The Sky-Dweller series is the most recent all-new release from Rolex that launched in 2012. The Rolex Sky-Dweller is the most complicated modern Rolex available. There are many different views about this watch, but one thing is sure: it is an important piece in the Rolex collection. Most collectors have pretty strong views on it one way or another but no one can dispute its ingenuity. Its intuitive display incorporates an annual calendar and a dual time-zone. In total the model boasts 11 – 14 patents.

Let’s take a look at a brief history of this iconic Rolex watch. Rolex enthusiasts are no stranger to dual time zone functionality as the GMT-master has had this feature for decades. The 24-hour hand function was also introduced on the Explorer II model. Beyond that, though, we have not seen much from Rolex on the dual time zone front. Other than the standard updates and improvements to established models.

This is one of the reasons why in 2012 the launch of  the sky-dweller cause quite an uproar. Rolex already registered the name before Baselword (where it was released for the first time), but no one had any clue what this watch would look like or what this model was all about. Most speculations were anticipating a progression of the GMT Master II, but Rolex did something unexpected and came out with a whole new watch for the first time in two decades.

The Sky-Dweller features a dual time zone display and an annual calendar. Unlike the GMT-Master the Sky-Dweller is for business travellers, not pilots. The movement of this watch is incredibly complicated, and this didn’t go unnoticed by the luxury watch lovers. The Sky-Dweller features a completely new caliber 9001, which remains the most complex caliber ever developed by Rolex so far.

The Sky-Dweller is designed to display two time zones at the same time. The local time and date come in the standard Rolex format. Off-set from the dial centre there is a 24-hour disc indicated to by a fixed inverted triangle. You can read the minutes for both timezones off of the local time minute hand.  The 24-hour display shows the chosen reference time of the owner, the 24 hour scale makes it easier to differentiate between day and night.

Another interesting thing about the Rolex Sky-Dweller is that before this model Rolex only provided a complete calendar. Although this is similar, it does not take into account the differing of the month lengths. In the Sky-Dweller model, Rolex solves this problem, by introducing four extra gear wheels and creating the so called ‘Saros’ annual calendar system.

Saros is a Greek term that refers to the astronomical cycle that governs the recurrence of an eclipse. The design of the Rolex calendar takes inspiration from the cyclical alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth.

To explain this better, imagine a satellite (Earth) wheel engages a fixed planetary (Sun) wheel over one month, driven by the date disk. The ‘Earth’ in turn has its own satellite, (the moon) wheel fitted with four fingers for each of the four 30 day months. At the end of these months, one of the fingers causes the date disk to jump two days, hence the 31 date is “eclipsed”. This was a revolutionary new invention for Rolex.

All in all, this watch features a lot of information, but it is presented in such a way that it all appears in a very clear, concise and stylish way.

Curious about the Sky-Dweller? We can’t blame you it is an incredibly impressive watch, take a look at our collection here.