Rolex has developed so many technologies over the years.  Although Rolex adopted the Oysterquartz--adding the Quartz powered technology to some select models of the Rolex family, we have yet to see an Eco-Drive timepiece produced by Rolex. 

So, first, what is an Eco-Drive watch?  A good example is that produced by Citizen.  It has a solar panel under the dial and it is powered by converting solar energy into electrical energy.  Most Rolexes are powered by the movement of one's wrist when wearing the watch.  So, daily use will power the timepiece just fine.  The newest calibers of Rolex even provide more power reserve than older models.  However, the power reserves are still far behind timepieces such as the Panerai which has a 10 day power reserve model. 

Eco-Drive models have been reported to have a reserve for several months to several years.  Citizen invented the Eco-Drive technology as early as 1976, and so its timepieces are quartz watches which can be powered by artificial, natural and even dim-lights without replacing the battery.  According to one of the Citizen manuals, a fully charged cell will function for 9 months with NO exposure to light.  Nine months is an incredible timeframe since most Rolexes are currently providing power for 48 hours to 72 hours - or generally no more than 3 days of power reserve. Even the exceptional power reserve of Panerai 10 day models look deficient against 270 days. 

The charging time for an Eco-Drive system is extremely efficient.  10 minutes of outdoor sunlight is all that is needed to charge up a timepiece.  Indoor lighting can charge the timepiece in 4 hours.  Indoor lighting takes much longer, but most people will have sufficient charging through normal use.

However, Citizen does recommend that you charge the watch under direct sunlight once a month for 5 to 6 hours. Although it doesn't say what would happen if the charge was completely depleted, our assumption is that the watch would stop working and may need a battery replacement to work again.  This might be why Rolex has opted to avoid the Eco-Drive thus far.  Rolex has hung its hat on building timepieces that can be long term investments which can work under most rigorous conditions. 

The advice gets grimmer the further down you read the specs.  Citizen warns to avoid charging the watch at high temperatures of 60C /140F or more, and to avoid high temperature light sources.  Even incandescent lights can cause heat damage.  The Citizen does seem to have a way to deal with overcharging.  However, heat sensitivities can be a big drawback for Rolex.  Since many of Rolex's watches are built for outdoor activities such as diving, climbing, yachting and more, sun heat and outdoor exposure is a given.  This is a critical flaw in the eco-drive technology.  Although the long battery life is a major plus, the potential for damage from sun or other light exposure is enough to scare the Rolex designers. 

It might work in a Day Date or Cellini which are typically used in an executive environment, but even then, these timepieces are ready for sport.  Certainly Golfers like Jack Nicklaus don't want to be worried about overexposure when donning their Presidential Day Date on the golf course.  Although he probably wouldn't have to worry about the 5 hour a month direct sunlight requirement since he is on the course regularly, most other owners might find that requirement an annoyance.

Although the technology is exceptional, it isn't quite up to the Rolex standard.  It is unlikely to see it appear in the Rolex lineup any time soon.