Rolex Sky-Dweller Guide: References, Dials, Bracelets and Prices in 2026

The Rolex Sky-Dweller is Rolex's annual calendar and dual time zone watch: a 42 mm Oyster case, a fluted bezel that doubles as the setting control, a 24-hour reference disc inset into the dial, twelve small month apertures around the hour markers and a date with Cyclops, all driven by the calibre 9001 and, since 2023, the calibre 9002. It launched in 2012 in gold only, reached steel with a white gold bezel in 2017, gained the Oysterflex strap in 2020 and was renewed across the range in 2023 with the 336 series references. This guide covers the specifications, every reference we are confident of, the dial and bracelet options, how the Ring Command bezel works, how the watch wears, service, how it compares with the Datejust 41 and the Day-Date 40, dealer asks in October 2026 and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the Sky-Dweller to order; the Sky-Dweller collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on October 17, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Rolex Sky-Dweller specifications

Source: the Rolex Sky-Dweller collection page for the current references, dial and bracelet options; chronometer certification is described by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. Thickness and lug-to-lug are our measurements and other owners' rather than Rolex figures, which the brand does not publish.

What does the Rolex Sky-Dweller do that other Rolex watches do not?

Two things. First, it is the only Rolex with an annual calendar. The Saros system, named after the astronomical cycle, uses a single planetary gear driven by the date wheel to tell 30-day months from 31-day months, so the date only needs correcting once a year, on 1 March after February. The month is read from the twelve apertures just outside the hour markers: the aperture at the current month turns a contrasting colour, red on most dials, and the others stay the dial colour. Second, it shows a second time zone on the rotating 24-hour disc inset into the upper half of the dial, with a fixed inverted triangle at 12 marking the reference hour. The main hour hand jumps in one-hour steps for local time while the disc holds home time, so a traveller changes zones without touching the minutes or seconds. The GMT-Master II gives a second zone too, but with a 24-hour hand and no calendar beyond the date; the Day-Date gives the day and date but no second zone. The Sky-Dweller is the Rolex for someone whose problem is both the calendar and the clock.

Which Rolex Sky-Dweller references exist?

Rolex numbers the Sky-Dweller in a consistent way: the first three digits are the model and generation, 326 for the calibre 9001 watches and 336 for the calibre 9002 watches; the fourth digit is 9 for a bracelet, 1 for a leather strap on the early watches and 2 for the Oysterflex; the last digit is the metal, 4 for Oystersteel with a white gold bezel, 3 for yellow Rolesor, 5 for Everose gold, 8 for yellow gold and 9 for white gold. The table lists the references we are sure of, with the asks in our sourced catalogue on October 17, 2026, each sourced to order.

Rolex has shown other configurations over the years, including gem-set bezels and dials, and the exact year a given dial entered or left the catalogue is not something we can confirm for every variant, so treat the years as the span of the reference rather than of each dial. Where the table says ask for a quote, we have sourced the reference before but had no dated entry on October 17, 2026.

How did the Sky-Dweller change from 2012 to 2026?

• 2012. Launched at Baselworld in yellow gold, white gold and Everose gold, on bracelet (326938, 326939, 326935) or leather strap (326138, 326139, 326135), with the new calibre 9001. Dials carried Roman or Arabic numerals depending on the version, and the watch was priced well above the rest of the Oyster line.
• 2017. The Oystersteel 326934 with a white gold fluted bezel and the yellow Rolesor 326933 arrived, cutting the entry price substantially and turning the Sky-Dweller from a niche gold complication into one of the most requested Rolex models. The whole range moved to baton markers with Chromalight and a cleaner dial.
• 2020. The Oysterflex elastomer strap with the Oysterclasp came to the Sky-Dweller in Everose gold (326235) and yellow gold (326238), replacing the leather strap versions.
• Around 2021. The Jubilee bracelet joined the Oyster as an option on the Rolesor models.
• 2023. The 336 series. The calibre 9002 brought the Chronergy escapement and the optimised Parachrom hairspring that the rest of the Rolex line had received since 2015, the dial was redrawn with neater month apertures, the case and bracelet were refined, Everose gold became available on Oyster and Jubilee bracelets (336935) and white gold moved to the Oysterflex (336239). The 326 series was discontinued.

A 326 and a 336 look very similar on the wrist. The quickest tells are the dial: the 336 month apertures are smaller and more evenly framed, the 24-hour disc is simpler, and the caseback and warranty card carry the new reference. Inside, the calibre 9002 is the one Rolex services today with current parts, though the 9001 remains fully supported.

Which Sky-Dweller dial and metal should you choose?

