The Best Thing About Rolex’s Biggest Watch in a Generation Has Nothing To Do with Looks

The new escapement represents Rolex’s most impressive movement innovation since the Perpetual rotor in 1931.

By Johnny Brayson

Published April 1, 2025

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Rolex has launched the Land-Dweller, its most significant new model in a generation
The watch features Rolex’s first integrated bracelet in decades
Most significant of all is the Land-Dweller’s movement, which features an entirely new escapement from Rolex called Dynapulse

The rumors were true. The Rolex Land-Dweller is here.

While I’m still not a fan of the name — I think Rolex could have spent a bit more time workshopping that one — the Land-Dweller remains the most significant watch released by The Crown in a generation.

Watches and Wonders Geneva: The watch world’s biggest release party may be over but the year in horology has just begun. Catch up on all the key novelties from Rolex, Panerai, Patek Philippe and more.

Right off the bat, the Land-Dweller finally gives Rolex a competitor in the highly competitive integrated sports watch genre against the likes of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus and others. It’s the first Rolex with an integrated bracelet since the Oysterquartz ended its two-decade-plus run in the early 2000s.

The Land-Dweller features all the hallmarks we’ve come to expect from the integrated sports genre: A thin and flat case, a flat-link integrated bracelet featuring a mix of brushed and polished finishes, a textured dial and an eye-catching bezel. True to Rolex form, the bracelet is a “Flat Jubilee,” and the bezel is a traditional Rolex fluted one.

But the most interesting thing about the Land-Dweller has nothing to do with the way it looks. It’s the revolutionary movement inside.

Powering the watch, and visible through a rare-for-Rolex sapphire caseback, is the new Rolex Calibre 7135 automatic movement. The movement features an entirely new escapement that ditches the traditional Swiss lever system that has powered every other automatic watch Rolex ever made.

Rolex is calling its patented new escapement Dynapulse, and it’s impressive. It features two “distribution wheels” in place of a single escapement wheel, both of which are driven simultaneously by a transmission wheel connected to the mainspring barrel. The distribution wheels drive a rocker which interacts with the balance wheel, which is mounted on a new laser-cut ceramic staff protected by a pair of Paraflex shock absorbers, making it highly shock-resistant.

The transmission wheel, distribution wheels and rocker are all made of silicon, while the hairspring is in Rolex’s proprietary Syloxi silicon alloy. As a result, the escapement is highly resistant to magnetism, as well lightweight. It also beats at 5Hz — ten beats per second — making it Rolex’s first high-beat movement ever. What’s more, because the balance is now driven by rolling rather than sliding, there is virtually no friction, resulting in greater precision, higher efficiency and, theoretically, requires no lubrication.

This is arguably the most impressive and significant development in Rolex movements since the invention of the Perpetual movement in 1931. It’s that big. So whether or not you love the Land-Dweller, there’s no argument that its movement represents an exciting glimpse of Rolex’s future.

Pricing and Availability

At launch, the Land-Dweller is available in three materials across two case sizes, 36 and 40mm. The base version is in Oystersteel with a white gold bezel and white dial retails for $13,900 in 36mm with the 40mm version going for $14,900.

Next up the pricing ladder are the Everose gold models, which are available in both sizes with fluted or diamond-set bezels. Prices range from $42,100 in 36mm without diamonds to $103,200 in 40mm with diamonds.

Finally, for the ultimate flexers out there, there are platinum versions with ice-blue dials, again with fluted or diamond-set bezels. The “entry point” in 36mm without diamonds is priced at $59,200, while the range tops out at $116,900 in 40mm with diamonds.