies the brand’s singular watchmaking excellence and has been designed to deliver superlative performance in all circumstances. No fewer than 32 patent applications and patents pertain to the Land-Dweller; 18 are exclusive to this watch and 16 of those concern its movement. It is a testament to the pioneering spirit that drives Rolex and is a fitting companion for every occasion.

The Land-Dweller reinterprets the intricate and challenging design of watches with integrated bracelets. It is paired with a brand-new metal bracelet – the Flat Jubilee – which merges seamlessly with the Oyster case. Bracelet and case form a balanced, harmonious whole, with the alternation of polished and technical satin finishings further enhancing the interplay of the shapes and volumes. Moreover, the top edges of the bracelet’s outer links are bevelled, as are those of the middle case, and the resulting chamfers polished, creating the appearance of a continuous ribbon of light. The Land-Dweller sports an Oyster case that has been specially restyled. The bezel, fluted or set with diamonds, showcases a finely detailed dial with a honeycomb motif.

At the heart of the Land-Dweller beats calibre 7135. This movement at the cutting edge of horological research stands out for its frequency of 5 Hz. Thinner than the majority of Rolex movements, it nonetheless offers exceptional performance. Underlying this performance are a regulating system composed of an innovative escapement – the Dynapulse – and a state-of-the-art oscillator. Calibre 7135 enables the Land-Dweller 36 and Land-Dweller 40 to display the date as well as the hours, minutes and seconds.

The first of the watches presented is a Land-Dweller 40 in a white Rolesor version (combining Oystersteel and white gold). It features a fluted bezel and an intense white dial with a honeycomb motif. The second, a Land-Dweller 36, is fashioned in 18 ct Everose gold. Its dial is identical, but it is set with ten baguette-cut diamond hour markers and surrounded by a bezel glittering with 44 trapeze-cut diamonds. Crafted from 950 platinum, the third version is a Land-Dweller 40 with a fluted bezel and a dial in ice blue – a colour reserved for watches made of this prestigious metal – which is also adorned with a honeycomb motif.

Resolutely bold and forward-looking, the Land-Dweller redefines the parameters of watchmaking perfection according to Rolex. It encapsulates the desire to embrace the here-and-now while shaping the future. It carries a simple yet powerful message: to be one with your time and place in order to build tomorrow’s world. This timepiece furthermore demonstrates the brand’s ability to perpetually hone its expertise.

Whether in the heart of the city or deep in the country, the Land-Dweller is a symbol of harmony between the wearer and their world. It conveys, through the lens of Rolex, the essence of personal achievement: a journey, marked by victories quietly obtained and challenges overcome.

The dial of the Land-Dweller is graced with a honeycomb motif, a graphically appealing pattern that Rolex has revisited with stylized cells in subtle relief. Its creation calls on traditional craftsmanship and high-technology methods, all mastered in-house. Time-honoured techniques are employed for the dial surface finishings: a fine satin finish for the intense white dial and a sunray finish on the ice blue version. The honeycomb structure is cut with a femtosecond laser, which is also used to etch the delicate lines in the grooves between each cell.

The display elements on the Land-Dweller are exclusive to the new watch. Its 6 and 9 numerals, inspired by those of the Explorer and Air-King models, are particular in that they are open at their centre, which lends a modern touch. On the index hour markers, the luminescent material extends the full length of the component. This new design is the outcome of an innovatory manufacturing process for which a patent application was filed, and the use of a substance harder than the one typically used by Rolex but which delivers the same luminescent performance, colour of glow, and hue in daylight. The distinctive hands, specially created for this watch, are perfectly rectilinear. Those marking the hours and minutes are coated with the same luminescent material as the open 6 and 9 numerals. The seconds hand features a counterweight shaped like the cells of the honeycomb motif. The Land-Dweller’s dial is framed by an angled flange whose pad-printed minute track is graduated to the half-second. The flange is the same colour as the dial, the intense white having a fine satin finish and the ice blue variant a circular satin finish.

Specially designed for the Land-Dweller, the Flat Jubilee bracelet is a reinterpretation of the emblematic Jubilee bracelet, unveiled at the launch of the Datejust in 1945. While retaining the same five-piece link structure, with three narrower links in the centre flanked by two broader ones at the edges, the new bracelet differs in that all the links are flat. Moreover, the centre links on this new bracelet are polished and slightly raised in relation to the outer links. The latter feature a technical satin finish on all but their polished edge.

