Rolex officially announces a modern interpretation of the Oysterquartz, in mechanical form.
Introducing the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller an all-new Rolex watch offered in 36 mm and 40 mm case sizes in Rolesor stainless steel/white gold, 18K Everose gold, and 950 Platinum. The Everose and Platinum models can be had with or without diamonds.
Rolex and its renowned manufacturing prowess over-engineers everything. Case in point, the Land-Dweller is the result of 7 years of research and development and is the subject of 32 patent applications, 18 exclusive to the watch, and 16 concerning its movements — and is Rolex’s most novel timepiece creation in over a decade, probably since the Sky-Dweller arrived in 2012.
The Case
The Land-Dweller is housed in an Oyster case specially developed for the model and is guaranteed water resistant to a depth of 100 meters. Available in two well-proportioned sizes — 40 mm x 9.7 mm (46.5 mm lug-to-lug) or 36 mm x 9.7 mm (43.5 mm lug-to-lug) — the Land-Dweller is thin and ergonomically designed to sit comfortably on your wrist, despite the semi-rigid integrated case and bracelet structure.
By Land, By Sea, By Air
“The Land-Dweller reinterprets the intricate and challenging design of watches with integrated bracelets,” according to Rolex. With the introduction of the Land-Dweller, the world’s leading mechanical watchmaker has forcefully entered a niche long dominated by Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak and Patek Philippe’s Nautilus. Considering that the Rolesor model (stainless steel and white gold) starts at $14,900 — the Land-Dweller not only competes with the AP and Patek, it also competes with the IWC’s Gerald-Genta-derived Ingenieur.
Integrated Bracelet
Paired with what Rolex has dubbed the “Flat Jubilee,” the bracelet features an alternation of polished and satin finishes, with beveled outer links, seamlessly connected with the case (integrated). “Moreover, the top edges of the bracelet’s outer links are beveled, as are those of the middle case, and the resulting chamfers polished, creating the appearance of a continuous ribbon of light,” says Rolex.
“Specially designed for the Land-Dweller, the Flat Jubilee bracelet is a reinterpretation of the emblematic Jubilee bracelet, unveiled at the launch of the Datejust in 1945. While retaining the same five-piece link structure, with three narrower links in the center flanked by two broader ones at the edges, the new bracelet differs in that all the links are flat. Moreover, the center links on this new bracelet are polished and slightly raised in relation to the outer links.
A robust, durable attachment system was also devised to ensure the perfectly fluid integration of the Flat Jubilee bracelet with the Oyster case. This novel and complex assembly is the subject of a patent application. It also includes ceramic inserts. For the first time, these small patented tubes, developed by Rolex to help prevent premature wear, are used to protect the spring bar, the metal pin that secures the bracelet to the middle case.
Comfortable and supple on the wrist, the Flat Jubilee is equipped with an elegant, concealed folding Crownclasp, which contributes to the visual harmony of the watch. On the versions in 18 ct Everose gold and in 950 platinum, this bracelet includes ceramic inserts inside the links,” according to Rolex.
The Movement
Similar in architecture to the caliber 7140 introduced in the classic 1908 dress watch in 2023, Rolex has evolved the 7140 and created a more technologically advanced movement for the Land-Dweller called the caliber 7135. The level of innovation inside the caliber 7135 helps explain the unusual number of patents exclusive to the movement (16). Beating at a high frequency of 5Hz (or 36,000 VPH) allows for 1/10th of a second precision, versus the more common 1/8th of a second precision produced by a movement operating at 4Hz (or 28,000 VPH). Even with the higher frequency, the movement designers managed to keep it thinner than most Rolex movements, and it maintains a Superlative Certified accuracy rating of -2/+2 seconds per day.
Dynapulse Escapement
Rolex created a state-of-the-art oscillator for the new Land-Dweller, called the Dynapulse Escapement. “For the highly energy-efficient Dynapulse escapement – the first component of the regulating system – seven patent applications were filed. The new escapement significantly enhances the way in which the energy delivered by the barrel is transmitted to the oscillator. This transfer is made without affecting the movement’s autonomy, which remains equal to that of caliber 7140,” Rolex states. “Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s excellent efficiency, the power reserve of this movement extends to approximately 66 hours.
The Dynapulse is a sequential distribution escapement made from silicon, a material resistant to strong magnetic fields. It is composed of a transmission wheel that engages with two distribution wheels; these, in turn, activate the impulse rocker, which then connects with the oscillator. This innovative architecture reduces the escapement’s energy consumption since the various components interact by rolling against each other, rather than by sliding as in the case of the Swiss lever escapements used in the brand’s other mechanical movements.”
