Introduction to Rolex Sky-Dweller Watches
The Rolex Sky-Dweller watch is easily one of the most complicated watches Rolex has ever built (rivaled only by the Yacht-Master II). It boasts an annual calendar and GMT function (second time zone). Initially, it may have been Rolex's most misunderstood watch because of its elegant yet complex look. In fact, it is incredibly easy to use, holds several patents and is finally getting the attention it deserves.
People less familiar with this Rolex watch often think that because of its name, the Sky-Dweller is a pilot’s watch. In fact, the name implies that the person wearing the watch is the sky dweller – constantly in the air for world travel.
Rolex Sky-Dweller
History and
Cultural Significance
History and Cultural Significance
The Rolex Sky-Dweller was introduced to the world in 2012 (20 years after the Yacht-Master had been released) and it came as a surprise to many. The Sky-Dweller watch with an annual calendar and dual time zone display had multiple patents pending when it was unveiled (in noble metals only) at the Baselworld 2012 show.
Despite being the most complicated movement Rolex ever developed—and being perfect for the world traveler—collectors didn’t jump all over it. In fact, it was the one Rolex watch you could find on the market. Once collectors recognized the technological prowess of this timepiece and newer versions were released in mixed metals, that “grace period” was over.
Features of
the Rolex
Sky-Dweller
the Rolex Sky-Dweller
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller watch deftly blends state-of-the-art watchmaking with sophisticated looks and incredibly user-friendly features. The watch, designed for world travelers, is equipped with an annual calendar and a second time zone display shown on an off-center 24-hour disk. The Sky-Dweller is the first Rolex to boast these two functions in one watch. It's also the first to incorporate a unique method for setting the functions: an innovative fluted rotating Ring Command bezel. By turning the Ring Command bezel to one of three positions, the wearer sets the date, month, local time and reference time with ease.
For the two time zone indications, the local or main time is shown via the hands (hours, minutes and seconds) on the main dial, while the reference time (or typical home time) display is read off of a 24-hour off-center disk. A fixed bold red inverted arrow on the Rolex Sky-Dweller points to the appropriate time in the second zone.
Ring Command bezel
Water Resistant upto 100M
The annual calendar automatically takes into account months that have 30 or 31 days and adjusts on its own. The only time it needs an outside adjustment is on March 1, because the mechanics don’t know how to jump from February 28 (or 29) to March 1. A red rectangle in one of the 12 windows around the dial indicates the current month. Thanks to the complex 380-part movement, Caliber 9001, the watch offers 72 hours of power reserve. It boasts multiple patents.
Like all Rolex watches the Sky-Dweller is water resistant, though only to 100 meters. It also offers a few other Rolex signature features, including the cyclops magnifying date window and the Superlative Chronometer certification.
Collectability of
Sky-Dweller
Watches
Sky-Dweller Watches
More sophisticated and elegant than sporty, the Rolex Sky-Dweller watch was initially slow to catch on among collectors. Many didn’t understand the features, functions or ease of use. The Rolex Sky-Dweller gold was the first version released, and the prices were a bit daunting for a watch the collector community didn’t initially “get.” Because it was somewhat overlooked, it was a good investment for newbie Rolex followers—one that paid off.
As Rolex unveiled new versions in mixed gold and steel, and as the collectors started paying closer attention to all of the intricacies of this watch, the Sky-Dweller became more in demand. Today, you can find new Rolex Sky-Dweller watches for sale for about $14,800 and up to about $50,000, depending on the model.
Vintage and used rose gold Rolex Sky-Dweller watches for sale on the second-hand market carry similar pricing. Rolex Sky-Dweller steel versions also attest to the model's ability to holds its value.
Sky-Dweller Maintenance
TIt is important, after winding or setting, to be sure that the screw-down crown of the Sky-Dweller is tightly closed to ensure its 100 meters of water resistance. While the Sky-Dweller offers 72 hours of power reserve, if it sits for several days, it will need to be wound manually before resetting the functions. Cleaning can be done with a soft cloth.
Watchmaker’s Perspective
The Ring Command Bezel on the Rolex Sky-Dweller is a fascinating mechanism, which sometimes gets overlooked when examining the two main features of the watch (its GMT and Annual Calendar functionality). The Ring Command Bezel is protected by U.S. patent 8328414, and with good reason. Most bezels on watches are in place to hold the crystal onto the watch, or to add to the aesthetic value of the watch. The Ring Command Bezel does both of those tasks, but also provides a way to switch the current function of the watch, which is then controlled by the crown.
Because the Ring Command Bezel can rotate through 360 degrees, it is theoretically possible for it to control hundreds of functions in the watch movement, if it was possible to fit that many complications in a single movement. Rolex outlines this in their patent, but in the real world, this very useful feature controls the date, month, local time and reference time. Amazingly, this bezel alone contains sixty parts to accomplish the function of switching tasks. Because Rolex went to the trouble to patent this bezel, collectors have speculated that future Rolex models may also use a Ring Command Bezel to control other functions of their watches.
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