What is a cyclops on a watch?
A small magnifying lens on the crystal over the date window, which makes the date about two and a half times larger.
Design
Rolex introduced the Cyclops lens in the early 1950s, reportedly so Hans Wilsdorf's wife could read the date more easily, and it became a signature of the Datejust, Submariner Date and GMT-Master. Rolex's magnifies about 2.5 times.
It divides opinion: some love the instant legibility, others find it breaks the line of the crystal. Many other brands use a cyclops too, and some put it on the underside of the crystal to keep the top smooth.
Questions
- Why do Rolex watches have a cyclops?
- To magnify the date, making it about two and a half times larger and easier to read. It's been a Rolex hallmark since the 1950s.