Rolex at Watches & Wonders 2024: Enduring Aesthetics Obtain Prompt Updates

Rolex invests in contemporary technologies to transform classic and collectors' watch aspirations into tangible treasures for 2024.

The brand that challenges affluent watch collectors at each Watches & Wonders event has returned, unveiling a new collection that has revealed previously unrecognized desires for specific color combinations, which have been gratifyingly fulfilled. This article outlines the notable modifications introduced to Rolex's collection this year, encompassing the traditional, the opulent, and the elegantly sophisticated.

Perpetual 1908

The Perpetual 1908, introduced last year as a tribute to the year Hans Wilsdorf created, filed, and registered “Rolex,” has returned with a new appearance that Rolex characterizes as a “visual masterpiece.” The dress watch is crafted from 950 platinum, featuring an ice-blue dial adorned with a genuine guilloche, rice-grain pattern. Affixed to a matte brown alligator leather strap, this variant is undoubtedly more assertive than its 2023 counterparts; however, as only the second release of this family's debut, it promises much for those who appreciate the understated aesthetic, exemplified by this simple yet undeniably exquisite timepiece.

Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II

Enthusiasts of Rolex's commitment to sentiment will be pleased to learn that the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II will be available in two additional casual Oystersteel variants—one featuring the Oyster bracelet and the other the Jubilee. Featuring the 24-hour graduated two-tone Cerachrom bezel inserts in grey and black ceramic launched last year, these Oystersteel models are likely to appeal to those who found last year's all-gold version excessively lavish. Otherwise, the design remains predominantly monochromatic with the black lacquer dial, except for the triangle-tipped 24-hour hand and the word ‘GMT-Master II,’ both rendered in a vivid Rolex green.

Rolex Deepsea Oyster Perpetual

While the previous two exemplified "stealth wealth," the surprising evolution of the Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea this year does not. The specialized sport watch is now completely adorned in a nearly luminescent 18-carat yellow gold, with a Cerachrom bezel for the first time, and distinctly positioned apart from the Sea-Dwellers. The striking blue lacquer renders this dive watch visually remarkable, but its true ingenuity resides in the ceramic compression ring of the Ringlock system; the Cerachrom enhances waterproofness, enabling the Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea to withstand depths of 3900m due to its compression resistance and anti-deformation characteristics. Combine this with the additional readability enhancements, such as the Chromalight display and the contrasting forms of hour markers packed with luminescent Chromalite, and you obtain a magnificent tool watch suitable for various aquatic environments and depths.

Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona

The jewelry-focused variant of the diverse Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona aligns with this more opulent trend. This model has been retrofitted not only for track racing but also for a luxurious lifestyle — introducing the “Pearl Pandas”: two new “pearlized” iterations of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, each fashioned in 18-carat white gold and adorned with a bezel featuring 36 brilliant-cut diamonds that supplant the former tachymetric scale. The first model, characterized by a white mother-of-pearl dial and black mother-of-pearl chronograph counters, is equipped with an Oysterflex bracelet, whereas the second model inverts the color scheme of the mother-of-pearl elements and is adorned with an Oyster bracelet. This marks Rolex's inaugural execution of this elegant yin-yang interplay of mother-of-pearl hues, however it is hoped it will not be their final endeavor.