From industry whispers to a full-fledged launch, Rolex’s latest release, the Rolex Land-Dweller, proves that some surprises are worth the hype.

By Ashok Soman

Rolex Land-Dweller

If you told me last month that Rolex would be revealing a new Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller at Watches and Wonders Geneva, I would have expressed polite scepticism. Now, add on an avalanche of leaks on the same news and I would have laughed in your face. Well, the joke is on me because there is indeed a new Land-Dweller in the mix and virtually everything about it is as promised by the leaks. Is this genius publicity or a happy accident? We will never know, but who cares because this watch was definitely a highlight we were all looking forward to as the official Rolex press presentation rolled around. To be sure, the usual morning scrum in front of the Rolex stand did not disappoint – at this point, I was so confident that I had written this paragraph before the show began, on the plane coming into Geneva.

Rolex Land-Dweller

Everything about the above passage is unbelievable, except that it happens to be true. My fellow professionals who might chance on this story will certainly know where I am coming from. On that note, credit for the first bit of news – concerning the new calibre and its escapement – must go to Cheryl Chia at Revolution. Happily, Cheryl used to write for us too before taking on the Editor-at-Large role at Revolution, and you certainly can count on her to successfully interpret patents. Of course, this is no longer about breaking news, so we can get down to brass tacks on the new watch itself. For a more, shall we say, hearty take on how this all went down, see our report summing up the first day of the fair coming up later.

Rolex Land-Dweller

To get right into it, the time-only-with-date Land-Dweller is back and brings some notable features, the most significant of which is the new automatic calibre 7135. Since this involves a new escapement and this is Rolex, there is no call for rushing and every reason to put a little effort into making sense of things. To this end, we will just get into broad generalities in this post because, love it or not, the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller is probably the biggest news of the fair, if the state of leaks and pre-releases can be believed. Available in 36mm and 40mm, the watch has a new case (the inspiration for which is obvious), a new integrated bracelet, new dials, new hands, new numerals and that new movement, which is visible thanks to an exhibition caseback.

Rolex Land-Dweller

Take a moment to consider all that because it is pretty overwhelming. Starting at CHF13,200 (we will update with Singapore pricing later), the watch represents excellent value for those who care about such things because the cost of the new movement and everything else is clearly not front-loaded here.

Rolex Land-Dwelle

With a new escapement that is not in the tried-and-tested Swiss lever form, with all new parts that must have required all new tools, machines and techniques, this is peak mechanical watchmaking.

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