Although it now occupies the role of an entry-level collection, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual serves as the foundation for the brand’s entire catalog. With that in mind, despite being part of Rolex’s lineup since the early 1930s, it was not until the collection’s most recent refresh in 2020 that the humble Oyster Perpetual started to receive the attention that it deserves. While the update did introduce a new generation of in-house movements, the most noteworthy change to accompany the new Oyster Perpetual watches is the assortment of bright and vibrant dial colors that recall the vintage Rolex ‘Stella’ dials from the 1970s.
Up until this point, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual was one of the very few stainless steel models that were both available at a retail level and even sometimes found at a slight discount on the pre-owned market. However, following the release of the new 2020 dial colors, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual has immediately become entirely unavailable at a retail level, and the larger size models with the most desirable dial colors are now trading hands for more than three times their brand-new retail price on the secondary market.
Although the new Oyster Perpetual dial colors have received plenty of attention and are the single factor that is most responsible for the model’s recent rise in popularity, not all of the new dial colors are available for all of the different case sizes. Below we take a closer look at the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches, break down all of the different dial color options, and then go over which dial colors are available for all of the different models that make up the current collection.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual
Oyster Perpetual Key Features:
– Reference Numbers: 276200; 277200; 124200; 126000; 124300
– Year of Introduction: 2020
– Case Sizes: 28mm; 31mm; 34mm; 36mm; 41mm
– Materials: Oystersteel (904L Stainless Steel)
– Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds
– Dial: Multiple Colors Options w/ Luminous Hour Markers
– Luminous Material: Chromalight
– Bezel: Fixed, Stainless Steel, Smooth Style
– Crystal: Sapphire (Flat)
– Movement: Rolex Caliber 2232 or Caliber 3230
– Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Feet
– Strap/Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet (Stainless Steel)
– Approx. Price (USD): $5,100 – $5,900 (Retail); $6,000 – $20,000 (Pre-Owned)
Click here for our Ultimate Buying Guide on the Rolex Oyster Perpetual.
About the Oyster Perpetual Collection
One of the biggest points of confusion about the Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection is that the words, “Oyster Perpetual” are part of virtually every single modern Rolex watch name. For example, the Submariner’s actual full name is the “Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner” – and this is true for every single contemporary Rolex watch outside of the Cellini collection. In this instance, the words, “Oyster Perpetual” are simply used to denote that the watch is self-winding and that it features Rolex’s waterproof Oyster case. However, the Oyster Perpetual is also a standalone collection of watches, and it represents the foundation of Rolex’s catalog.
Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual watch combines the brand’s two key innovations – the waterproof ‘Oyster’ case and the self-winding ‘Perpetual’ movement. Fitted with three centrally-mounted hands for displaying the hours, minutes, and seconds, the Oyster Perpetual offers no other features or complications whatsoever and it represents Rolex’s original vision of a wristwatch. Despite its minimalist set of features, the Oyster Perpetual has been produced in a variety of different materials over the years; however, at the present time, Rolex only offers it in stainless steel and it now occupies the brand’s entry-level watch collection. With its clean and simple design, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is not only the foundation of the brand’s catalog but also one of the best minimalist watches available on the market today.
Following the most recent update to the collection from 2020, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is available in case sizes that range from 28mm to 41mm, and all models are fitted with polished smooth bezels and matching three-link stainless steel Oyster bracelets. Additionally, while there exists a wide variety of options when it comes to dial colors, all of the different Oyster Perpetual dials feature traditional stick-shaped hour markers paired with classic baton hands, both of which are finished in Rolex’s proprietary blue-glowing Chromalight lume.
Despite existing in five separate sizes, only two different movements are used throughout the current Oyster Perpetual collection. The 28mm, 31mm, and 34mm models all use the Caliber 2232, while the 36mm and 41mm versions are both powered by the Caliber 3230. The larger design of Rolex’s Cal. 3230 movement means that it is able to offer a longer power reserve (70 hours compared to the 55 hours offered by the Cal. 2232). However, despite their different movements, all of the current Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches offer the same Superlative Chronometer timekeeping standards of +/- 2 seconds per day (after casing).
New Rolex Oyster Perpetual Dial Colors
At the present time, there are a total of 9 different dial options available for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection. However, it is important to note that not all dial colors are available for all of the different case sizes. In fact, only one model is available with all nine dial colors, and some of the Oyster Perpetual references have as few as four options available.
