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Rolex Sky-Dweller
Ref. 326938
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
Introduced in 2012 as an entirely new complication rather than a revision of anything that came before, the Sky-Dweller was built around a specific problem: the annual calendar is one of the most useful complications a traveller can carry, yet combining it with a second time zone in a single, logically operated watch had never been done inside Rolex. The Ring Command bezel is the solution — rotating it selects which function the crown will adjust, so date, local time and home time are all accessible without additional pushers or crowns, and the whole mechanism clicks through its modes with the same weighted precision as the rest of the watch. The Calibre 9001 behind it is among the most involved movements Rolex has produced, and the 72-hour reserve reflects the engineering headroom built into it. On the wrist, 247 grams of solid 18-carat yellow gold makes itself known; this is not a watch that disappears. The Saros annual calendar reads through twelve discreet apertures at the dial's edge, picking out the current month without cluttering the champagne face, and the Easylink extension in the clasp allows the bracelet to be let out by a few millimetres without tools — a detail that earns its keep across a long day.
- Reference
- 326938
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Sky-Dweller
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 14.1mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- Gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Champagne
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 9001
- Functions
- GMT, Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Gold
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 49.72mm
- Power reserve
- 72 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
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 Automatic Watches (1,742), GMT Watches (252), Champagne & Cream Dial Watches (191) and Solid Gold Watches (162).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 72-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Worth knowing
- 14.1mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Rolex Sky-Dweller alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 326938 | GC39-TNPS-LSEN-RSDP-RE | pfc907-1020001-100182 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,950 | £41,040 | £38,600 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 72 hours | 50 hours | 50 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | 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 72 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
21mm. 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 49.72mm, 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 men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Goldsmiths list it at £39,950, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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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