Rolex Perpetual 1908 Ref. 52506
Dress Watch · Rolex SA, luxury tier, globally renowned for supreme reliability, robust tool watches, and prestigious dress timepieces
Period: Modern Luxury (2000s-present) with Neo-Classical Dress Watch Influences
Type
Dress Watch
Brand
Rolex SA, luxury tier, globally renowned for supreme reliability, robust tool watches, and prestigious dress timepieces
Movement
Automatic self-winding Rolex Calibre 7140 with a 66-hour power reserve and 38 jewels operating at 28,800 vph
Dimensions
39mm case diameter, approximately 9.5mm thickness, 47mm lug-to-lug, and 20mm lug width
Description
The Rolex Perpetual 1908 in 950 platinum marks a sophisticated departure into classical dress watchmaking for the brand, succeeding the Cellini collection. Featuring an icy blue guilloché dial with a rice-grain pattern, refined Arabic numerals, and distinct openwork hands, it blends vintage elegance with modern mechanical mastery. Visible through an exhibition sapphire caseback, the in-house Calibre 7140 powers the timepiece with precision, making it an exceptional statement of understated luxury.
Key Features
First time an ice-grain guilloché dial has been paired with a platinum case in this modern dress line, exhibition sapphire caseback showcasing a high-end Rolex movement, and a double-bezel featuring unique fluting and doming
Dial Description
Ice blue dial featuring a rice-grain motif guilloché pattern, Arabic numerals at 3, 9, and 12, faceted index hour markers, gold hands with a distinct domed hour hand and circular-ring minute hand, and a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock inscribed with 'Superlative Chronometer'
Case Material
950 Platinum with a polished finish and a finely fluted/domed bezel
Crystal Type
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Bezel Details
Fixed bezel divided into two parts, featuring a domed lower portion and a finely fluted upper portion
Crown & Pushers
Non-screw-down onion-shaped crown, polished and branded with the raised Rolex coronet
Bracelet or Strap
Brown alligator leather strap equipped with a dual-folding 'Dualclasp' in 950 platinum
Caseback Details
Exhibition sapphire crystal caseback revealing the finely decorated movement with Geneva stripes and openworked oscillating weight
Movement Type
Automatic self-winding Rolex Calibre 7140 with a 66-hour power reserve and 38 jewels operating at 28,800 vph
Water Resistance
50 meters (165 feet / 5 ATM), suitable for daily wear and accidental splashes, but not designed for swimming or diving
Origin & Provenance
Swiss Made, manufactured in Geneva, Switzerland with an entirely in-house developed movement
Age Estimate
Introduced in 2023, representing current production
Cultural Significance
Represents Rolex's deliberate re-entry and serious commitment to high-end traditional dress watchmaking, competing directly with historic Swiss haute horlogerie Maisons
Condition Notes
Mint/New condition directly reflecting current retail standards
Value Estimate
MSRP is approximately $30,900 USD, with secondary market trading often commanding a premium due to high demand and limited availability of precious metal pieces
Care & Maintenance
Recommended service interval of 5 to 10 years by an authorized Rolex service center, avoid high magnetic fields, protect the alligator leather strap from prolonged moisture exposure, and ensure the crown is fully pushed in
Similar Watches
Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 6119, Lange & Söhne Saxonia, Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle
Interesting Facts
The 1908 collection is named after the year the trademark 'Rolex' was officially registered in Switzerland by founder Hans Wilsdorf, representing a tribute to the brand's early heritage