Sticking with undersea operations, the Oris ProDiver collection is an interesting one, given that Oris is one of the few watch companies that remains actively engaged in dealings with commercial divers. More specifically, Roman Frischknecht is a commercial diver that has been an Oris ambassador for some time, and rather than simply being an ambassador in name, Roman has played a crucial role in the development of the ProDiver collection ahead of its launch in 2009.It was his insight that led to the creation of the brand’s bezel locking system, known as a Rotation Safety System. Given the level of safety and security protocols involved in his line of work, Roman knew that if he was to be using a conventional dive watch in a modern dive environment, there could be absolutely no room for error, thus a locking mechanism (as seen in other divers like the Omega Ploprof, among others) would be mandatory.Although the roots of the Yacht-Master II relate to activities on the water’s surface rather than deep below, its unique functionality is perfectly suited to this category. After all, the Rolex Yacht-Master II is what is often referred to as yachting timer – a countdown chronograph that can be used to properly measure the start time of a regatta, also known as a sailing race.Arguably the most complex watch in the present Rolex collection, the Yacht-Master II uses an interesting combination of bezel position, crown position, and pusher action in order to set its countdown duration between 1 and 10 minutes, with the chronograph capable of flyback (or fly-forward) functionality to the pre-set time with a single activation of its lower pusher. While many Yacht-Master II wearers are unlikely to ever use this highly specific function for its actual intended purpose. being able to run a countdown like this isn’t shy on practical daily-life applications… grilling timer, anyone?
Are they likely to issue a Coke at some point in the future? It is impossible to tell, to be honest. There is already a decent amount of color in the range, with the blue and black ‘Batman’ pieces and the pair of ‘Root Beer’ examples. And with there actually being a total of three Pepsi’s – one in steel and two in white gold – maybe Rolex has decided that’s enough.That being said, the Fat Lady (that ref. 16760 original) turns 40 in 2023, and as already discussed, the brand loves a birthday. So, just maybe…Until then, we will have to content ourselves with the references available on the pre-owned market.Just about the rarest thing in the world (the world of horology at any rate) is for Rolex to succumb to audience pressure. Yet, in 2009, that’s exactly what happened when that venerable old warhorse, the Datejust, was issued in a new 41mm size. The largest Datejust option had been 36mm model since before the Earth cooled, but the trend for ever-increasing watch sizes was one the brand could only ignore for so long.However, the so-called Datejust II not only added a significant 5mm but also changed the proportions of the watch’s individual elements. The bezel grew broader, and while the case got wider, the bracelet didn’t, leading to thicker lugs. Overall, it traded the former model’s graceful, sweeping lines for a more muscular sporty profile, adding bigger hour markers on the dial to fill up the extra room.
As the Rolex Pearlmaster is just as much an item of jewelry as it is a precision timekeeping instrument, every single Rolex watch in the collection is set with some amount of diamonds/gemstones. The degree of gem-setting (and the type/color of the gems themselves) can vary significantly from one Pearlmaster watch to the next. A modest example may “only” have 12 diamonds set into its solid-gold bezel, while the more extravagant and expensive models can have completely diamond-encrusted cases and bracelets, with rainbow-colored sapphire-set bezels, and diamond-paved dials.At its core, the Pearlmaster is essentially an ultra-premium, luxury-oriented Datejust. Like other Datejust watches, the Rolex Pearlmaster is fitted with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with a Cyclops magnification lens and a Twinlock winding crown that uses a system of gaskets to create two sealed zones to protect against moisture intrusion. Consequently, despite its solid 18k gold construction and lavish application of various gemstones, the Rolex Pearlmaster still has a water-resistance rating of 100 meters and is just as functional for everyday use as any other Rolex watch.While it may have identical functionality to the standard Datejust collection, the Pearlmaster is about as far a departure from Rolex’s tool-watch history and aesthetics as you are likely to find in their contemporary catalog. However, as Rolex continues to assume a more luxury-oriented position within the high-end timepiece market, the use of precious metals and gemstones in their watches is becoming an increasingly common practice. The Rolex Pearlmaster has as much to offer in terms of gold-work and gem-setting as it does in the precision timekeeping department, making it the perfect timepiece for those that want a watch that sits at the crossroads of jewelry and horology.