The chamfered top edges of the outer links are polished, creating a stream of light that continues uninterrupted along the Oyster case. To achieve this aesthetic trait required the development of an exclusive and rigorous manufacturing process, different from that employed for the brand’s other metal bracelets.

A robust, durable attachment system was also devised to ensure the perfectly fluid integration of the Flat Jubilee bracelet with the Oyster case. This novel and complex assembly is the subject of a patent application. It also includes ceramic inserts. For the first time, these small patented tubes, developed by Rolex to help prevent premature wear, are used to protect the spring bar, the metal pin that secures the bracelet to the middle case.

Comfortable and supple on the wrist, the Flat Jubilee is equipped with an elegant, concealed folding Crownclasp, which contributes to the visual harmony of the watch. On the versions in 18 ct Everose gold and in 950 platinum, this bracelet includes ceramic inserts inside the links.

The Land-Dweller is housed in an Oyster case that has been specially developed for the model. In restyling the case, the waterproofness system around the crystal was modified owing to constraints in performing the technical satin finish on the upper part of the middle case.

The curved, polished sides of the new case are chamfered, and this bevel along the top edges is also polished. The case is fitted with a sapphire case back allowing the aesthetic beauty of the movement to be admired, and is crowned by a fluted bezel that has been redesigned, giving it a decidedly contemporary look with wider fluting compared to other Classic models. On precious metal versions it may also have a bezel set with trapeze-cut diamonds. Guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), the Oyster case provides optimal protection for the movement nestled inside.

The Land-Dweller is powered by calibre 7135, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex and released this year. An evolution of calibre 7140, which has equipped the 1908 model since its launch in 2023, the new self-winding mechanical movement delivers outstanding performance, particularly in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability.

Driven by a self-winding system via a Perpetual Rotor, calibre 7135 is particularly noteworthy for its revolutionary regulating mechanism – escapement and oscillator – that enables it to beat at a frequency of 5 Hz, or 36,000 beats per hour, thereby measuring time to one tenth of a second. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s excellent efficiency, the power reserve of this movement extends to approximately 66 hours. Fine attention to detail has been paid to the aesthetics of calibre 7135. Its bridges are decorated with Rolex Côtes de Genève, while the cut-out oscillating weight is fashioned in yellow gold.


For the highly energy-efficient Dynapulse escapement – the first component of the regulating system – seven patent applications were filed. The new escapement significantly enhances the way in which the energy delivered by the barrel is transmitted to the oscillator. This transfer is made without affecting the movement’s autonomy, which remains equal to that of calibre 7140.

The Dynapulse is a sequential distribution escapement made from silicon, a material resistant to strong magnetic fields. It is composed of a transmission wheel that engages with two distribution wheels; these, in turn, activate the impulse rocker, which then connects with the oscillator. This innovative architecture reduces the escapement’s energy consumption since the various components interact by rolling against each other, rather than by sliding as in the case of the Swiss lever escapements used in the brand’s other mechanical movements.

The Dynapulse escapement, for which a special assembly and lubrication process has been created, is the result of many years of research and development that led notably to determining the optimal geometry for each of its components.


The oscillator – another major component of the calibre 7135 regulating system – also demonstrates excellent resistance to strong magnetic fields. A number of innovations have made this possible.

One of these is the balance staff, which is crafted from a high-technology ceramic, patented and exclusive to Rolex. It is a remarkably strong and resilient material used only for manufacturing the balance staff, which is produced in-house by ablation of the ceramic using a femtosecond laser. The actual production procedure, developed by the brand, is the subject of a patent application. Control equipment has been specially developed to individually test the balance staffs and ensure each one conforms to performance requirements.

The balance wheel itself is made from optimized brass. This is the first time that Rolex has made use of such an alloy, which, like the ceramic, is resistant to strong magnetic fields.

Calibre 7135 incorporates a Syloxi hairspring with reshaped coils, which are now thicker to confer greater rigidity. This modification grants greater power to the patented silicon hairspring – an essential factor for the movement to beat at 5 Hz, a rate that notably allows the watch to maintain its chronometric precision whatever the wearer’s actions and arm movements.

Two optimized high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers cushion the ceramic balance staff. Their special internal architecture allows the balance staff to turn smoothly and regularly in any position. Placed at each end of the staff, the shock absorbers include an enhanced leaf spring that ensures optimal repositioning of the staff after a shock.

Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller 40 and the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller 36 are covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). These in-house certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by COSC for official certification of the movement alone.

The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

Behind the innovations of the Land-Dweller, there is more than meets the eye. Spotlight on some of the details that reflect the remarkable scope of the technological achievements.


The Dynapulse escapement in calibre 7135 is lubricated and assembled differently from the Swiss lever escapements in other Rolex movements. Because of the way this escapement functions, oil rather than grease is used for lubrication. Applied using a curved precision needle, the oil is dispensed on a scale of nanolitres. This delicate and complex operation called for the design of a special assembly process. The Dynapulse escapement is built and lubricated on an external support before it is inserted in the movement – a completely novel approach for the manufacture.

A number of patent applications concern the dimensions and shape of the components of the Dynapulse escapement. One of them concerns the design of the silicon distribution wheels, which are particular in that they have both teeth and blades on the same plane. The distribution wheels have a dual function: on one hand, they mesh with each other, and on the other, their teeth first position and then pilot the impulse rocker. Intensive research into the morphology of each component of the Dynapulse escapement was carried out to ensure the escapement would function reliably. Still further, all the silicon components are cut out, thereby reducing their inertia and, in turn, the amount of energy required to engage them.


After being machined, the balance staff – made from a white ceramic notable for its extreme strength – is polished to nanometric scale. This polishing is carried out to prevent any fissures or damage in the event of impact, while creating a perfectly smooth surface finish. Shaping the staff by means of a femtosecond laser also allows the creation of optimal geometry for the pivots – the points at each end of the staff – thus enhancing their shock resistance.

Fitting a ceramic balance staff in the oscillator involved optimization of the Paraflex shock absorber. The internal structure of the improved version is known as a ‘double cone’ which gives it great mobility. At the heart of this innovative construction, the hole jewel is manufactured via a new patented process, combining leading-edge technology and traditional know-how. The two optimized Paraflex shock absorbers – one at each end of the staff, at the pivots – include an enhanced leaf spring that ensures optimal repositioning of the staff after a shock. Thanks to the Paraflex shock absorbers, the balance staff can oscillate regularly in any position.


On the Land-Dweller, the seconds hand moves particularly smoothly because of the high frequency of calibre 7135. Thanks to the movement beating at 5 Hz – 36,000 beats per hour or 600 per minute – the seconds hand moves at a speed of 10 jumps per second. At such a rate, it is able to measure time to one tenth of a second and display half-seconds, which are pad-printed on the minute track on the angled flange of the dial. .

Robust and entirely concealed, the bracelet attachment system, housed between the middle case lugs, is the subject of a patent application. This mechanism, enabling articulation of the bracelet, includes a spring bar less than one centimetre long, that clicks at each end into a hole inside the lugs. To prevent it from pivoting and to optimize its longevity, the bar is held in place by a screw within the bracelet attachment link. It is also enclosed within ceramic inserts – at the first articulated link – which help prevent premature wear.


One of the Land Dweller’s aesthetic signatures is the polished chamfers along its bracelet edges, flowing as perfectly uninterrupted lines from the bevelled edges of the middle case. This continuity generates an elegant ribbon of light. To achieve this visual effect, a special manufacturing method was developed to execute the chamfers on the bracelet’s outer links, an operation that requires extreme precision.

The technical satin finish, characterized by its pronounced linear grain and matt lustre, has been employed for the first time on Oystersteel, 18 ct Everose gold and 950 platinum. The subtle alternation between this finish on the top of the case and outer bracelet links, and the polished surfaces of the chamfered edges and bracelet centre links, contributes to the Land-Dweller’s contemporary character.


The atypical design of the Land-Dweller’s index hour markers – recognizable by their cut ends – was realized by developing a variant of the luminescent material typically used for the components of Chromalight display.To produce this variant, luminescent ceramic powder is mixed with a thermosetting polymer, i.e. one that hardens when heated. Particular strength is required to allow machining of the hour markers and to cut the luminescent material perfectly at the ends. Rarely has the creation of a new Rolex watch leveraged such a panoply of expertise among the manufacture’s engineers and watchmakers.Three of them offer insights into the Land-Dweller from their specialist perspectives.

