Watches and Wonders 2023: Rolex Highlights

 Watches and Wonders 2023: Rolex Highlights

Rolex’s legendary Daytona celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Our expectations were therefore particularly high ahead of what the high luxury store brand would launch to mark this momentous birthday. Now the secret is out. Rolex has made fundamental changes to the model series, both visually and technically. Other highlights include a new yellow gold GMT-Master II with Jubilee bracelet, a new titanium Yacht-Master 42 (to the delight of our columnist), and an ultra-stylish new dress watch (to the delight of this writer).

Cosmograph Daytona
The history of Daytona needs no detailed explanation. The Daytona was launched in 1963 on the occasion of the Daytona International Speedway, the auto race of the same name, and is famous for its bezel with a tachymeter scale. Sixty years later, it has become a style-defining piece for the watch brand, and the five new models just launched at Watches & Wonders 2023 also adopt unmistakable Daytona design codes. But there are some subtle updates to the existing model – and two real surprises.

The dial design has been slightly modified. Emphasize the contrast between the background and the subdials or their outer rings by highlighting the color. The lugs and case sides are highly polished, allowing light reflections to accentuate the case shape even more. The Cerachrom bezel now has a thin band made of the same material as the central part of the case. If the latter is made of steel, the thin strip is also made of steel. If it is gold, the thin belt is made of gold. The new 950 platinum Cosmograph Daytona ice blue dial is equipped with a chestnut brown ceramic Cerachrom integrated bezel. Available in a stainless steel version with a white lacquered dial and a gold version with a gold dial, the Cerachrom bezel is made of black ceramic. Case size remains at 40mm. best luxury watches

new movement
The first surprise: After more than 20 years, Rolex launched a new movement for Daytona. The 4131 movement has been improved in terms of accuracy, power reserve, usability and reliability. The number of components has been reduced compared to the previous caliber 4130. The bridges of the new caliber 4131 are decorated with Rolex Côtes de Genève for the first time. It differs from the usual Côtes de Genève decoration in that it has a fine polished groove between the individual stripes. Of course, the new movement still uses the Chronergy escapement and Rolex’s blue Parachrom hairspring. However, more material has been removed from the cropped rotor, and the mechanism is equipped with optimized ball bearings. The new "perpetual motion" winding system allows the new Daytona watch to achieve a 72-hour power reserve.

Another surprise is that Rolex has installed an open caseback for the first time in 93 years. This is a first for Daytona. The new platinum Daytona now showcases the newly decorated caliber 4131 through a transparent sapphire crystal case back. Price upon request. high quality replica watches

GMT-Master II
Last year, Rolex caused a stir with the launch of the GMT-Master II with its left-hand crown. This year, Geneva watchmakers will achieve even better results. The GMT-Master II is now available in yellow gold and 18-karat gold, with gray and black ceramic Cerachrom numerals. The GMT-Master II now also comes with a Jubilee strap.

The new model 126718 GRNR is made of 18 karat gold. The two-tone Cerachrom dial with 24-hour scale is made of black ceramic. The recessed indexes and numerals are coated with a thin layer of gold using the PVD process.

The second novelty, reference 126713 GRNR consists of Rolex “Rolesor Yellow” which is a combination of yellow gold and stainless steel Oystersteel. Rolex patented the name Rolesor back in 1933. On the new Rolesor Yellow GMT-Master II, the bezel, winding crown and central elements of the bracelet are all made of gold. On the other hand, the central part of the bracelet, the case back and the outer elements are made of stainless steel Oystersteel.

Jubilee Bracelet by GMT-Master II
The GMT-Master II is worn on a Jubilee strap for the first time. The five-piece link bracelet was introduced in 1945 for the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. In the new version, the bracelet is equipped with an Oyster safety folding clasp to prevent accidental opening. The Easyslink extension device developed by Rolex allows the bracelet to be extended by approximately 5 mm. replica watches for sale

The new GMT-Master II model is powered by the familiar and reliable Caliber 3285 automatic movement with a 70-hour power reserve, which was first introduced in the series in 2018.

Yacht-Master 42
When Rolex launched a titanium watch in the Deepsea Challenge late last year, speculation raged non-stop as to whether and when Rolex would incorporate the material into its core collections. After all, the Deepsea Challenge, which has a diameter of 50 mm and a waterproof depth of nearly 11,000 meters, is more like a concept watch than a real wearable watch.

But now Rolex has taken the plunge with the Yacht-Master 42 in titanium. It's a bold move for a company that's been fairly conservative in its use of classic materials. We wouldn't be here at Rolex if titanium wasn't able to meet Rolex's high standards. Titanium RLX is a grade 5 titanium alloy specially selected by Rolex to be machined so that its surface finish, whether polished or satin-brushed, can be carried out to Rolex’s exacting standards.

Only the chamfered top edges of the case middle lugs and crown bridge are mirror polished. The sides of the middle case and the edges of the bracelet elements are satin-finished. The Cerachrom dial is made of matte black ceramic. Inside is the 3235 movement, which was launched in 2015 and first used in the Yacht-Master II in 2019. Power reserve is 70 hours. replica Richard Mille Felipe Massa Watches

eternity 1908
A few days ago, a new trademark application recently released by Rolex called "Perpetual 1908" has been circulating on the Internet (according to Philippe Starr of Rolex Passion Report). Now we know what's going on. Rolex has launched a new product line called the “Perpetual Collection”, the first model of which is the charming Perpetual 1908, the name again referring to the date when the Rolex trademark was first registered in Switzerland.

All those who have missed out on Cellini watches in recent years (me included) will be very pleased that Rolex has decided to introduce a new dress watch into their portfolio. The 1908 looks strikingly similar to the Cellini series, especially the case with its domed and finely fluted bezel. This is a big deal for a company like Rolex, as they aren't known for launching new product lines on a regular basis. With the beginning of this new era, Cellini also disappeared from Rolex’s catalog.

Four versions start a new series
There are four new versions of the 1908: available in 39mm gold or white gold cases, each with a black or white dial. The gentle chamfering of the top edge of the lug emphasizes the curve of the lug. The bezel consists of a finely grooved lower part and a domed upper part. The dial remains classic and simple, with Arabic numerals at 3, 9 and 12 o'clock and faceted hour markers. There is a small seconds dial at 6 o'clock, with the words "Superlative Chronometer" in an arc above it. The hour hand has a lollipop-shaped tip, and the minute hand is shaped like a two-edged sword.

Inside is the state-of-the-art caliber 7140, equipped with a patented Chronergy escapement and a Rolex-made Syloxi silicon hairspring, whose patented geometry ensures proper operation in all positions. Like the new caliber 4131, the 1908 caliber 7140 features an 18-karat gold skeletonized rotor and optimized ball bearings. The power reserve is 66 hours. replica Audemars Piguet
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