The Rolex Oyster
The Oyster is so closely associated with Rolex that some people think these are the only watches Rolex make. Others think that there is a single "Oyster" watch. The name "Oyster" actually applies not to a particular watch you can buy or even to a range but to a type of case used in some of the Rolex ranges.History
The Oyster case was first released in 1926. The objective was to protect the workings of the watch from dust and moisture. Early watches were far from waterproof.The Oyster case was an innovative design to eliminate these problems. It had a new double locking crown that screwed into place. It has been compared to the hatch on a submarine.
Like a submarine, the Oyster case was waterproof. In 1927 Mercedes Gleitze swam the English Channel. Before she set off she was presented with a Rolex Oyster. When she arrived, the watch was still working perfectly. The resulting publicity gave the new case a massive boost.
Why is it called "Oyster"? Legend has it that Hans Wilsdorf, who invented the Oyster, chose the name because the new case reminded him of the difficulty he had experienced prising open oysters at dinner.
Since then the Oyster has advanced further. Many today are perpetual - "self-winding" - which means that it's not even necessary to expose the mechanism to the outside world in order to wind it. The Osyter Perpetual is probably one of the best mechanical watches you can buy for withstanding adverse conditions.
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