The Oystersteel and white gold 336934 is the Sky-Dweller most people mean when they search for the model: steel case and bracelet, a white gold fluted bezel, and dials in white, blue, black and, since 2023, mint green. It is the lightest on the wrist, the cheapest to buy and the easiest to sell on. The yellow Rolesor 336933 adds gold centre links, crown and bezel and is usually offered with a champagne, white or dark dial; it is the warmer, more traditional watch and often sits at a similar ask to the steel. The full gold watches split by strap: on bracelet, the 336938 in yellow gold and the 336935 in Everose carry the most presence and the most weight; on Oysterflex, the 336238, 336235 and 336239 wear noticeably lighter and read as a sports watch rather than a dress watch. Dials across the current range are mostly sunray or matt in white, black, slate, champagne, chocolate, blue and mint green, and Rolex offers a few gem-set versions. If you are choosing for daily wear, the blue or white steel on Oyster is the safe choice; if you want the watch to be noticed, yellow gold on Oysterflex with a champagne dial is the one that draws comment.

Oyster, Jubilee or Oysterflex?

On the current steel watch, the Jubilee has been the more requested bracelet, which is why its ask runs higher in our catalogue even though both cost the same at retail. Bracelets are not interchangeable with the Oysterflex, because the Oysterflex end pieces and clasp are specific to the strap models.

How do you set a Rolex Sky-Dweller?

The Sky-Dweller uses the Ring Command system, so the bezel and the crown work together. Unscrew the crown and pull it out one position. With the bezel in its home position the crown winds the movement; to set a function, rotate the bezel anticlockwise by one, two or three clicks. In the current owner's guidance, one click selects the date, two clicks select the local hour hand, which jumps in one-hour steps forwards or backwards without disturbing the minutes, and three clicks select the reference time on the 24-hour disc together with the month, which moves on with the reference time. Turn the crown to adjust whichever function is selected, return the bezel to the home position, push the crown back in and screw it down. The practical routine for a trip is therefore: two clicks, move the hour hand the number of zones travelled, bezel home, crown down. For the annual correction on 1 March, set the date forward by one. Rolex publishes the full procedure in the user guide for each reference, and the Rolex watch care and service page covers what to do if a function does not respond.

How does the Sky-Dweller wear on the wrist?

The Sky-Dweller is a large watch by Rolex standards. The case is 42 mm across and close to 14 mm thick, with a lug-to-lug around 48 mm and a lug width of about 21 mm, so it sits between the Datejust 41 and the Explorer II on paper but feels bigger than the Explorer II because the fluted bezel is wide and bright and the dial carries a lot of information. On an Oyster bracelet in Rolesor it is comfortable from about 17 cm (6.7 inches) of wrist upwards; a full gold watch on Oyster is heavy enough that many owners prefer the Jubilee or the Oysterflex for long days. The Easylink extension gives 5 mm of adjustment without tools. There is no smaller Sky-Dweller and never has been; buyers who like the complication but find 42 mm too much usually end up with a Datejust 41 or a Day-Date 40 instead.

Sky-Dweller vs Datejust 41 vs Day-Date 40

The Datejust 41 is the same case style a millimetre smaller with a simpler movement and a lower price, and it is the watch to buy if the fluted bezel and Jubilee are the attraction rather than the calendar. The Day-Date 40 is a precious metal watch that gives the day in full at 12, with no second zone, and is the choice for someone who wants the gold Rolex rather than the travelling one. The Sky-Dweller is the only one of the three that does anything mechanically unusual, and in steel it costs less than the Day-Date at retail; our Datejust and Day-Date heritage guide sets out the longer history of the two older models.

How much is a Rolex Sky-Dweller? Retail and dealer prices in October 2026

• Retail. Rolex's US list prices in 2026 have placed the Oystersteel and white gold 336934 in the mid-teens of thousands of US dollars, the yellow Rolesor 336933 somewhat higher, and the full gold watches on Oysterflex and bracelet in the mid-to-high US$40,000s and beyond; the current figures are on the Rolex product pages linked above. Steel Sky-Dwellers remain among the harder Rolex models to be allocated at an authorised dealer, and gem-set and Everose bracelet versions are rarer still.
• Secondary market. Through 2025 and 2026, unworn 336934 examples with full sets have generally been asked at a premium over retail, with the Jubilee and the mint green dial at the top. Full gold watches on the secondary market have often traded closer to, and sometimes below, their retail prices, which makes a lightly worn gold Sky-Dweller one of the better values in a current Rolex complication. The discontinued 326 series trades below the equivalent 336 reference, with a pre-owned steel 326934 the cheapest route into the model.
• Bizak catalogue asks. On October 17, 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the 336934 from US$21,606 to US$27,225, the 336933 from US$20,321 to US$26,400, the 336239 from US$39,050 to US$46,750, the 336238 at US$43,803, the 336235 at US$45,477, the 336938 at US$51,150, the 336935 from US$54,219, and among the previous generation the 326934 from US$23,582 new and US$19,250 pre-owned, the 326933 at US$20,459, the 326238 at US$38,177 and the 326235 at US$39,711, all sourced to order.

Those figures describe what we saw on that day and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact reference, dial, bracelet, year and card; our Rolex price guide explains how to compare quotes and our waitlist guide explains why the steel versions carry a premium.

Is the Rolex Sky-Dweller a good investment?

