Unveil the moment Rolex revolutionized luxury watches with sapphire crystals in 1970. This pivotal change made a revolution in the luxury watch industry. Rolex first introduced sapphire crystals into their timepieces, starting with the Ref. 5100.

Why Sapphire Crystals?
Rolex moved away from acrylic crystals to sapphire crystals to improve its durability and scratch resistance. Sapphire crystals are renowned for their toughness and clarity. The switch to sapphire crystals reflects Rolex’s foresight in watchmaking, ensuring that their watches could endure the rigors of daily wear while maintaining their timeless elegance. Shortly after Rolex introduced sapphire crystals it became a general standard in the watch industry.

Contiuned Legacy
Despite sapphire crystals being more expensive than acrylic crystals today their use is standard across the Rolex collection. Their adoption by the market was so good that a legacy that began over half a century ago is still continued.

Conclusion
The introduction of sapphire crystals into Rolex watches was a defining moment that set new standards for the entire industry. As we look back on this question – “When did Rolex start using sapphire crystals?” – we celebrate the innovation that continues to make Rolex a pioneer within the watchmaking field.