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Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36
Ref. 116000
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
The 116000 occupied a particular place in the Oyster Perpetual line during its twelve years of production: the 36mm time-only reference for those who wanted no date complication and no sport bezel, just the core of what Rolex does. It ran from 2008 until 2020, when the revised 126000 replaced it with an updated movement and a louder palette. This generation, by contrast, was available in everything from classic silver to the divisive grape dials, and the silver dial here is the quietest choice of the range. On the wrist the watch reads larger than 36mm tends to suggest, because the maxi-style lugs — blocky, prominent, bridging a 44.2mm lug-to-lug span — push the case outward in a way that thinner-lugged references do not. The 3130 inside is the dateless sibling of the 3135, certified as a Superlative Chronometer and fitted with the Parachrom hairspring that resists magnetic fields and absorbs shock better than a conventional alloy spring. Where the current model gains the 3230's improved efficiency, the 3130 remains an exceptionally well-proven movement with a long service history behind it. One thing the table does not convey: the Oysterclasp on this generation adjusts by conventional micro-links inside the clasp rather than the tool-free Easylink extension that later references carry. Sizing requires a pin, which most owners will do once at purchase and forget entirely.
- Reference
- 116000
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Oyster Perpetual
- Case size
- 36mm
- Case thickness
- 11.6mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3130
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 44.2mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
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 6 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Oyster Perpetual range (11), Stainless Steel Watches (2,819), Automatic Watches (1,701), Watches Under 37mm (1,493), Silver Dial Watches (637) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (355).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 36mm 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 36 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification |  116000 | 03.9400.670 | SBGH311 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,455 | £5,950 | £4,450 |
| Case size | 36mm | 36mm | 37mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 48 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.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow 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 44.2mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs 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 £6,455 is the cheapest of 6 UK retailers, against £8,050 at the dearest — a difference of £1,595.
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