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That’s it friends here we are, after a lot of waiting like every year, Watches & Wondersthe largest watch fair in the world begins this Monday March 27, 2022. While brands are unveiling their new collections and journalists are constantly running from right to left to discover all this, I suggest you take stock of what’s new. Rolex 2023.
Unfortunately I did not have the chance to go to the salon Watches & Wonders this year due to lack of time, but don’t panic, I’m on the lookout for the slightest novelty, especially when it comes to the brand with the crown, which continues to be talked about.
Rolex is a brand that I appreciate for its history and for its creativity but I admit that their strategy, the speculation around certain models and the long waiting lists stop me a little. Be that as it may, the Swiss watchmaker has just unveiled a lot of beautiful things and we are attacking right away.
The Rolex Daytona 2023 edition
Impossible not to start this presentation with the iconic Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, one of my favorite Rolex watches for its style and especially for its measured and elegant proportions. The design has remained the same for 10 years but the models still evolve every year. A beautiful tachometer bezelthree counters and two emblematic pushers to forge a watch of character, dedicated to racing.
In celebration of 60 years of its iconic model, Rolex has decided to renew its entire range of chronographs, thus perpetuating the legend of this exceptional timepiece.
The dial features a new display with smaller indexes and redesigned sub-dials. With these new color combinations, the contrast is enhanced between the background and the sub-counters. These new watches Cosmograph Daytona offer themselves a small breath of freshness.
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is lively by caliber 4131. This new movement is a manufacture caliber which is designed and produced by Rolex and especially at Rolex. It is the direct evolution of the 4130 movement. We find optimized ball bearings which make it possible to fluidify the movements of the mass, a Chrononergy escapement which reduces energy losses and finally the system Paraflex to preserve the heart of the movement. There is also a magnificent open-worked oscillating weight that can be observed through a sapphire crystal back.
The New Rolex Yacht-Master 42
A nice novelty that I find very nice is this “little” Yacht‑Master in RLX titanium. This new regatta chronograph has been designed for lightness. This is only the 2nd watch that Rolex offers in Titanium RLXafter the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge.
This watch from 42mm diameter may seem imposing but ultimately remains relatively elegant and sporty. Its alloy of grade 5 titanium selected by Rolex makes it a super light and ultra-resistant watch. The bracelet is also in Titanium RLX with beautiful brushed surfaces. The watch offers a high level of finish with alternating polished, shiny and technical satin surfaces.
I find the bezel sublime, a bi-directional rotating bezel featuring a matte black ceramic Cerachrom disc with raised and polished numerals.
The New Rolex Sky-Dweller 2023
With its unique features and unique display, the Rolex Sky-Dweller is made for those who travel the world far, wide and across. It has two time zones and an annual calendar, just that. For this new version of 2023, Rolex has made some aesthetic changes by unveiling new variations of this Rolex Sky-Dweller. And finally, more technical developments with the arrival of a new Caliber.
Three new versions with a dial, black, green and blue. I must admit that the blue version is really very nice. It mixes a beautiful sunburst dial with a rose gold case and bracelet. We find the famous Saros annual calendar which offers a super simple reading of the months.
Regarding the caliber, it is the 9002 movement that drives this new Sky-Dweller. The 9002 movement is the evolution of the caliber ? …all in heart…9001. The Sky Dweller cased this 9001 movement since its launch in 2012, it is among the most complex movements created by the watchmakers of Rolex.
This new Caliber 9002 displays hours, minutes, seconds, date and monthand a second time zone 24-hour schedule, a GMT therefore. Technically speaking, the movement has all the new improvements possible and imaginable which make it a relatively reliable and precise caliber.
The New Rolex GMT Master II of 2023
Rolex is once again turning to a yellow gold version. But the great novelty of this Rolex GMT Master II is of course the Jubilee bracelet. For this news GMT-Master we find a two-tone black and gray Cerachrom bezel as well as a GMT hand and a typography GMT-Master II in matching color, in gold. The watch is available in Gold and Rolesor, an 18ct yellow gold produced in the foundry of the Rolex factory.
