Why We Love It

Rolex has been making beautiful, art-forward timepieces since their inception - some of them even earning "Oyster" nomenclature by featuring waterproof cases - something most design-forward watches don't offer.

Dating to the late 1950s, this Reference 6593 Oyster Perpetual 'Bombay' features twisted lugs known in French as bombé style - a misinterpretation between languages. Immediately more decorative than the straight, no fuss lugs more commonly seen on the Oyster line, this example also features a champagne toned dial with dart style indices and an 'alpha' style handset - both luminous.

Produced in 14k yellow gold with a fluted bezel, this lovely watch is a a sensational example of Rolex's ability to flex their more creative and artistic capabilities when the mood strikes - all while maintaining the water resistance and toughness the brand is known for!

The Oyster Perpetual Story

In Rolex's impressive history, the brand has released a veritable arsenal of models that have become classics.

Many of these bear the moniker "Oyster Perpetual." While this name is used on a particular model line, it also finds itself used widely across Rolex’s varied collections. This signifies two things: first, that the watch will have the trademark waterproof Rolex Oyster case. And secondly, that the movement beating inside that Oyster case will be one of Rolex's famed Perpetual (automatic winding) movements.

Rolex first patented the Oyster case in 1925, but the quest for a waterproof and dust-proof case began shortly before the First World War. The cases of the Great War and the early 1920s came in two or three pieces with an inner case that shielded the movement (then a manual-wind movement) from the wet, dusty conditions on the battlefield. The Oyster case of 1925 represented the culmination of ten years of development.

As with the Oyster case, the Perpetual movement saw many iterations before finally being perfected in the 1930s. Rolex's first automatic movement quietly debuted in 1931, and was met with some consternation from purists who decried the "extreme novelty" of a self-winding watch. Nevertheless, Rolex could see that the future lay in the Perpetual movement. They continued to develop and improve it over the years, establishing a line of dressier watches bearing the “Oyster Perpetual” nomenclature that would stand as an alternative to Rolex's sportier models.  

These models run the gamut of size, casing material and dial design, and offer a tremendous value for buyers. Meant to be worn every day, the Oyster Perpetual combines elegant looks with rugged dependability, and are very much the backbone of the Rolex brand.