Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Yellow Dial 124300
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Yellow 124300
What better to brighten up the next 9 months of dreary weather than watch that is sunshine personified, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41mm in yellow.
The Oyster Perpetual line received an update in 2020 courtesy of The Crown releasing a new colour range based on the “Stella” dials of the 70s.
In the 60s Rolex were fitting hard stone dials to Day-Dates such as Lapis, Jasper, coral, ammonite and even fossil dials (nicknamed “Jurassic”) These dials were often found on watches made for Middle Eastern markets.
In the 70s and 80s, the “Stella” lacquered dials came on to the scene and took things to a newer, even brighter level.
These dials were designed to go with the bellbottoms and kipper ties of the dapper man about town. They were an absolute riot of high gloss colour but the world wasn’t ready for Rolex to turn up the disco, so they were poor sellers and Rolex ended up destroying batches of Stella dials as they couldn’t sell the watches - the market wanted Conservative.
Times change, and buyers these days tend to want something a little different rather than the same old same old black, silver, white and occasional blue dials for the seriously daring.
The Stella tones rode again as coral, candy pink, turquoise, and yellow were introduced to the Oyster Perpetual line and nowhere else.
Interesting yet also phenomenally clever as it turned a line that was previously and unfairly dismissed as a “starter” or “entry level” Rolex into the next big thing.
After that little wake up call, the previously humble Oyster Perpetual started to fly way above retail on the secondary market with the Turquoise particularly outstripping the likes of the Daytona and selling at up to 6 times RRP on first release.
It is unknown whether or not Rolex decided to call time on the feeding frienzy or if the “Stella” colour release was always going to be limited, but in 2022, a mere two years later, the turquoise, coral, and yellow 41mm Oyster Perpetuals were retired.
Point of note, Candy Pink was never offered in 41mm, only in 36mm and below, presumably as it was considered a feminine choice.
(This pains me as I would’ve LOVED a pink 41mm)
The Stella colour retirement is a shame really because the bright and completely different Oyster Perpetuals were, and still are, brilliant watches in their own right and offered a bit of light relief and wearing fun outside the seriously serious world of watch collecting.
Size-wise the OP 41’s case is exactly as described - 41mm diameter, 51.3mm long including end links and just shy of 12mm thick.
It’s offered only in stainless steel with polished flanks and a domed polished bezel, a nod to the old bubblebacks.
The tops of the lugs are brushed which ties in the flow towards the brushed Oyster bracelet which has a 5mm easy-link extension clasp for warm days. Water resistance is 100m which is perfect for a sports watch.
The design is simple but effective and the watch wears wide and low but thanks to the thicker bezel avoids the “dinner plate” pitfall admirably.
It’s extremely comfortable and well balanced but also has plenty of presence which, lets face it if, you’re wearing an egg-yolk-yellow watch it isn’t going to be because its stealthy.