Frank Vernay, head of movements at Rolex

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Where does the Dynapulse escapement stand in terms of progress in watchmaking?
The Dynapulse escapement constitutes a new technical signature for Rolex. It is a revolution in watchmaking while remaining true to our brand’s fundamental principles and traditions. This sequential distribution escapement particularly offers high energy efficiency, approximately 30 per cent more than a conventional Swiss lever escapement, while taking up no more space. Thanks to the Dynapulse escapement, Rolex can now extend the family of 71XX movements with the addition of a 5 Hz calibre.

The groundwork for this high-performance escapement began around 10 years ago. It has taken time for the project to mature and for us to get to where we are today, with a solution covered by a total of seven patent applications. Much of the work concentrated on simplifying the shape of the wheels and the impulse rocker so that these components could be made out of silicon. Fitting such a complex mechanism into the same space as a conventional Swiss lever escapement constituted a real technological challenge, as did the production and pre-assembly of the small components in silicon. Then, assembling the Dynapulse escapement in the calibre entailed a complete rethink of our movement manufacturing and assembly processes.

What were the challenges in increasing the movement frequency?
Increasing the frequency from 4 Hz to 5 Hz constitutes a major step for Rolex in the history of precision.The higher a movement’s frequency, the more quickly it consumes the energy supplied by the self-winding system. This energy consumption needed to be optimized.

We therefore completely redesigned the escapement, enabling us to offer the same power reserve as that of calibre 7140. Suitable solutions also had to be found to guarantee the movement’s reliability. The new rate also meant modifying our algorithms and measuring equipment. Additionally, we had to develop a diagnostic system to validate the functioning of the Dynapulse escapement in each assembled movement prior to casing, given that there is no longer any pallet stone adjustment as in a traditional Swiss lever escapement.

For the owner of the watch, what are the practical advantages in everyday wear?
A higher frequency confers greater stability to the rate of the watch in all circumstances. Robustness and reliability are enhanced, no matter the activity the wearer may be engaged in.

Davide Airoldi, head of design at Rolex

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What was the main aesthetic challenge in designing the Land-Dweller?
“A model to be inspired by our aesthetic heritage but looking to the future” This was the brief for the design of the Land-Dweller. Finding a harmonious balance between these two worlds was certainly our biggest challenge. We came up with creative new codes without ever losing sight of the brand’s DNA or its style. At the same time, we integrated technical innovations from the Research and Development Division in the most refined and elegant way possible.

Why did you opt for alternate polished and satin finishes?
The design has to emphasize the aesthetic coherence between the two distinct elements of bracelet and case. The shapes and finishings must all be in perfect harmony. Our choice of alternate satin and polished finishes reprises an aesthetic code already present on a number of Classic models. The polished facets and chamfers alongside the flat, technical satin-finished surfaces produce a striking contrast that brings the Land-Dweller to life, with the multitude of reflections highlighting the watch’s refinement.

For the wearer, what are the practical benefits of a watch with an integrated bracelet?
In terms of comfort, the broader bracelet means that there is a larger area of contact with the wrist. The watch therefore sits more securely and is better positioned. In terms of appearance, the visual fluidity between the Flat Jubilee bracelet and the Oyster case lends great elegance to the Land-Dweller, which is as robust and reliable as other Rolex watches. Everything comes together to make this new watch an ideal timepiece for all occasions.

Mathieu Vorontchouk, head of dial prototypes at Rolex

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What was the greatest challenge in laser engraving the dial?
One of the main challenges in creating the honeycomb motif on the dial of the Land-Dweller lay in producing the contrast between the top of the hexagons, which are matt or sunray-finished, and the grooves separating them. These grooves are decorated with a laser-etched, concentric circular motif, giving them a subtle shimmer.

Why and how was the luminescent material for the hour markers modified?
For the applique index hour markers, which are open ended, we used a new variant of luminescent material that can be machined. This technical characteristic allowed us to create an original look and extend the material the full length of the markers.

What were the main issues you faced in terms of the dial construction?
Adding a flange to the top plate posed a major challenge. A specific geometry had to be devised for this element around the edge of the dial, to ensure that it remains securely in place when exposed to shocks. With the introduction of the Land-Dweller, Rolex is expanding the Oyster Perpetual collection with a complete range. This new watch is offered in two diameters, 36 mm and 40 mm. It is available in a white Rolesor version or in 18 ct Everose gold, both with an intense white dial, or in 950 platinum with an ice blue dial. It features a fluted bezel and a Chromalight display or, on precious metal versions only, a trapeze-cut diamond-set bezel with baguette-cut diamond hour markers.