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Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 mm with white dial
It was love at first sight! I put the Oyster Perpetual 39 mm on my wrist and immediately thought it was the perfect GADA (Go Anywhere, Do Anything) watch. If I was a one-watch person (oh, the memories!), this would have been it.
I could wear it without any hesitation with smart business attire, business casual clothes, or a carefree t-shirt and jeans. I could go from office to pool with no problem since this watch is water resistant to 100 meters. During the winter, I could change the bracelet to a comfortable leather strap and it wouldn’t take anything away from being an everyday watch. It oozes versatility.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 mm with white dial Reference 114300 (photo courtesy Peter Tung)
Fast forward to early summer of 2020: I contacted the Rolex boutique in Prague for a visit in August, who agreed to hold both an OP39 in white and a Submariner Reference 114060 for me.
Meanwhile, I decided to sell my Explorer 1 to a good photographer friend in Prague well below the resale value (oh, the memories!) to make room (and budget) for these two new watches. The Explorer just did not resonate with me; I considered it as something between the Oyster Perpetual and the Submariner.
On the evening of August 31, I picked up both the OP39 white and the Submariner. And less than 24 hours later Rolex discontinued both watches!
While the Submariner was upgraded with a more symmetrical design and a more robust movement, it was shocking to learn that the OP39 was discontinued after just two years in production. Relatively speaking, there were likely not that many of the white dial variations manufactured. Even so, with so much adulation from enthusiasts and insiders it was surprising that Rolex discontinued it within two years.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 mm with white dial Reference 114300 (photo courtesy Peter Tung)
Rolex replaced the OP39 mm with a larger 41 mm Oyster Perpetual in a variety of colorful dials, a lightly redesigned dial layout, and a newer movement. The OP41 turned out to be wildly popular with its “Stella-inspired” dials – like the one GaryG acquired in Why I Bought It: Rolex Stella-Inspired Oyster Perpetual 41 With Turquoise Blue Dial – as it offered more of a playful style of sports watch that can be worn by anyone.
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