Baltany's Design Philosophy and Innovative Integration for the 1926 Oyster Tribute Watches

The World's First Waterproof Timepiece: The Rolex Vintage Oyster Watch

The Rolex Oyster watch is a milestone in watchmaking history, acclaimed as the world's first waterproof timepiece. Launched in 1926, it gained significant attention and validation when worn by a swimmer, proving its waterproof capabilities. Rolex named this watch "Oyster," inspired by the durable and resilient marine mollusk, symbolizing its outstanding waterproof performance. Today, all Rolex watches produced fall under the Rolex Oyster series, continuing the original design's focus on durability and water resistance.

The Birth of the Rolex Vintage Oyster Watch

The Rolex brand's founder, Hans Wilsdorf, was born in Germany and entered the watch industry in London in 1905, initially working in watch distribution. A few years later, he decided to manufacture his own watches, and in 1908, the Rolex brand was born. In 1920, Wilsdorf moved to Biel, Switzerland, and established Montres Rolex S.A. Just six years later, Rolex released the iconic Oyster watch, establishing its position in the watchmaking world.

The innovation of the Oyster watch lies in its unique waterproof structure. The case uses a screw-down design, sealing the dial, crown, and case back into a watertight unit. This design not only enhanced the watch's durability but also pioneered the era of waterproof watches. To prove the Oyster watch's waterproof performance, Rolex gave one to British swimmer Mercedes Gleitze in 1927. She successfully swam across the English Channel wearing the Oyster watch, earning Rolex widespread recognition and acclaim.

Reviving the Classic Design with Modern Technology: Baltany's Tribute to the 1926 Oyster Watches In the vast history of watches, the 1926 Oyster watches is undoubtedly a classic, with its outstanding design and remarkable durability. It remains highly sought after in the secondary market. Baltany Watches decided to revive this classic design, paying homage to this great timepiece while integrating modern watchmaking techniques to bring a new wearing experience to watch enthusiasts.

Oyster Tribute Watches Classic Design Revival and Modern Technology Fusion

The birth of the Oyster case watch in 1926 marked a significant milestone in watch design. When reviving this design, Baltany Watches used advanced watchmaking techniques to optimize the watch's structure and dimensions. For instance, to facilitate easier strap replacement, we removed the original wire lug structure. This improvement not only retained the classic design's aesthetic but also enhanced the watch's practicality and modern appeal.

After modifying the lateral extension structure of the 1926 vintage Oyster watch case and lugs, the first edition of the Baltany 1926 tribute watch has a case thickness of 11.9mm. Although this watch's design was already close to perfection, its overall wearing comfort could still be improved. Our design model indicated that a thinner case would not only look more elegant but also fit the wrist better. Therefore, the final Baltany 1926 Oyster tribute watch is not only simple and sturdy but also features elegant lines and shapes, offering a more comfortable wearing experience.

To meet the diverse needs of different customers, Baltany Watches has launched various versions of the Baltany 1926 Oyster tribute watches, including the 9039 automatic mechanical version, the ST1700 manual mechanical version, and the VD78 quartz mechanical version. The dial colors include MOP (Mother of Pearl), cream white, black, silver, and gold, paired with sapphire domed glass and blue cathedral hands, making the watch visually rich and three-dimensional.

In the dial font design, Baltany Watches uses shadow printing technology to enhance the overall sense of layering and depth. To ensure readability in different lighting conditions, all versions, except the quartz version with Roman numeral dials, use Swiss Super-LumiNova old-style luminescence. This design not only preserves classic aesthetic elements but also enhances the watch's practicality.

Perfect Combination of Nostalgia and Modern Aesthetics

Nostalgia is an eternal theme for humanity, and a watch from the past can bring us endless surprises. Baltany Watches made numerous attempts in choosing dial colors to achieve a balance between modern aesthetics and the atmosphere of bygone times. For example, the gold and cream white dials underwent multiple color corrections to achieve the ideal effect, blending vintage charm with contemporary taste.

The Baltany 1926 Oyster tribute watches case also underwent innovative attempts. After manual aging treatment, the watch case underwent IP plating, making it look like it has weathered decades of history and is more scratch-resistant than polished cases. This innovative process not only enhances the watch's durability but also adds a vintage texture, providing wearers with a unique sense of history.

Baltany Watches pays meticulous attention to detail design. Every detail on the dial is carefully polished, from the shadow printing of the fonts to the application of Super-LumiNova old-style luminescence, all reflecting the designers' deep understanding and clever fusion of classic and modern. This watch is not only a tribute to the 1926 Oyster case but also a perfect interpretation of watchmaking craftsmanship.

To meet consumers' diverse needs, we offer various strap options, including leather and metal straps, allowing consumers to mix and match according to their preferences. Each strap is carefully designed and crafted to ensure comfort and durability.

Baltany 1926 Oyster Tribute Watches: Three Versions

9039 Automatic Mechanical Version

The Baltany 1926 tribute automatic mechanical version is powered by the Miyota 9039 movement, with a vibration frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, 24 jewels, and over 42 hours of power reserve. Compared to the NH35 movement, the Miyota 9039 runs more reliably and stably, and its thinner profile allowed our designers' improvement ideas to be realized. This watch features a fully polished case with irregular lines and an overall ultra-thin design, giving it a modern look while retaining vintage elements.

Many people have concerns about the single-direction winding function of the Miyota 9039 and 9015 automatic movements, thinking that bi-directional winding is better. However, the Miyota 9039 is more sensitive to subtle movements, making single-direction winding more effective in office environments. Baltany maintains high standards of quality, using sapphire double-domed glass, AR anti-reflective coating, traditional blued hands, and A+-grade MOP dials, components, and craftsmanship typically found in luxury brand watches.

Additionally, the 9039 version offers two antique-colored case options. The cases are manually processed to present a textured feel and then vacuum plated, creating a unique antique effect and adding charm to the watch.

ST1701 Manual Mechanical Version

The Baltany 1926 Oyster tribute manual mechanical watches uses the Sea-Gull ST1701 movement. Each movement undergoes two rounds of adjustment to ensure only the highest quality movements are used. To improve water resistance, we use a screw-down crown at the most vulnerable point for water ingress and have custom-made a switchable crown. After manual winding is complete, the crown can still be freely screwed into the crown threads to prevent water ingress.

The manual mechanical version also adds black and gold dial options, providing more variety for customers. This watch not only boasts excellent functionality but also exudes elegance and vintage style in its design.

VD78 Quartz Version

Roman numeral dials are widely used in many brands' dress watches. To offer more choices, Baltany uses a Roman numeral sub-seconds dial on the quartz version of the 1926 Oyster case tribute. The linen-textured dial on the Baltany bubbleback watch received much praise, so we used the same vertical grain process on the quartz version of the 1926 Oyster tribute watches. This texture makes the dial more vivid and layered under different lighting.

The launch of the Baltany 1926 Oyster tribute watches not only inherits and promotes classic design but also perfectly blends modern watchmaking technology with traditional craftsmanship. Through meticulous design and exquisite craftsmanship, Baltany Watches has successfully brought a historically significant classic watch into modern life. Whether in terms of classic reproduction or modern optimization, Baltany has achieved excellence, showcasing the endless charm of watchmaking craftsmanship.

For watch enthusiasts who love classics and pursue quality, the Baltany 1926 Oyster tribute watches is undoubtedly a rare gem. We believe this watch will not only meet your wearing needs but also bring you endless surprises and emotions.

To learn more about the Baltany watches, please visit the Baltany official page.

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