ROLEX SKY-DWELLER WATCHES

A Review of the Rolex Sky-Dweller: Info, History, and Reference Numbers

In 2012, Rolex launched a brand new model called the Sky-Dweller. While it’s rare that Rolex unveils a completely new watch collection it’s even more unusual that the company created a complicated watch. In fact, the Sky-Dweller is one of Rolex’s most complicated timepieces thanks to the new Caliber 9001 automatic movement that powers the Rolex patented SAROS annual calendar function. The Rolex annual calendar indicates the date with an aperture at 3 o’clock, the month via 12 windows above the hour markers, and a second time zone by way of the off-centered disc. Although the Sky-Dweller can automatically differentiate between months with 30 and 31 days, by definition all annual calendar complications require manual adjusting once a year at the end of February.

The first Sky-Dweller models that Rolex released were the full yellow gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326938, the full white gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326939, and the Everose rose gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326135 with a leather strap. Setting the design tone for the collection, all of these models sport a larger 42mm Oyster case, a fluted bezel, and a dial packed with time and date information. It’s important to note that the bezel—aka the Ring Command—is not just decorative, but turning it allows the setting of the time and date functions.

A couple of years after the Sky-Dweller made its debut, Rolex rounded out the collection in 2014 with the yellow gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326138 with a leather strap, the white gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326139 with a leather strap, and the Everose rose gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326935 with an Oyster bracelet.

Two new Rolesor—the Rolex term for combining steel and gold—Sky-Dweller models joined the lineup in 2017. There’s the steel and yellow gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326933, in addition to the stainless steel with a white gold bezel Sky-Dweller ref. 326934.