Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. The special Jubilee dial of one of two anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches displayed the brand name repeatedly, but I just saw my name written over and over. This watch that literally had my name on it in a most obvious way. So, is the OP with the graphic party dial composed of 10 colors the watch for me, or do I prefer the more understated celebratory version with touches of yellow gold and green?
During the Rolex press meeting at Watches and Wonders 2026, I had the chance to try on the 36mm Oyster Perpetual with the Jubilee dial and the 41mm yellow Rolesor version with touches of typical celebratory green. To mark the 100th anniversary of its Oyster case, Rolex presented updated versions of the Oyster Perpetual 41 and Oyster Perpetual 36. One party, two ways to celebrate: the classic yellow Rolesor variation is available in 36mm or 41mm cases, while the more cheerful one with the colorful party dial comes in those and a 31mm size.
Hands-on with two anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches
In my opinion, the OP is the most sympathy-inducing Rolex watch. The entry-level model doesn’t have two standout Rolex features, and that’s partly why. Apart from not having a magnifying glass over the date or a fluted bezel, the choice of subtly colored dials and a smooth bezel creates a likable look. You don’t wear an OP to impress, and that’s why I have sympathy for this model. No matter how iconic a “Pepsi” is or how technically impressive a titanium Yacht-Master 42 is, the OP is the one that appeals to me the most. An OP 36 with a pistachio dial is sweet and stylish, but it’s also sporty and sophisticated. What about the 100th-anniversary models?
To mark the 100th anniversary of its Oyster case, Rolex introduced updated versions of the Oyster Perpetual 41, 36, and 31 at this year’s Watches and Wonders. These models mix and match core elements of the brand’s simplest line with several design cues referencing the original 1926 waterproof wristwatch. The time-only watches remain technically straightforward but visually distinct within the current collection. I had the chance to go hands-on with the 41mm OP in yellow Rolesor and the 36mm reference with the 10-color Jubilee-motif dial. This watch can be seen as a worthy successor to the 2023 Oyster Perpetual Celebration featuring the balloons on the dial.
Wearing the 41 and 36mm 100th-anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetuals
When I say that wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual is very uneventful, do you know what I mean? The watches feel like the standard in luxury. The feel and the looks are comforting; this is what a luxury watch should be. The proportions are just right. You can debate endlessly about what the right OP is — the 36, the 41, and what about the discontinued 39? But in the end, it comes down to how it sits and looks on the wrist. The OP 41 has a 41 × 11.6mm case with a 21mm lug spacing. This version looks more stretched than the 36mm OP, which has an 11.6mm thickness and a 20mm lug spacing. Both versions come with a screw-in case back, a Twinlock crown, and a 100m water resistance rating.
Pick a number
When it comes to size, I choose the 36mm Oyster Perpetual. I don’t dislike the OP 41 on my wrist; I think it fits, but it’s just a bit too prominent on my 18cm wrist. The 36 is on the small side, but I only think that the understated presence fits the vibe of the OP. So, the 36mm version is my choice. That’s also because the OP 39 is no longer with us, but let’s not get into that. Instead, let’s concentrate on the yellow Rolesor OP 41.
The choice of a yellow gold bezel and crown, along with on-theme hands and indexes, is solid. In combination with a slate-gray dial and a touch of green, this is the archetypal celebratory Rolex. And if you still don’t recognize the look as a celebratory one, there’s the text “100 years” at 6 o’clock, where you would normally read “Swiss Made.”
The touches of green are the Rolex name and the five-minute markers within the minute track. The literal crown of the celebration is the winding crown, which carries a “100” marking in relief. These elements distinguish the watch without altering its overall layout, which remains focused on a time-only display with central hours, minutes, and seconds.
Celebrate good times in yellow Rolesor
Two-tone watches are generally not really my thing. I can only get behind it when the combination of steel and yellow gold — and most definitely not steel in combination with rose gold, as that looks way too forced to me — adds something to the original design of the watch. Think of something exuberant, like a Cartier Pasha.
Yes, the yellow Rolesor version of the OP looks special, but it also looks a bit outdated. I won’t write “classic” because the presence of the text at 6 o’clock and the marking on the crown are a bit too much on the nose and not timeless. Will these watches prove their worth/value over time? Undoubtedly, yes, but for everyday use, this would not be my OP of choice.
The watch of the party
Is the OP 36 with the Jubilee dial the one for me? Well, I do find its “party” dial intriguing and hypnotizing. It makes me believe Rolex created this watch especially for me. I can’t help but selectively read the Jubilee motif. Introduced in the late 1970s, this is indeed reminiscent of the work of Italian conceptual artist Alighiero Boetti, a member of the Arte Povera movement. Now displaying this motif in 10 colors, Rolex transformed its name into a repetitive mosaic that creates visual chaos. It also creates confusion because, after looking at the OP 36 with this dial, I could only read “Lex,” my name.
I was very curious to see how the watch would look on my wrist after seeing it up close in a couple of press images. I will get straight to the point: I think it looks better when you see the dial at 400%. On a 36mm watch, the graphic element becomes a bit more difficult to distinguish. With all the different colors printed individually for a vibrant look, the dial appears more like a colorfully dotted miniature canvas at arm’s length.
I wouldn’t go so far as to call it reminiscent of the pointillist Seurat, but the graphic quality is not as powerful as when you see it magnified. Commendably, though, the legibility is quite good. The 18K white gold applied markers and hands filled with Chromalight, the brand’s proprietary lume, do make it relatively easy to read.
Common features
The yellow Rolesor Oyster Perpetuals and the Jubilee-dial version all house the Rolex caliber 3230, a self-winding movement with a time-only display. It incorporates a Chronergy escapement and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. As with all current Rolex watches, these models carry the Superlative Chronometer certification, which the brand states had an update with stricter performance criteria as of 2026. The certification guarantees precision, power reserve, water resistance, and self-winding efficiency in accordance with Rolex’s internal standards.
As you would expect, the Oyster Perpetual comes fitted with an Oyster bracelet. The three-row steel design dates to the late 1930s and has become a standard for sporty bracelets. It features a folding Oysterclasp with the Easylink extension system, allowing you to adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5mm without tools. It looks good, feels good, and works very well.
Are the 100th-anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetuals the best versions ever?
It’s difficult to answer this question objectively. Yes, the watches carry the updated Superlative Chronometer certification, but so will the other OPs that Rolex will produce from now on. In the end, then, it’s all about personal taste. And despite being hypnotized and confused by the version with the Jubilee dial, I found that neither celebratory OPs were to my taste. My favorite OP in current production is a 36mm ref. 126000, one that comes in no fewer than nine solid colors. My pick is not the OP with a silver, dark green, medium blue, black, beige, candy pink, turquoise, or lavender dial. Rather, it’s the one that looks like artisanal, not-too-sweet pistachio ice cream. That’s my favorite “flavor.” The OP 36 is like a perfect scoop of horological spring and summer, whereas the 41 is just one scoop too many.
I will leave you with the prices of all the celebratory Oyster Perpetuals available. The Oyster Perpetual 41 in yellow Rolesor (ref. 134303-0001) retails for €9,400, and in a 36mm case (ref. 126003-0001), €8,250. The 36mm steel OP with the Jubilee-motif dial (ref. 126000-0016) comes in at €6,500, while the 31mm version (ref. 277200-0019) costs €6,100, and the 41mm model (ref. 134300-0019) sells for €6,850.
Any thoughts? Which of the Rolex watches celebrating 100 years of the Oyster case is your favorite? And which OP is your favorite of all time? Please tell me in the comments section below.
Lex Stolk
2026-05-06 05:00:00