The New Rolex Explorer 40
Rolex’s Explorer family expands with the addition of a new 40mm diameter model that offers improved legibility while maintaining the characteristics that have made the Explorer one of the tool watches the most emblematic of the brand. Made from a Oystersteel corrosion resistant, this new version of Explorer 40 is sporty, robust and elegant at the same time. The satin finishes on the caseband, bracelet and clasp, as well as the reflections of light on the polished caseband flanks, add a touch of sophistication to this legendary watch while preserving its sober and harmonious aesthetic.
The box Oyster of the Rolex Explorer is now available in 40mm diameter for the first time. This new model is equipped with a solid Oystersteel case middle, worked with care. The Twinlock winding crown offers double water resistance to guarantee optimal security. The glass, made of scratch-resistant sapphire, has an anti-reflective treatment for increased readability.
The New Rolex Oyster Perpetual 2023
One of the simplest watches at Rolex, one of the most affordable and yet…the resale prices on the second-hand market very often reach peaks. While the previous versions with a yellow, green or even Tiffany blue dial are hard to find, Rolex is unveiling the new Oyster Perpetuals with pop, colorful versions.
A pop aesthetic, fun dials, this is what characterizes the new Rolex Oyster perpetual from 2023. With their new dials that feature multicolored bubbles, the Oyster Perpetual 31mm, 36mm and 41mm offer a casual and cheerful style that brings together the five dial colors introduced in the collection in 2020.
The new versions of the Oyster Perpetual are made of Oystersteel. This steel exclusively produced for Rolex belongs to the family of steels 904L. It’s a solid and mostly stainless steel, basically it’s like the 316L but better.
Regarding the caliber, the Oyster Perpetual 31mm is equipped with the 2232 movement while the Oyster Perpetual 36mm and 41mm are powered by the caliber 3230. These movements are entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. The caliber 2232 guarantees a power reserve of approximately 55 hours compared to 70 hours for the 3230. Logical since there is still more space.
The New Rolex Day-Date 36
A great novelty this year, the arrival of a sublime dial for the Rolex Day-Date in a 36mm diameter version. The news Day‑Date 36 feature stone dials whose colors recall the atmosphere of the Mediterranean coasts. We therefore find green aventurine, carnelian and turquoise. The watches are available in Everose gold, yellow gold and also in 18k white gold.
For each version, there are sleek and elegant dials with applied diamond hour markers and a diamond-set bezel. For the bracelet, this new Rolex Day-Date 36mm is mounted on a president bracelet, iconic of the Rolex house.
The New Rolex 1908 Collection
Finally, here is my favorite release of the year at Rolex, a sort of worthy heir to what was then the Celinni collection: the Rolex 1908.
An elegant, classic and contemporary watch at the same time, the Perpetual 1908 imprints all the historical codes of the brand to the crown. Inspired by the 1931 Rolex Oyster Perpetual, this completely new collection is THE collection with a classic look, full of finesse and elegance. “1908” refers to the year of the official registration of the mark in Switzerland.
A sleek design, with its numerals at 3 o’clock, 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock and a small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. An openworked hour hand traverses the dial in search of time. The case is beautiful and relatively thin. The watch sports a beautiful double bezel with a fluted part and a fully polished part.
The back of this Rolex 1908 is in sapphire crystal and reveals the movement with an openwork weight. This Caliber is the 7140, a brand new automatic caliber from Rolex. Five patent applications have been filed for this relatively thin movement.
This caliber is equipped with the Syloxi hairspring, the Chronergy escapement and Paraflex shock absorbers, it offers the watch a power reserve of around 66 hours.
So much for the little tour of the Rolex novelties, I put just at the bottom of this article a small table with the prices of each model because I know that you often ask me where the prices are. Although some swear by Rolex, know that a large number of brands have unveiled their 2023 collection and I tell you all about it on Instagram, right here.
See you soon friends,
| Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Platinum | PRICE UPON REQUEST |
| Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Gold, Rose Gold, Steel … | between €14,950 and €44,050 |
| Rolex Yacht-Master 42 | €13,900 |
| Rolex Sky-Dweller | between €14,900 and €40,700 |
| Rolex GMT Master II | between €15,700 and €31,100 |
| Rolex Explorer 40 | €7,550 |
| Rolex Oyster Perpetual 2023 | between €5,550 and €6,350 |
| Rolex Day-Date 36 | PRICE UPON REQUEST |
| Rolex 1908 | between €21,850 and €23,050 |
