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Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39
Ref. 114300
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
The 39mm Oyster Perpetual occupied a particular moment in the line's history: introduced in 2015 and discontinued in 2020, it bridged the long-standing 36mm and the 41mm reference that replaced it, and now reads as the quieter, more considered size in a family that has since moved on. It was never a tool watch dressed down nor a dress watch toughened up — just the core Oyster proposition, reduced to its essentials. At 11.2mm thick with lugs that curve down toward the wrist, it disappears under a cuff in a way the current 41mm cannot quite manage, and the 129-gram weight sits without bulk. The blue dial works differently across the day: flat and cool in shade, deeper and more saturated in direct light. Brushed surfaces on the case top and bracelet are cut against polished flanks and a domed bezel, which keeps the finishing from reading as plain even as the overall design stays restrained. The Calibre 3132 is Rolex's dependable manufacture movement — antimagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorption, COSC chronometer rating — and it will run accurately without attention for a very long time. Bracelet adjustment here requires a pin and the clasp's internal holes rather than the tool-free Easylink found on sportier references, a small but honest distinction worth knowing before purchase.
- Reference
- 114300
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Oyster Perpetual
- Case size
- 39mm
- Case thickness
- 11.2mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3132
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.4mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 4 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Oyster Perpetual range (10), Stainless Steel Watches (2,624), Automatic Watches (1,472) and Blue Dial Watches (708).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 39mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Rolex's range as we list it
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 114300 | 49.4000.3620/21.I001 | SBGJ265 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,350 | £9,100 | £6,900 |
| Case size | 39mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 60 hours | 55 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 47.4mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £8,350 is the cheapest of 3 UK retailers, against £8,450 at the dearest — a difference of £100.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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