Rolex Sky-Dweller Review Featuring Yellow Gold Sky-Dweller Ref. 326938
If you aren’t familiar with the Sky-Dweller, you are about to be after reading this Rolex Sky-Dweller Review featuring the Yellow Gold, Champagne Dial Sky-Dweller Reference 326938.
For a watch community that is wholeheartedly conservative, Rolex’s newest watch collection, the Sky-Dweller, has won over the people with surprisingly rapid speed. In just 8 years, the Rolex Sky-Dweller has become one of the most coveted and talked about watches in the entire Rolex catalog.
Throughout Rolex history, new collections and changes or upgrades to certain models take time for people to get used to. Even the Rolex Daytona, arguably Rolex’s most iconic collection, took many years for people to come around to.
So, how did the Sky-Dweller gain popularity and appreciation so quickly? Well, being that Rolex is a watch brand that is even more conservative than collectors of their watches, and they are undeniably the best at keeping up with the times, when they release something new in the 21st century, you better be damn sure it was well thought out and designed and tested with the highest of standards.
Ultimately, they created a luxury sports watch that will withstand the test of time, like all of their watch collections do. The Rolex Sky-Dweller is so complicated, original, and stunning, it’s as if they had every designer, engineer and scientist at their facility with all hands on deck when developing this one.
WHAT DOES THE ROLEX SKY DWELLER DO?
Like all Rolex watches, the Sky-Dweller was designed with a clear purpose in mind. That purpose is to keep track of the date across numerous time zones with ease. The watch has three main complications, an annual calendar, a dual time zone (GMT), and a date display, all of which can be set using the inventive Ring Command Bezel and screw-down crown.
It should be noted, that while other luxury watches from top watchmaking brands have these complications, none do it like the Sky-Dweller. The Sky-Dweller displays these complications in a completely original, very cool, and easy digest way.
And we should also point out that the functions of the Sky-Dweller are highly practical. For the everyday person, the Sky-Dwellers functions are way more practical than say a chronograph, regatta timer, moonphase, or tourbillon. After all, it is a watch made for people who traverse the globe, and these days, that is most of us.
IS THE SKY-DWELLER A DRESS WATCH OR A SPORTS WATCH?
The Sky-Dweller is like a hybrid dress and sports watch. It has the functionality of a sports watch yet the minimal profile (no pushers), fluted bezel and precious metal casting of a dress watch.
Whether you want to call it a sports watch or a dress watch, it doesn’t really matter. It can be worn both ways. It is highly versatile in styling.
Overall, what we can definitely say about the Sky-Dweller is it’s a technical and engineering powerhouse. This is a watch that shows just how strong Rolex’s horological muscles are.
WHEN DID THE ROLEX SKY DWELLER COME OUT?
The Rolex Sky-Dweller was unveiled at Baselworld in 2012. The launch introduced three Sky-Dweller references, a yellow gold Sky-Dweller with a matching yellow gold Oyster bracelet and champagne dial, a white gold Sky-Dweller with a matching white gold Oyster bracelet and off-white dial, and an Everose gold Sky-Dweller with a brown leather strap and brown dial.
The yellow gold Rolex Sky-Dweller featured in this review is one of the original trio.
In 2014, three new Sky-Dweller references were released – a yellow gold Sky-Dweller with a brown leather strap, a white gold Sky-Dweller with a black leather strap and black dial, and an Everose gold Sky-Dweller with a matching Everose Oyster bracelet and dial.
With the addition of these new references, the Sky-Dweller was available in each color of gold with the option of a matching gold bracelet or leather strap.
At Baselworld 2017, Rolex delivered what most watch collectors crave, stainless steel versions. They introduced two new models, a two-tone stainless steel and yellow gold (Yellow Rolesor) Sky-Dweller and a stainless steel with a white gold bezel (White Rolesor) Sky-Dweller. The use of stainless steel significantly brought down the entry point price into the Sky-Dweller collection. It also catered to sports watch enthusiasts’ love for stainless steel.
That said, and as you have read, there are no Sky-Dwellers that are entirely stainless steel. All Rolex Sky-Dwellers incorporate some precious metal.
The stainless steel white gold bezel Sky-Dweller comes in a few dial options, which are white, black and blue. The blue dial stainless steel Sky-Dweller, reference 326934, is currently the most coveted and is already selling for a premium on the second-hand market due to scarcity and demand.
