Rolex Inclined Plane Clock
Rolex has filed a design patent for an ambitious mechanical desk clock that rolls down an inclined plane. Prototypes of this gravity-powered clock, potentially named "Haplos," were displayed at Watches & Wonders 2026. This marks Rolex's first in-house, commercially available mechanical desk clock and features a skeletonized movement.
- Prototypes displayed at Watches & Wonders 2026
- Gravity-powered clock
- Skeletonized movement
- 7-day power reserve cycle
The clock is designed to slowly roll down an inclined plane, with the cycle repeating every seven days after being manually reset.
Prototypes were present at the Rolex stand during Watches & Wonders 2026, with one in the lobby and another in the CEO's office, though photography was prohibited.
The design patent was filed by longtime Rolex designer Vincent De Peyer, who was also involved in the Yacht-Master II redesign.
The inclined plane clock concept dates back to the 17th century, with notable modern examples produced by Andrew Fell for Dent and Imhof.
Rolex's implementation uses a rack and pinion system to prevent sliding, differing from traditional knurled bands.
A crown is included for setting the time, a refinement not common on historical inclined plane clocks.
The balance wheel is mounted vertically, which may not be ideal for reducing frictional losses compared to a horizontal orientation.