The steel Sky-Dweller has held a premium over retail since the 326934 arrived in 2017, and the 2023 renewal did not change that; the premium is smaller than on the steel Daytona or GMT-Master II but it has been persistent. The gold watches are a different proposition: bought new at retail they have usually lost money on resale, which means the same watch bought pre-owned at a discount is the better financial position. The Sky-Dweller is also a complicated watch to service and the calibre 9001 and 9002 are not cheap to overhaul, so a full set with a recent Rolex service or a current warranty is worth paying for. Buy it because the annual calendar and the second zone are what you will use; if resale matters, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit.

Service and ownership

Rolex recommends a service roughly every ten years for current movements, and the Sky-Dweller's calendar and time zone module makes a complete service rather than a quick regulation the sensible choice when the time comes. Every new Sky-Dweller sold since mid-2015 carries Rolex's five-year international guarantee, so a 2023 or later 336 reference should still be inside its guarantee until 2028 at the earliest. Between services, keep the crown screwed down, rinse the bracelet in fresh water after sea exposure; the Ring Command bezel should turn with distinct clicks and return to its home position firmly. The Rolex watch care and service page lists the official service centres and what a service includes.

Buying a used Sky-Dweller: what to check

• Reference and card. The reference on the warranty card, the rehaut engraving and the caseback should agree, and a 336 reference should have a card dated 2023 or later. Rolex does not reissue cards.
• Ring Command bezel. Rotate it anticlockwise through the three positions and back; each click should be distinct and the crown should change function at each stop. A bezel that slips or feels mushy points at a module problem that only a Rolex service can fix.
• Local hour jump. In the second bezel position the hour hand should jump in exact one-hour steps both ways with the minute hand stationary. Any drift of the minutes during the jump is a fault.
• Month apertures. Cycle the reference time through midnight on the last day of a month and confirm the coloured aperture moves to the next month cleanly. Check the aperture colour matches the dial as Rolex made it: a red aperture on a mint green or chocolate dial is correct, for example, but a mismatched colour is a sign of a replaced dial.
• Fluted bezel. The flutes are polished gold and show wear at the edges; look for flattened flutes from polishing and for scratches at 3 and 9 where the bezel is gripped.
• Case and bracelet. Sharp lug chamfers, even brushing on the case sides and consistent brushing on the Oyster links; on a Jubilee, check the centre links for stretch and the clasp cover for deep scratches.
• Oysterflex. On the 326235, 326238 and the 336 strap models the elastomer should be supple with no cracks at the end pieces; replacements must come from Rolex and are not cheap.
• Cyclops and crystal. The Cyclops should magnify the date cleanly and sit centred; a mis-set Cyclops often means an aftermarket crystal.
• Price against the band. A full-set steel 336934 on Jubilee offered well under the market is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

Quick answers

How much is a Rolex Sky-Dweller?

Rolex's US list price for the Oystersteel and white gold 336934 has sat in the mid-teens of thousands of US dollars in 2026, with full gold versions in the mid-to-high US$40,000s and above. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 336934 from US$21,606 to US$27,225 and the 336933 from US$20,321 to US$26,400 on October 17, 2026, sourced to order.

What is the difference between the Sky-Dweller 326934 and 336934?

The 336934, introduced in 2023, has the calibre 9002 with the Chronergy escapement, redrawn month apertures and a refined case and bracelet; the 326934 of 2017 to 2023 has the calibre 9001. Both are 42 mm Oystersteel with a white gold fluted bezel and about 72 hours of power reserve.

Does the Sky-Dweller have an annual calendar or a perpetual calendar?

An annual calendar. The Saros mechanism tells 30-day from 31-day months, so the date needs correcting once a year, on 1 March after February. A perpetual calendar would also handle February and leap years.

Is the Rolex Sky-Dweller too big?

It is 42 mm across and close to 14 mm thick with a wide fluted bezel, so it suits wrists from about 17 cm (6.7 inches) upwards. There is no smaller Sky-Dweller; the Datejust 41 or Day-Date 40 is the usual alternative.

Is the Sky-Dweller hard to get at retail?

The steel 336934 and the yellow Rolesor 336933 are among the harder Rolex models to be allocated and have carried a premium on the secondary market since 2017. Full gold versions are easier to obtain and often trade near retail pre-owned.

Request a Rolex Sky-Dweller sourcing quote

Tell us the reference, metal, dial, bracelet or strap, preferred year range, condition and whether the warranty card is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, card and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 336934 blue dial on Oyster, 336934 on Jubilee, 336934 mint green dial, 336933 yellow Rolesor champagne dial on Jubilee, 336238 yellow gold Oysterflex, 336235 Everose Oysterflex, 336239 white gold Oysterflex, 336938 yellow gold, 336935 Everose, previous generation 326934 blue dial, pre-owned 326934 black dial; browse the Sky-Dweller collection, the Rolex collection, or sell or trade your Sky-Dweller.

Related reading: Rolex Datejust 41 guide · Rolex Yacht-Master guide · Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 guide · Rolex waitlist explained.