As you can see, significant detail has been paid to the aesthetics of caliber 7135. Its bridges are decorated with Rolex Côtes de Genève, while the cut-out oscillating weight is fashioned in yellow gold, all visible through the screw-in sapphire crystal caseback.
In addition to the visual elements that are becoming more commonplace at Rolex ever since the 7140 arrived two years ago, and the groundbreaking Dynapulse escapement technology, Rolex also enhanced the balance staff, which is crafted from a high-tech ceramic, patented and exclusive to Rolex. Rolex states, “It is a remarkably strong and resilient material used only for manufacturing the balance staff, which is produced in-house by ablation of the ceramic using a femtosecond laser. The actual production procedure, developed by the brand, is the subject of a patent application. Control equipment has been specially developed to individually test the balance staffs and ensure each one conforms to performance requirements.
The balance wheel itself is made from optimized brass. This is the first time that Rolex has made use of such an alloy, which, like the ceramic, is resistant to strong magnetic fields.
Caliber 7135 incorporates a Syloxi hairspring with reshaped coils, which are now thicker to confer greater rigidity. This modification grants greater power to the patented silicon hairspring — an essential factor for the movement to beat at 5 Hz, a rate that notably allows the watch to maintain its chronometric precision whatever the wearer’s actions and arm movements.
Two optimized high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers cushion the ceramic balance staff. Their special internal architecture allows the balance staff to turn smoothly and regularly in any position. Placed at each end of the staff, the shock absorbers include an enhanced leaf spring that ensures optimal repositioning of the staff after a shock.”
The Dial
One of the most intriguing visual details of the Land-Dweller dial is the honeycomb motif, reminiscent of Audemars Piguet’s famous Grande Tapisserie motif dial. A fluted (40 mm) or diamond-set bezel (36 mm) frames the gorgeous honeycomb relief dial. According to Rolex, “Its creation calls on traditional craftsmanship and high-technology methods, all mastered in-house. Time-honored techniques are employed for the dial surface finishings: a fine satin finish for the intense white dial and a sunray finish on the ice blue version. The honeycomb structure is cut with a femtosecond laser, which is also used to etch the delicate lines in the grooves between each cell.”
The dial of the Land-Dweller 40 features 6 and 9 numerals, inspired by those of the Explorer and Air-King models, giving the watch a contemporary look. On the index hour markers, the luminescent material extends the full length of the component. This new design is the outcome of an innovatory manufacturing process for which a patent application was filed, and the use of a substance harder than the one typically used by Rolex but which delivers the same luminescent performance, colour of glow, and hue in daylight. The distinctive hands, specially created for this watch, are perfectly rectilinear. Those marking the hours and minutes are coated with the same luminescent material as the open 6 and 9 numerals. The seconds hand features a counterweight shaped like the cells of the honeycomb motif. The Land-Dweller’s dial is framed by an angled flange whose pad-printed minute track is graduated to the half-second. The flange is the same color as the dial, the intense white having a fine satin finish and the ice blue variant a circular satin finish.
Final Thoughts
The Land-Dweller (2025) completes the trilogy that already includes the Sea-Dweller (1967) and Sky-Dweller (2012). All are impressive timepieces however the Land-Dweller seemingly has more sales potential than the other two combined.
For someone who appreciates both aesthetics and chronometry, the Land-Dweller checks a lot of boxes and makes you wonder if this is truly a dress watch or a sports watch. It blends high-tech, dress, and sports features all in one, though the inclusion of precious metal, and classification in the Classic — not the Professional collection — confirm which way this timepiece leans.
If anything, it makes you wonder what might be on the horizon.
The Land-Dweller retail price is $14,900 in Rolesor, combining stainless steel and 18K white gold, with a white dial (Ref. 127334). In 950 platinum, with an ice blue dial (Ref. 127336) the price is $63,500. And in 18K Everose gold with a diamond-set bezel, and a cream dial (Ref. 12728TBR), the price is $88,300.
In total, there are ten references. The white dial Rolesor model comes in 40 mm and 36 mm versions, with no gemsetting options. The Everose and Platinum models both come in 40 mm and 36 mm variations, with or without diamond-set bezels and indices, for a total of eight references.
Learn more at Rolex.
Photos by Rolex.