Discontinued: In 2018, Rolex discontinued the white gold with leather strap Sky-Dweller (reference 326139) and the white gold case and bracelet Sky-Dweller (reference 326939).
ROLEX SKY-DWELLER REVIEW: YELLOW GOLD CHAMPAGNE DIAL REFERENCE 326938
Being that the pics within this Rolex Sky-Dweller Review are of the Yellow Gold, Champagne Dial Sky-Dweller, reference 326938, we want to discuss its case, bezel, dial, bracelet, and movement. The good thing is, even if you are in the market for a different version of the Sky-Dweller, all of the below information applies. The only difference will be the color. Also, this model has the metal bracelet. The size, movement, appliqués, and other characteristics are the same across all Sky-Dwellers.
Sky-Dweller Dimensions:
Case: 42.09mm
Width: 14.1mm
Lug to Lug: 49.72mm
Bracelet: 20mm
Rolex Sky-Dweller Weight:
With the size of the watch and the fact that it is made from precious metal, this is a heavier timepiece. In fact, it is one of the heaviest Rolex watches. It will feel very substantial on your wrist. You’ll know you are wearing it at all times, that’s for sure.
That being said, thanks to the ergonomics and the proportions, it feels very balanced and comfortable. You could wear this Rolex Sky-Dweller reference 326938 all day every day without any discomfort.
Note: The stainless steel Sky-Dweller with the white gold bezel is somewhat lighter than the all gold Sky-Dwellers. However, it is is still a heavy watch too.
42mm Oyster Case & Fluted Bezel
The Sky-Dweller has a 42mm Oyster case. But it wears even bigger as lug to lug it is nearly 50mm. It’s also quite robust at 14.1mm in thickness.
The case has gorgeous ergonomics with its soft edges and caseback that contours the wrist perfectly. It makes the watch very comfortable to wear even when using your arms and hands in ways that put pressure on the watch.
The finishing is absolutely stunning as well. It uses a combination of satin and high polish to create contrast. The luster is truly something to marvel, especially in 18k yellow gold. It just looks and feels so rich.
Beyond that, there isn’t much else to say. The case has a very minimal design thanks to the Ring Command Bezel, which eliminates the need for pushers. The case doesn’t even have a crown guard. This, plus the fluted bezel design, gives the Sky-Dweller that high-end dress watch demeanor.
RING COMMAND BEZEL
The fluted bezel is not just there for its good looks, it also has functionality. The Ring Command Bezel allows you to choose which complication you want to adjust. It works together with the crown to control the functions.
So, to use it, you pull out the crown, turn the Ring Command Bezel into one of three positions, depending on which complication you want to change, then you turn the crown. It’s very simple and it makes for speedy setting.
And whilst the watch is very easy to use, the creation of this is no easy feat. To engineer a bezel that controls the functions of the watch in tandem with the crown is pure haute horology. This proves that Rolex is not just great at marketing and creating beautiful and cool utilitarian watches, but they are also horological masters. The Sky-Dweller is one of Rolex’s most complicated watches ever.
Is the Rolex Sky-Dweller waterproof?
Absolutely. What Rolex watch isn’t? The Rolex Sky-Dweller has complete water resistance down to 100 meters (or 330 feet). Thus, you can enjoy every water activity you so please while wearing the Sky-Dweller, with exception to Deepsea Scuba Diving. For that, you’ll want a Submariner or Sea-Dweller, of course.
The Sky-Dweller Dial
The Sky-Dweller’s dial is very distinct. There is no other Rolex like it. The main feature of the Sky-Dweller dial is the off-centered disc above the 6 o’clock. This is the dual time zone.
Across all Sky-Dwellers, you will also see a red triangle above the 24-hour disc, a minute, seconds, and hour hand, a Rolex Crown at the 12 o’clock, a date display at the 3 o’clock, and small slots above each hour marker.
Depending on the reference, the hour markers are Batons, Roman numerals, or Arabic Numerals, like the Yellow Gold Rolex Sky-Dweller in this review.
Now, let’s talk about what some of these characteristics mean in relation to the complications…
How to read the Sky-Dweller?
Since the date complication is straight forward, we will skip over that. This is standard.
Dual Time Zone: The center disc is the dual time zone. It has a 24-hour display. It continually spins around as time passes, so the watch will always be referencing two times. The red arrow at the top indicates the hour for the second reference time. It’s that simple.
