The Rolex 1908, Now in Platinum with Ice Blue Guilloche Dial
Last year Rolex introduced the Perpetual 1908: the 39mm time-only successor to their Cellini line of dress watches. Upon launch, the 1908 was available in yellow or white gold with a black or white dial. Now, Rolex adds to the young collection with a striking ice blue guilloche dial encased in 950 platinum. The case dimensions, movement, and general design remain the same. However, the guilloche dial and platinum case make for a whole new experience.
Our Thoughts on the Rolex 1908 in Platinum
While this dial looks great in the press photos, it’s absolutely mesmerizing in-person. It features what Rolex is calling a “rice-grain” pattern emanating from the 6 o’clock sub-seconds dial. This pattern combined with a metallic ice blue hue is striking, without a doubt, but maintains the somewhat understated elegance of the 1908. The 950 platinum case construction further adds to the allure of this piece, giving it a bit more heft and a good amount more luster than its white gold counterpart.
The platinum 1908 maintains the model’s caliber 7140 and the ability to see it via a sapphire exhibition caseback. The movement is nicely-finished, but frankly doesn’t stack up to competing dress watches at this price point. A. Lange & Sohne’s Saxonia Thin comes to mind: for the same price, you’re getting freehand engraved surfaces and vastly superior decoration. Of course, these are entirely different offerings as Rolex’s scale prohibits them from achieving such finishing. Still, it's noteworthy as the sapphire caseback is a major selling point of the 1908.
This release confirms the direction that we assumed the 1908 was heading. The model is Rolex’s vehicle for implementing traditional watchmaking design cues: a role previously occupied by the Cellini. To that point, we have not seen ornate guilloche work like this from Rolex since years-discontinued Cellini models. I am surprised that Rolex updated the 1908 just one year into its life, especially given how few are being sold to customers and even sent to retailers. While this release comes as a surprise, it’s certainly a pleasant one.
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