Rolex Added a Gold Bracelet to the Perpetual 1908 and Made It a Whole New Watch

Any time there are new Rolex announcements, the entire watch world seems to stop and pay attention. And despite the deluge of announcements from brands all over the world at this year’s Watches & Wonders show, the Crown still held our attention with each of its handful of new releases, including a ‘70s-inspired Land Dweller with an innovative new escapement and the GMT-Master II with a ceramic dial.

However, updates don’t have to be big to be cool. And the vintage-inspired Perpetual 1908 simply adds a gold Settimo bracelet to match the gold case — but it’s like a whole new watch.

What’s In a Name?

Back in 2023, Rolex dropped the Cellini after 9 years of production and replaced it with the Perpetual 1908. While overall delivering a similar vibe as its predecessor, the Perpetual firmly established itself as a tribute to the brand’s accomplishments. Even look at the name; “Perpetual” nods to its invention of the first self-winding watch mechanism in 1931, while “1908” refers to the year the patent of the Rolex name was filed by founder Hans Wilsdorf. It was about time that Rolex boasted a little bit.

New Bracelet, New Vibe

The latest release is nearly the exact same as the current Perpetual 1908 offerings, with either black or white dial configurations available. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think this were a literal vintage Rolex piece — and with the typical leather band the watch has been wearing the past two years, you might be able to convince a few people. 

18k yellow gold cases have been part of the line since 2023, but the introduction of the Settimo bracelet brings uniformity to the timepiece, which is now in all gold. Featuring a row of seven small polished links, the band isn’t technically integrated but also doesn’t draw a distinction between itself and the case either. Lastly, it features a folding Crownclasp that’s popular for its comfort, security, and discretion on the wrist.

Business as Usual

Spec-wise, we’re looking at the same 39mm case with 9.5mm in thickness and water resistance at 50m. This is a classy dress watch with a fluted coin bezel and domed sapphire crystal. The timeless-looking dial features central hands for the minutes (sword-shaped) and hours (windowed Breguet-style) but a small seconds subdial down below.

Behind the caseback window, you’ll see the Superlative Chronometer-certified in-house Caliber 7140 automatic movement, featuring the brand’s Chronergy escapement and Syloxi hairspring, along with 66 hours of power on tap. The gold motif is continued back here with 18 karats on the Perpetual rotor.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Now part of the permanent collection, the Perpetual 1908 in 18k gold with a gold Settimo bracelet is currently available for $35,000. Head over to Rolex’s website to learn more.