A technological masterpiece unveiled in 2012 with multiple patent applications filed over the course of its development, the Sky-Dweller was designed specially for frequent travellers who often change time zone. It displays:

• the time in two time zones: local time via conventional centre hands and reference time in 24-hour format via an off-centre disc;
• a particularly innovative annual calendar named Saros – after the astronomical phenomenon of the same name – that displays the date at 3 o’clock and the month via 12 apertures around the circumference of the dial.

The Sky-Dweller is equipped with a patented mechanism of interaction between the rotatable bezel, winding crown and movement: the Ring Command system, which allows the wearer to select and set the watch's functions one by one, easily, quickly and securely.

DUAL TIME ZONE AND 24-HOUR DISPLAY

The Sky-Dweller displays the time in two time zones simultaneously. The display’s original, highly intuitive design endows the watch with an aesthetic and an identity all of its own.

Global travellers can read the reference time by means of a red triangle pointing to an off-centre disc. The disc’s 24-hour graduation allows travellers to distinguish daytime hours from night-time hours in the reference time zone (for example, 10 am versus 10 pm).

Local time is indicated by the conventional centre hour, minute and seconds hands. It can be set very quickly, both forwards and backwards, thanks to a mechanism that allows the hour hand to be adjusted independently in one-hour increments, so that changing the local hour does not affect the minute or seconds hands or the reference time. The instantaneous date change is linked to local time.

SAROS ANNUAL CALENDAR

The Sky-Dweller is equipped with a revolutionary annual calendar named Saros – its original design was inspired by the astronomical phenomenon of the same name. The Greek term Saros has been used since antiquity to designate an approximately 18-year cycle of alignment patterns between the Sun, the Earth and the Moon, at the end of which they are at the same position in relation to one another and in the same area of the sky.

The Saros annual calendar, whose qualities are attributable to an ingenious patented mechanism, automatically differentiates between 30-day and 31-day months. It displays the correct date throughout the year and requires only one adjustment a year – on 1st March, February having only 28 or 29 days.

The Saros mechanism consists of only four gear wheels and two gear ratios added to the Rolex instantaneous date calendar. This construction of extreme simplicity ensures the great reliability of the system.

The months of the year are marked by 12 discreet apertures around the circumference of the dial, outside the hour markers: January at 1 o’clock, February at 2 o’clock, and so on. The current month is indicated in red.

RING COMMAND SYSTEM

The Sky-Dweller is equipped with the Ring Command system. This patented mechanism of interaction between the rotatable bezel, the winding crown and the movement, developed by Rolex, allows the user to select the watch’s functions one-by-one – calendar (date and month), local time or reference time – by turning the fluted bezel counterclockwise by one, two or three positions respectively.

The selected function can then be rapidly adjusted in either direction using the winding crown – which has only one setting position – and with no restrictions.

The simple and intuitive Ring Command system is a complex mechanism consisting of around 50 components. Its design demanded state-of-the-art watchmaking and micromechanical expertise. At the heart of this system are a double cam and levers that engage various gear trains inside the movement according to the function selected. One of these cams is activated by pulling out the winding crown; the other is driven by rotating the bezel to activate setting wheels located in the middle case of the watch.

THE SKY-DWELLER, SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER CERTIFIED

Like all Rolex watches, the Sky-Dweller is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This exclusive designation attests that each watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories and according to its own criteria. These 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 Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

The precision of every movement – officially certified as a chronometer by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) – is tested a second time by Rolex after being cased, to ensure that it meets criteria that are far stricter than those of the official certification. 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 certification testing is carried out after casing using state-of-the-art equipment specially developed by Rolex and according to an exclusive protocol that simulates the conditions in which a watch is actually worn and more closely represents real-life experience. The entirely automated series of tests also checks the waterproofness, the self-winding capacity and the power reserve of 100 per cent of Rolex watches. These tests systematically complement the qualification testing during development and production, in order to ensure the watches’ reliability, robustness, and resistance to strong magnetic fields and to shocks.

THE OYSTER CASE, SYMBOL OF WATERPROOFNESS

The Sky-Dweller’s Oyster case, 42 mm in diameter and guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), is a paragon of robustness and elegance. The middle case is crafted from a solid block of Oystersteel or 18 ct gold. The case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that grants only certified Rolex watchmakers access to the movement. The Twinlock winding crown, fitted with a double waterproofness system, screws down securely against the case. The crystal is made of a virtually scratchproof sapphire with a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date, and benefits from an anti-reflective coating. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimal protection for the movement it houses.

CALIBRE 9002

The Sky-Dweller is equipped with calibre 9002, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. A consummate demonstration of technology, this movement offers outstanding performance, particularly in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability. It is a derivation of calibre 9001, one of the most complex movements ever designed by Rolex, for which a number of patent applications were filed and with which the Sky-Dweller was fitted from its launch in 2012 until 2022.

Calibre 9002 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, made of nickel-phosphorus, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability and is also resistant to strong magnetic fields.

The movement is fitted with the blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy. In addition to resisting strong magnetic fields, this hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations as well as high resistance to shocks. It is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position.

The oscillator of calibre 9002 has a large balance wheel with variable inertia regulated extremely precisely via gold Microstella nuts. It is held firmly in place by a height-adjustable traversing bridge enabling very stable positioning to increase shock resistance. The oscillator is also mounted on the Rolex-designed, patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, further enhancing the movement’s shock resistance.

Calibre 9002 is equipped with a self-winding system via a Perpetual rotor which ensures continuous winding of the mainspring and provides constant energy thanks to movements of the wrist. Its oscillating weight is fitted with an optimized ball bearing. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of this movement extends to approximately 72 hours.

A selector wheel positioned on the outside edge of the movement ensures the interaction between the rotatable bezel, the winding crown and the movement to set the functions.

The Sky-Dweller’s movement will be seen only by certified Rolex watchmakers, yet it is beautifully finished and decorated. It is also marked with the words ‘Chronometer Perpetual’ and ‘Superlative Adjusted’ engraved respectively on the oscillating weight and on the bridges.

OYSTER, JUBILEE AND OYSTERFLEX BRACELETS

The Sky-Dweller is available with a three-piece link Oyster bracelet, a five-piece link Jubilee bracelet or an Oysterflex bracelet, composed of two flexible, curved metal blades – one for each bracelet section – overmoulded with high-performance black elastomer. All three bracelets are equipped with an Oysterclasp, designed by Rolex and patented.

The Oyster and Jubilee bracelets on the Sky-Dweller feature the Easylink comfort extension link, developed by Rolex. This system allows the wearer to easily increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, providing additional comfort in any circumstance. On the 18 ct gold versions, these two bracelets include ceramic inserts – designed by the brand and patented – inside the links to enhance their flexibility and longevity.

The patented Oysterflex bracelet, developed by Rolex, is furnished with the Rolex Glidelock extension system, also developed by the brand and patented. On the Oysterflex bracelet, this inventive toothed mechanism has six notches of approximately 2.5 mm, allowing the bracelet length to be effortlessly adjusted up to some 15 mm.