As a symbol of wealth and status, diamonds have always been a popular choice for bejeweled watches. The combination of the world’s most famous watchmaker with one of the most precious stones on earth creates a timepiece that transcends fashion trends and ages well beyond its owner’s lifetime.

Rolex with diamonds is most often associated with diamonds, the brand has also embraced semi-precious stones as part of its design language. Those stones can be found on the dials of several Rolex collections as well as the case of the brand’s iconic Oyster models.

The Art of Customizing Rolex Watches with Diamonds

Precious stone elements can be found on the fluted bezels of the black-dialed Cellini models, which are designed as classic dress watches, or on the lugs and crown guards of many gold Oyster and Datejust models. These stone accents serve as a nod to the 1926 Oyster, the first waterproof watch that changed history forever.

While the stones that comprise a Rolex watch may not be as precious as a diamond, they still require expert craftsmanship to ensure they shine and remain safe for wear. For example, cutting a rock to the extremely thin dimensions required for a dial requires a level of skill that can be acquired only after years of practice. Likewise, setting a snow-set dial – which can feature 3,000 individually sized and placed stones – takes a level of devotion that Rolex’s gem-setters have mastered.

Rolex’s in-house gem-setters are the unsung heroes of the company’s bejeweled masterpieces. While aftermarket modification can sometimes diminish a Rolex’s value, the in-house team of gem-setters ensures that even Rolex’s most extravagant models retain their resale values as valuable investments.