Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126000 In 36mm Is The Real Star Of The Show
Of course, of course, I get it. I understand why every article written about the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection is focused on the 41mm 124300. It is a handsome watch. Most importantly, it is something very new for Rolex. However, as seminal as its release may be, it has obscured the debut of a true classic. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126000 in 36mm
Why is reference 124300 important? It’s the first time Rolex has released a 41mm Oyster Perpetual. Perhaps even more startling, is the fact it has bulldozed its way into the collection by replacing the 39mm family entirely. That, to me, seemed a shade unnecessary considering the Oyster Perpetual configurator page of the Rolex website already looked like a Walton family photo.
Color me interested
In addition to the gorgeous silver sun-ray dial and polished gold applied indices and hands of the 124300 and 126000 (and their 28, 31, and 34mm counterparts), Rolex has released some uncommonly joyful alternatives. We have dial options in vivid coral red, candy pink, yellow, green, and turquoise (and black). The new colored dials are available in the 41, 36, and 28mm case sizes. For some reason, the 34mm and 28mm miss out on the excitement. All of those dial colors are available in the 41mm size EXCEPT for the candy pink, which is disturbingly absent from the 41mm housing.
Now let me make this clear: that won’t change my purchasing habits one bit, but I am a little annoyed Rolex just decided for its clientele that no one would want a 41mm in candy pink. That’s a bit mean. I could imagine loads of (female) IG stars wanting to make a statement with the size of such a piece, and just as many (male) collectors, who actually find the pink dial the classiest of the bunch (when it comes to the five vivid shades available, the pink is actually a quiet sleeper).
The movement
And what about the movement? The super-charged calibre 3230, is an in-house Superlative Chronometer, which has been COSC certified and then tested again by Rolex once it’s been cased-up. It’s fitted with the now-standard paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, which sits atop a variable inertia balance wheel. Automatic winding, shock absorbers, and a 28,800 train count feature as you’d expect, but a lengthy 70-hour power reserve is a welcome improvement. All of this adds up to a time-keeping performance of −2 /+2 seconds per day.
A bargain
The price for the 124300 is a very reasonable €5,550. That’s true regardless of the dial color. You can take the orange, yellow, turquoise, green, black, or beautiful sun-ray silver for the same coin. That’s nice. I like it when brands keep things simple. But get this: for €500 less, you can pick up the 36mm apple of my eye, the 12600. I have never, ever considered buying a Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Until now. This may be the model that finally sees me enter the court of the Crown. And given the brand’s habit of binning off the entire Oyster Perpetual collection for something new every few years, it might be wise to get your hands on one of these truly timeless and versatile classics, hiding in plain sight, while you still can. Learn more at the official Rolex site here.