Below is a list of all 9 dial color options that are currently available for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection:
1. Turquoise Blue
2. Coral Red
3. Yellow
4. Green
5. Candy Pink
6. Bright Blue (w/ Sunray pattern)
7. Silver (w/ Sunray pattern and yellow gold markers)
8. Bright Black (w/ Sunray pattern)
9. Pink (w/ Sunray pattern)
Additionally, it is also worth noting that while some of the dials feature a metallic ‘Sunray’ finish that radiates out from the center, others have a flat and glossy surface that is more like the colorful lacquer ‘Stella’ dials found on vintage Rolex Datejust and Day-Date watches.
So, which dial colors are available on all of the different sizes of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual? Below we break down each of the different case sizes from the current generation and go over all of the different dial color options that are available for them.
| 28mm | 31mm | 34mm | 36mm | 41mm | |
| Turquoise Blue | X | X | X | ||
| Coral Red | X | X | X | ||
| Yellow | X | X | X | ||
| Green | X | X | X | ||
| Candy Pink | X | X | |||
| Bright Blue | X | X | X | X | X |
| Silver | X | X | X | X | X |
| Bright Black | X | X | X | X | X |
| Pink | X | X | X |
Oyster Perpetual 28 Dial Colors
28mm Oyster Perpetual 276200 Dial Colors:
– Bright Black (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Bright Blue (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Silver (w/ Sunray pattern and yellow gold markers)
– Pink (w/ Sunray pattern)
The 28mm version of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is one of the two case size options that are only available with four of the different dial options. What is most interesting is that none of the available dials are the brightly colored lacquer versions that received so much attention upon their launch. Instead, all four dial options for the Oyster Perpetual 28 feature a metallic Sunray pattern on their surfaces.
Oyster Perpetual 31 Dial Colors
31mm Oyster Perpetual 277200 Dial Colors:
– Turquoise Blue
– Coral Red
– Yellow
– Green
– Candy Pink
– Bright Black (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Bright Blue (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Silver (w/ Sunray pattern and yellow gold markers)
– Pink (w/ Sunray pattern)
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 31 is the only model from the current lineup that is available with all nine different dial color options. Despite being powered by the exact same movement and representing a case diameter difference of just 3mm compared to both its smaller and larger siblings, the 31mm model offers more than twice the number of dial options, and it might just be the perfect model for those who want a brightly colored Oyster Perpetual with a smaller and more compact overall profile.
Oyster Perpetual 34 Dial Colors
34mm Oyster Perpetual 124200 Dial Colors:
– Bright Black (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Bright Blue (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Silver (w/ Sunray pattern and yellow gold markers)
– Pink (w/ Sunray pattern)
While the 31mm model is available with all of the different dial colors, options for the 34mm version of the Oyster Perpetual are identical to what Rolex offers for the 28mm version, with a total of only four colors available and none of them being the new vibrant lacquer dials. Just like its 28mm sibling, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is only offered with dials that feature a metallic Sunray pattern that radiates out from their center, and this surface finishing offers a much more traditional aesthetic compared to the flat and glossy surfaces of their brightly colored siblings.
Oyster Perpetual 36 Dial Colors
36mm Oyster Perpetual 126000 Dial Colors:
– Turquoise Blue
– Coral Red
– Yellow
– Green
– Candy Pink
– Bright Black (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Bright Blue (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Silver (w/ Sunray pattern and yellow gold markers)
Next to the 31mm model, the Oyster Perpetual 36 offers the second most dial color options, with a total of eight different dials available for the reference. All of the new brightly colored lacquer dials are offered for the 36mm model from the Oyster Perpetual collection; however, the one dial color that is not available for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 is the pink dial with a metallic Sunray pattern (like the one found on the 28mm and 34mm versions of the watch). With that in mind, those who want a pink dial for their 36mm Oyster Perpetual are still in luck, as the ‘Candy Pink’ dial is available for this model, and the 36mm model is just one of two case sizes that offer this playful dial color as an option.
Oyster Perpetual 41 Dial Colors
41mm Oyster Perpetual 124300 Dial Colors:
– Turquoise Blue
– Coral Red
– Yellow
– Green
– Bright Black (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Bright Blue (w/ Sunray pattern)
– Silver (w/ Sunray pattern and yellow gold markers)
Dial options for the Oyster Perpetual 41 are very similar to those available for its 36mm sibling, with the one exception being that neither pink dial is available for the largest model from the current collection. This brings the total number of dial options for the 41mm Oyster Perpetual to seven, which is the third most among the members of the current lineup. Also important to note is that the hour marker configuration is slightly different on the 36mm and 41mm models compared to their smaller siblings. While the smaller three references feature a single luminous baton at each of the hour markers (except for the 12 o’clock marker that receives a Rolex coronet), the larger two models feature double baton markers at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock locations, which helps fill the larger space of their dials and aids in low-light visibility.
