At Watches and Wonders 2023, Rolex unveiled a whole host of new timepieces, in addition to the revamped Daytona and the new GMT-Master models mentioned above. What's more, the manufacturer also decided to retire some collections.
The Rolex Explorer Welcomes a New Addition
Rolex followed up the great success of the 36-mm version of the Explorer in 2021, with the introduction of the Explorer 40. As the name reveals, the stainless steel timepiece has a diameter of 40 mm – a first for the Explorer. Inside the case, you'll find the in-house caliber 3230, which can tick away for 70 hours uninterrupted.
You can find this new Rolex watch under the reference number 224270. The MSRP is 7,700 USD.
The Titanium Rolex Yacht-Master
Rolex expanded the Yacht-Master collection with the Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226627, the second model from the brand to be crafted from RLX titanium, alongside the 2022 Deepsea Challenge. RLX titanium is a special grade 5 titanium alloy that Rolex claims is 30% lighter than conventional titanium, while still offering the same level of durability and corrosion resistance.
The new Yacht-Master's unidirectional bezel features a black ceramic inlay hosting a 60-minute scale. The watch is equipped with the caliber 3235, which is also found in the current Submariner generation.
In April 2023, the titanium Yacht-Master 42 was a rare find on the Chrono24 marketplace, though Rolex lists it for 14,050 USD.
New Caliber for the Sky-Dweller
The Sky-Dweller is still Rolex's most complicated timepiece, boasting an annual calendar and second time zone. What makes this watch truly special is its Ring Command bezel, which is used to control the timepiece's functions.
In 2023, the Sky-Dweller caliber 9001 passed the baton to the caliber 9002. This brand-new movement offers a modern Chronergy escapement, Paraflex shock protection, and an optimized ball-bearing rotor.
The new Sky-Dweller is available in white, yellow, or rose gold, as well as two-tone designs combining steel and gold. There are many dial colors on offer, including black, white, blue, gray, brown, and green. As for the band, you can choose between the Oyster, Jubilee, or Oysterflex bracelet.
The official list prices for the 2023 Sky-Dweller range from 15,650 to 50,950 USD, depending on the exact configuration.
Goodbye Cellini and Milgauss, hello 1908!
Rolex took Watches and Wonders 2023 as an opportunity to give its catalog a spring clean. The manufacturer decided to retire the Milgauss collection, a model which had been in production since the 1950s. Unfortunately, increased magnetic resistance was not enough to gain favor with the masses, and the model was usually only considered by dedicated watch connoisseurs. After the end of the road was announced in March 2023, prices for the Milgauss on the secondary market begun to spike. For example, the ref. 116400GV with green-tinted sapphire crystal and black dial cost about 13,500 USD on Chrono24 in April 2023, whereas two years earlier, you could have bought this watch for just under 10,000 USD. Vintage variants such as the black dial ref. 1019 also saw strong increase in the same two-year period, rising from 30,000 USD in April 2021 to 40,000 USD in April 2023.
The other collection that failed to make the cut is the Cellini. This dress watch is being replaced with the 1908 series. The case of the new 39-mm watch is slim and elegant, and available in your choice of yellow or white gold. The domed sapphire crystal is held in place by a bezel split into two parts, the outer edge of which is fluted and the inner cambered. The sapphire display back treats the wearer to the caliber 7140 at work; Rolex developed this movement especially for the 1908 and embellished it with fine ornamental detailing. Looking again at the front, the dial design exudes class: applied Arabic numerals at 3, 9, and 12 o'clock, with the small seconds nestled in at 6. The remaining hours are marked with trim baton indices, while the outer edge of the dial hosts a railroad minute track. Lastly, a narrow sword hand points to the minutes and a hand decorated with a circle toward its tip points to the hour.
Rolex lists the yellow gold 1908 for 22,000 USD and the white gold version for 23,300 USD.
Overview of the 2023 Rolex Releases
- Rolex Daytona: New caliber, minor design updates
- Rolex GMT-Master II: Now available in a two-tone design or in yellow gold with a black and gray bezel
- Rolex 1908: Classic dress watch with a particularly thin profile
- Rolex Yacht-Master 42: RLX titanium case
- Rolex Sky-Dweller: New caliber as well as new material and band combinations
- Rolex Day-Date: New dials
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual: New dials