Inside Rolex's Oyster Story Exhibition: A Century of Waterproof Mastery

Immersive installations and cinematic projections carry the narrative, while a dedicated "Superlative" zone details Rolex's updated 2026 certification standards, which now include tests for magnetism, reliability, and sustainability . The exhibition also unveiled a special anniversary edition of the Oyster Perpetual to mark the centenary .

Visiting is free but requires advance reservation, with weekday hours from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and weekend hours extending to 10 p.m. .

The Milestones That Defined a Century

The exhibition maps a timeline that transformed watchmaking:

• 1926: Hans Wilsdorf patents the Oyster case, combining a screw-down crown, bezel, and caseback to create the first reliably waterproof and dustproof wristwatch .
• 1927: British swimmer Mercedes Gleitze wears an Oyster during her 10-hour English Channel crossing. The watch emerges fully functional, giving Rolex a legendary real-world proof of concept and an early marketing triumph .
• 1931: Rolex introduces the Perpetual rotor, a self-winding mechanism that gives the Oyster Perpetual its name .
• 1945: The Datejust debuts as the first self-winding wristwatch with a date window, housed in the Oyster case.
• 1953: The Submariner arrives as the first diver's watch waterproof to 100 meters, cementing the Oyster's role in professional tool watches.
• Mid-century onward: The Oyster case becomes the foundation for the Explorer, GMT-Master, Day-Date, Sea-Dweller, and every subsequent professional model, each pushing deeper into extremes of depth, precision, and durability .

The People Behind the Legend

The exhibition is anchored by two figures whose stories bookend the Oyster's early history.

Hans Wilsdorf is positioned as the visionary force behind it all. The show explores his conviction that a wristwatch could be both precise and impervious to the elements—an ambition that seemed improbable in the early 20th century but ultimately reshaped the watchmaking industry .

Mercedes Gleitze appears not just as a test pilot but as a symbol of endurance. Her original 1927 Oyster, worn during the Channel swim, is a centerpiece of the exhibition—a physical artifact that connects the technical achievement to a human story of perseverance .

Shanghai was chosen as the first stop on what is described as a global centenary tour, making "Oyster Story" the opening chapter of a year-long campaign that also includes a new cinematic film and further international activations .