Mastering the Rolex Sky Dweller


In the past half-century, since it launched its GMT-Master, Rolex has brought out just two new complications: the Rolex Yacht-Master II, in 2007, with a countdown yacht timer, and the Rolex Sky-Dweller, equipped with both a second time zone and an annual calendar, in 2012. In this feature we explain how the Sky-Dweller, and its innovative movement, works.

The Rolex Sky-Dweller contains the in-house Caliber 9001. The second time zone is indicated by an off-center, rotating 24-hour disk. Local time, indicated by the center- mounted hands, can be adjusted quickly when you change time zones by setting the hour hand forward or backward in one-hour increments. The minutes, seconds, and second-time-zone indicators are not affected during this operation.

The calendar mechanism, which changes instantaneously (an annual calendar automatically differentiates between months of 30 days and 31 days, and need be adjusted just once per year, at the end of February) is relatively simple, Rolex says: the company has added just two gear ratios and four gear wheels to its existing instantaneous date calendar. As Rolex explains it, “The mechanism is designed around a fixed planetary gear wheel at the center of the movement. A satellite wheel engages with the planetary wheel and rotates, orbiting the planetary wheel in one month, driven by the date disk. The satellite wheel is fitted with four fingers for the four 30-day months (April, June, September and November). Click on watch photos for larger images.

Rolex Sky-Dweller White Gold - front

Click here to watch the Rolex Sky-Dweller video…

“The gear ratio between the satellite wheel and the planetary wheel is calculated in such a way that at the end of each 30-day month – and only in these months – one of the satellite’s fingers receives an additional impulse from the date-change mechanism. This makes the calendar disk jump two days (from the 30th to the first) within a few milliseconds to display the correct date.” Rolex has dubbed the mechanism “Saros,” a Greek word that refers to the approximately 18-year cycle that can be used to predict when eclipses will occur. Rolex chose the name because it brings to mind the revolutions of the Earth and moon, which are like the motion of the satellite wheel (the Earth) with its four fingers (the moon). The Rolex Sky-Dweller calendar has an unusual month display. The hour numerals correspond to the 12 months of the year. Next to each numeral is a window. The window for the current month (e.g., “IIII” for April,) is black; the other 11 windows are white. (On the brown-dial model, the correct month is indicated by a white window for better contrast.)

Rolex Sky-Dweller white gold - dial detail
The month is shown by a window next to the corresponding numeral (here, “IIII” for April).

 

Rolex Sky-Dweller White Gold - profile
Setting the watch requires the use of both the crown and the rotating “Ring Command” bezel.

To set the watch, you use both the bezel and the crown. First you rotate the bezel to one of three positions to select which of three functions — date, local time or home (24-hour) time – you want to set. Then, using the crown, you set the function, going either forward or backward. Rolex says, “The heart of the mechanism is a double cam and levers that engage various gear trains inside the movement according to the function selected. One of these cams is activated by pulling out the winding crown; the other is driven by rotating the bezel [Rolex calls it a “Ring Command Bezel”] to activate setting wheels located in the middle case of the watch.” Caliber 9001, which has bi-directional winding is, like all Rolex calibers, certified by COSC. It has a stop seconds function and a power reserve of 72 hours. The movement has 380 components and is protected by seven patents, four of them new.The case is 42 mm in diameter and water-resistant to 100 meters. The Rolex Sky-Dweller comes in white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, on matching bracelets or leather straps, and in a version with case and bracelet made of Rolex’s proprietary Everose gold. Prices range from $38,150 to $48,850.

Rolex Sky Dweller in Yellow Gold

Rolex Sky-Dweller in rose gold

Rolex Sky-Dweller in White Gold

Rolex Sky-Dweller in Yellow Gold

Rolex Sky-Dweller in Everose Gold

This article was originally published in 2012 and has been updated with new text and art.

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  1. mahboob alam

    I only whish the yellow gold model had roman numerals iam waiting to get it

    Reply
  2. john landy

    This watch was designed by a gentleman while sitting under the ugly tree,much like every Rolex watch ever made.What about some genuine creativity. John Landy

    Reply
  3. Innovative? Yes. Ugly & overpriced? Yes. Sky Dweller is another model that the market accepted lukewarmly. It seems that Rolex has lost its knack with certain lines.

    Reply
    • Michael

      Design likes are subjective and many may agree with you. One thing undeniable is the typical Rolex architecture in design of a watch with an advanced movement which subtly provides dual time zone performance along with a full calendar needing to be adjusted once every five ur years with its chronometer movement. This watch is not often in stock at jewelry stores as there is significant demand for the production.

      Is it a Vacheron Constantin or Patek’s?…No. It is defineately Rolex styling and a typical Rolex movement, designed to last generations.

      Reply
  4. Wiliam Murchison

    Seriously considering the yellow gold model of Sky Dweller. Love the watch and its features but already have two Rolex watches recently purchased. Date Just II looks a lot like the Sky Dweller, even to the Champaign dial. We’ll see…

    Reply
  5. The case is 42 mm in diameter and water resistant to 100 meters.
    —-
    WRONG! water PROOF….***

    Reply
  6. Watchmen Watches

    We agree that the Rolex Sky Dweller is the most intricate and amazingly innovative automatic winding watch in the marketplace today!

    Reply
  7. If only rolex had not overlaped the lower numerals with the 24hr disc this watch would have been perfect.

    Reply
      • Chris Malburg

        I also agree with Anand. With the additional comment that it looks strikingly similar to the Date Just. They must be thinking what works for one model will work for another. –Chris

        Reply
  8. Coert Welman

    After the Explorer II, this is probably the best looking Rolex out there. Love the white gold version. If only I had enough time (read: money).

    Reply
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