Annual Calendar: The slots above the hour markers indicate what month of the year it is. As there are 12 hours on the watch and there are 12 months in a year, Rolex decided to let the hour markers represent the months. Simply brilliant. Needless to say, 1 o’clock is January, 2 o’clock is February, 3 o’clock is March, and so on.
What is the red dot on the newer Rolex Sky Dwellers?
The original Sky-Dwellers used a black color for the annual calendar slots (white for the Everose Gold Sky-Dweller). However, since 2014, the newer Sky-Dweller references use a red dot. The red dot indicates the month of the year.
Oyster Bracelet
While the case may have a dressy look, the bracelet is undeniably sporty. It is the iconic Oyster bracelet – a robust, solid, comfortable, large-linked bracelet that is as recognizable as the Rolex Crown.
The three-link Oyster bracelet has a stunning finish that complements the case flawlessly. It integrates with the case and Oyster clasp seamlessly and with security that will never make you never think twice. When it comes to durability, this is as good as it gets in all of watchmaking. It is beyond superb.
Calibre 9001 Movement
Rolex Sky-Dweller comes equipped with a Calibre 9001 automatic movement. It is Rolex’s newest movement, so it’s obviously one of the most advanced. The calibre 9001 is supremely precise and accurate. Plus, it has 72 hours of power reserve! You can take this bad boy off for a long weekend and throw it back on without needing to reset it.
HOW MUCH DOES A ROLEX SKY DWELLER COST? MARKET PRICE & VALUE
The price of a Rolex Sky-Dweller depends on if you are buying it new from an authorized dealer or on the secondary market, as well as which reference you are buying, as the fully precious metal versions are going to cost the most.
The full gold Sky-Dweller models retail for around $48,000, while the gold case with leather strap versions retail for around $38,000.
The two-tone steel and yellow gold Sky-Dweller retails for around $18,000. And the stainless steel white gold bezel for $15,000.
Secondary Market – Pre-Owned Rolex Sky-Dweller Price
The Rolex Sky-Dweller has a really strong resale value. Let’s go over the various models.
Fully Gold Sky-Dwellers: The full gold case and bracelet Sky-Dwellers have a resale value that is just a few thousand dollars under their retail price. So, for the Yellow Gold Rolex Sky-Dweller reference 326938, you can expect to pay around $40,000.
Gold with Leather Strap Sky-Dwellers: The leather strap Sky-Dwellers also sell for a few thousand dollars less than retail. You can expect to pay around $34,000 for a leather strap gold case pre-owned Sky-Dweller in good condition.
Stainless Steel White Gold Bezel: The stainless steel Sky-Dweller has the best resale value, as do most popular Rolex sports watches. Over the last couple of years, there has been a 50% increase in the price of the blue dial steel Rolex Sky-Dweller and around 25% for the white dial version. These models have long waiting lists, so you are not likely to find them at retail price unless you know someone very well. Thus, you can pretty much forget about the retail price for the steel Sky-Dweller. You can expect to pay around $19,000 for the white dial and $22,000 for the blue dial Sky-Dweller.
Why you should buy a used Rolex Sky-Dweller
You probably already know this, but if you buy a used Sky-Dweller, you won’t be losing value. For the precious metal Rolex Sky-Dwellers like the Yellow Gold reference 326938, buying used makes way more sense, as long as you get a reasonable price and its in good condition. You will take no loss in value after purchasing it like you would if buying new.
As for the blue or white steel Sky-Dweller retail makes more sense, of course, as these are highly sought after right now and are reselling for more than they cost at retail. Unfortunately, the chances of buying one of these new is slim to none. Luckily, prices are steadily increasing, so it is still a good investment when buying used.
IS THE ROLEX SKY DWELLER A GOOD INVESTMENT?
With the current secondhand market prices, the Rolex Sky-Dweller is a great investment. With the steel versions, you can expect the value to continue to increase, and the full gold versions are holding very strong as well. Put simply, your money is safe when you turn it into a Rolex Sky-Dweller.
FUTURE OF THE ROLEX SKY-DWELLER
The Sky-Dweller has become an instant classic. The future is very bright for this collection of watches. So, if you want to buy a Rolex Sky-Dweller, the time is now. Especially with it being a buyer’s market. There has never been a better time to buy a gold Rolex sports watch.
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