100 Years Of The Oyster Leads To The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 And 36 In Yellow Rolesor, Plus A Steel OP 36 With A Colorful Jubilee-Motif Dial
In 1926, Rolex introduced the first waterproof and dustproof wristwatch, marking a major step forward. Given the name “Oyster,” this watch featured a hermetically sealed case that provided optimal protection for the movement. Five years later, Rolex invented and patented a breakthrough self-winding mechanism with a Perpetual rotor. With 2026 marking the 100th birthday of the Oyster, The Crown decided to celebrate, not with a revamped interpretation of the original watch but by introducing a couple of celebratory Oyster Perpetual models. Among them are the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 and 36 in yellow Rolesor and a steel OP 36 with a colorful Jubilee-motif dial.
To mark the 100th anniversary of its Oyster case, Rolex introduces updated versions of the Oyster Perpetual 41 and Oyster Perpetual 36 at Watches and Wonders 2026. These models revisit core elements of the brand’s simplest line while incorporating a number of design cues intended to reference the original 1926 waterproof wristwatch. The result is a pair of time-only watches that remain technically straightforward but visually distinct within the current collection. I’m not quite sure what to think of the 41mm and 36mm Rolesor models yet, but the OP 36 with its colorful Jubilee-motif dial is an eye-catcher. It’s a worthy successor of the 2023 Oyster Perpetual Celebration with the balloons on the dial.
Introducing the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 and 36 in yellow Rolesor
The Oyster Perpetual 41 (ref. 134303, €9,400 / US$9,650 / CHF 8,600) and 36 (ref. 126003, €8,250 / US$8,450 / CHF 7,500) debut in a yellow Rolesor configuration, combining Oystersteel with yellow gold. In this case, the bezel and winding crown are yellow gold, while the case middle and the entire Oyster bracelet remain Oystersteel, including the center links. This differs from the usual Rolesor construction, which typically uses gold for the bracelet’s central elements.
The 41 × 11.6mm case with a 21mm lug spacing follows the familiar Oyster construction. That means you get a screw-in case back, a Twinlock crown, a domed bezel, and a 100m water resistance rating. The same goes for the 36 × 11.6mm Oyster Perpetual case, which has the same general design but a proportionally wider 20mm lug spacing.
The dial design of the Oyster Perpetual 41 and 36 in yellow Rolesor introduces several anniversary-specific details. It features a slate-colored base with applied elements and printed accents referencing the centennial. The text “100 years” appears at 6 o’clock, where you would normally read “Swiss Made,” while the Rolex name is printed in green. The minute track includes green markers at five-minute intervals, and the winding crown itself carries a subtle “100” marking in relief. These elements distinguish the watch without altering its overall layout, which remains focused on a time-only display with central hours, minutes, and seconds.
The steel OP 36 with a colorful Jubilee motif dial
The Oyster Perpetual 36 (ref. 126000-0016, €6,550 / US$6,750 / CHF 6,000) takes a different approach, focusing on dial design rather than material variation. Its 36 × 11.6mm Oystersteel case with a 20mm lug spacing retains the same construction and 100m water resistance as the larger model. The defining feature here is a multicolored dial with a reworked Jubilee motif. This pattern, historically associated with Rolex bracelets and earlier dial designs, is presented here as a repeating arrangement of the brand name in various colors. The execution involves multiple printing stages to achieve the layered effect, resulting in a dial that contrasts with the otherwise restrained case and bracelet design.
The yellow Rolesor Oyster Perpetuals and this Jubilee-dial version all house the Rolex caliber 3230, a self-winding movement with a time-only display. It incorporates a Chronergy escapement and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. As with all current Rolex watches, these models carry the Superlative Chronometer certification, which the brand states had an update with stricter performance criteria as of 2026. The certification guarantees precision, power reserve, waterproofing, and self-winding efficiency in accordance with Rolex’s internal standards.
Wearing and closing the Oyster
The chic yellow Rolesor OP 41 and 36 and the more playful OP 36 all come on an Oyster bracelet — what else? The three-row steel design dates back to the late 1930s and has become a standard for sporty bracelets. It features a folding Oysterclasp featuring the Easylink extension system, allowing you to adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5mm without tools.
As I hinted at before, the yellow Rolesor Oyster Perpetual 41 and 36 models are a bit too conservative. Dare I say, they’re even a bit too cliché for my liking. A touch of gold, a bit of green, and boom, there’s a celebratory Rolex. The pair makes me think of and possibly want a 36mm Explorer with its bicolor Oyster bracelet, although that watch is considerably more expensive. No, the real party piece is the steel 36mm OP with its colorful dial. That’s the one that has my name written all over it, literally.
What do you think? Do these novelties do justice to 100 years of the Rolex Oyster? Please let me know in the comments section below.
