Cover Portraits of famous Rolex wearers at the Oyster Story exhibition in Shanghai
Portraits of famous Rolex wearers at the Oyster Story exhibition in Shanghai
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Celebrating 100 years of the Rolex Oyster, the exhibition offered an immersive look at the origins and legacy of the iconic case
In June, Rolex debuted Oyster Story, a landmark 100th anniversary of the Oyster case exhibition tracing its roots and enduring legacy, at West Bund Dome in Shanghai. Indeed, the travelling exhibition comprising several pavilions was a fitting tribute to the Oyster, complete with a showcase of key timepieces from the last century, including watches from private collectors on loan for the event, and 100 portraits of legends who wore—and swore by—them.
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A separate pavilion was dedicated to exploring its watchmaking expertise and vision, with the highlight being the optical atomic clock developed by Rolex and serving as an ultra-precise reference instrument—a high-tech reminder of Rolex’s commitment to the Superlative Chronometer certification.
Above Thomas Neff, general manager of Rolex Shanghai Limited;Jia Zhang-Ke; Li Na; Arnaud Boetsch, director of communication & image of Rolex SA; Sonya Yoncheva; Stefano Notari, chief commercial officer of Rolex SA and Maxim Lamarre, CEO of Rolex Greater China
Thomas Neff, general manager of Rolex Shanghai Limited;Jia Zhang-Ke; Li Na; Arnaud Boetsch, director of communication & image of Rolex SA; Sonya Yoncheva; Stefano Notari, chief commercial officer of Rolex SA and Maxim Lamarre, CEO of Rolex Greater China
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History buffs would have loved the cinema space that screened the Oyster’s journey from its birth to the present on a continuous loop. For bibliophiles, the Library Lounge offered a selection of publications to immerse in the Oyster universe.
West Bund Dome in Shanghai
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The exhibition opened with much fanfare, graced by Rolex Testimonees tennis star Li Na, filmmaker Jia Zhang-ke and Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva.
“The Oyster not only shaped the identity of Rolex, but also redefined the future of watchmaking,” said Aranaud Boetsch, director of communications and image at Rolex, in his opening remarks.
The evening built to a thrilling finale with a special drone light show along the banks of the majestic Huangpu River. Illuminating the night sky, the show narrated the Oyster’s epic century through key moments in the last 100 years, such as Gleitze’s historic swim across the English Channel and the historic Deepsea Challenger’s descent to the Mariana Trench.
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
