Optical magnification

Meet another chapter of Rolex history. The Cyclops lens, which magnifies the date two and a half times on many Oyster models, is a Rolex invention dating back to the early 1950s.

This innovation makes for appreciably easier reading of the date and has become a signature feature of the brand. From the 1970s, Rolex equipped its watches with a new, virtually scratchproof, synthetic sapphire crystal. Consequently, the Cyclops lens evolved. Also in sapphire, it is now affixed to the crystal. Today, the Cyclops lens is more than ever an inseparable part of the Oyster's aesthetics. However, it continues to evolve. It now has an anti-reflective coating and is proof yet again of the brand's singular care for the wearer's comfort.