Jan
No matter the price or type, nearly all of Rolex’s watches are in high demand. One of the more unique designs, the Rolex Sky-Dweller, is no exception, but its unique complications and larger size make it one of the brand’s most interesting timepieces.
The Sky-Dweller is an extremely complex watch, but its many features are implemented cleverly to help make them easier to use. The fluted bezel rotates into four positions that dictate what the crown does when turned. Let’s take a closer look.
Annual Calendar
The Sky-Dweller features an annual calendar that tracks the month and date. Rather than use a text window, which would take up quite a bit of real estate, Rolex added small markers at each hour mark. It’s set by moving the bezel into position 1 and rotating the crown. A red dot appears next to the hour marker that corresponds with the month of the year, 1-12. Unlike a perpetual calendar that can track leap years, the Sky-Dweller’s annual calendar must be set every March 1.
GMT Dial
Believe it or not, the Sky-Dweller also features a GMT complication. However, rather than going the traditional route with a separate GMT hand, Rolex added a rotating sub-dial with a red pointer arrow that indicates the second timezone’s current hour. The function makes the Sky-Dweller’s dial extremely busy, but it’s one of the most unique GMT complications today.
Case Size and Design
With a case size of 42mm, the Sky-Dweller is a large watch – at least by Rolex standards. The watch is 14mm thick and features a lug-to-lug measurement of 51mm. In 2021, Rolex added a Jubilee bracelet option to the Sky-Dweller line for the first time. It joined the venerable Oyster bracelet, and both make an excellent everyday companion for the watch. For the more adventurous buyer, there’s also the superb Oysterflex bracelet, which is made from a high-density elastomer material.