A Cyclops is a small magnifying lens set into the crystal of certain watches, with Rolex the best-known example. It sits on the outside of the crystal, directly over the date window. This makes the date appear larger, so it is easier to read at a glance.
How does a cyclops work?
The lens works like a small magnifying glass. It sits on top of the crystal, right above the date window, so the number beneath looks bigger than it really is. Rolex once quoted a 2.5x magnification on its website, but it no longer gives a figure. The first lenses were made of Plexiglas and moulded together with the crystal as a single part. Since 2005, Rolex has given its cyclops lenses an anti-reflective coating. This cuts down on glare, which can otherwise make the date harder to see.
Where it comes from
The name comes from the one-eyed giant of Greek myth. Rolex patented the lens in the early 1950s and brought it out in 1953 as an improvement to its date aperture. Company lore says it was made for the wife of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf, because she had trouble seeing the date. Two Rolex models had the cyclops from the start: the GMT-Master, launched in 1955, and the Day-Date, launched in 1956.
Which watches have a cyclops?
Rolex is the name most closely tied to the cyclops. Nearly every current Rolex with a date display has one. The Deepsea Sea-Dweller is the only current Rolex with a date that does without it. The lens is not unique to Rolex, though. Other brands, including Seiko, TAG Heuer and Cartier, have used similar lenses over their date windows.
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