12 months after yr, Rolex wows us with their newest and biggest choices. Whereas the model continues to innovate and enhance upon its current fashions, the core design of the corporate’s portfolio stays a real testomony to the timelessness of the Rolex model itself. This information explores among the hottest Rolex watches produced between 2015 and 2020 – a brief blip within the model’s spectacular historical past, however one which has seen the introduction of various necessary fashions.
A Quick Rolex Historical past Main as much as 2015
The flip of the Millennium noticed among the most enjoyable upgrades to the Rolex catalog, together with the discharge of the model’s first in-house Daytona motion in 2000 (Caliber 4130), the corporate’s ‘Cerachrom’ ceramic bezel in 2005, and the introduction of the blue Parachrom hairspring the identical yr (simply to call a couple of). Nonetheless, since that point, the corporate has improved upon its spectacular catalog with extra environment friendly actions and a handful of brand-new fashions.
2007 marked the discharge of the Yacht-Grasp II with its revolutionary Ring Command bezel and programmable countdown timer. Rolex launched one other brand-new mannequin the next yr with the Deepsea Sea-Dweller, which instantly took the title of Rolex’s most succesful dive watch, providing customers an unparallelled water-resistance of three,900 meters (12,800 ft).
The subsequent main cease in Rolex historical past is the introduction of the Sky-Dweller in 2012. The revolutionary traveler’s watch takes cues from the Yacht-Grasp II with its Ring Command bezel that’s linked immediately into the interior motion itself. This characteristic facilitates entry to the watch’s numerous superior options, together with its annual calendar complication and twin time zone show.
Steady Innovation
That very same yr in 2012, filmmaker James Cameron made historical past when he grew to become the primary human to dive solo to the underside of the Mariana Trench and aboard his submersible was the prototype Rolex Deepsea Problem. To have a good time the accomplishment, Rolex launched the D-Blue dial version of the Deepsea with a shocking blue to black gradient on the dial and a inexperienced Deepsea brand to match James Cameron’s Submersible.
The primary two-tone ceramic bezel made its debut the next yr in 2013 on the GMT-Grasp II “Batman” ref. 116710BLNR. The insert featured a black and blue design to assist distinguish between day and evening hours, adopted a yr later by a crimson and blue “Pepsi” model. A world-first, the split-color Cerachrom bezel marked the primary time bicolor bezel insert was crafted from a single seamless piece of ceramic.
Rolex made critical enhancements to its actions in 2014 and 2015 with the discharge of the Caliber 2236 and Caliber 3255. That includes a Syloxi hairspring (Rolex title for its silicon-based hairsprings), the Cal. 2236 could be present in most of the model’s women watches, whereas the Cal. 3255 powers the trendy Day-Date sequence and provides improved shock resistance with an extended energy reserve.
Additionally launched in 2015 was the Oysterflex bracelet, which is Rolex’s tackle the basic rubber strap, overengineered to the very best doable diploma. Its revolutionary design gives flexibility and sturdiness with a steel core and a novel design on the strap underside that permits the wrist to breathe whereas retaining the case centered on the wrist. Additionally by 2015, each watch inside the Rolex catalog carried Superlative Chronometer Certification, an indicator of accuracy among the many watchmaking trade that guarantees timekeeping to inside 2 seconds per day.
Rolex Yacht-Grasp with Oysterflex Bracelet – 2015
Yacht-Grasp 116655 Key Options
Case Measurement: 40mm
Supplies: 18okay Everose Gold
Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers
Bezel: Bidirectional, Black Cerachrom Insert w/ 60-Minute Scale
Motion: Caliber 3135
Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Ft
Bracelet: Oysterflex Bracelet
Click here for out ultimate buying guide on the Rolex Yacht-Master.
As we already talked about, Baselworld 2015 marked the primary occasion of Rolex’s patented Oysterflex bracelet. Beforehand, the corporate didn’t provide any in-house choices apart from steel bracelets or leather-based straps. The Oysterflex bracelet debuted inside the Yacht-Grasp sequence that very same yr, that includes an revolutionary design that coats versatile inside steel blades with high-performance black elastomer. The result’s a bracelet that’s resilient and versatile like rubber whereas nonetheless providing the sturdiness of steel.
The reference 116655 is an Everose gold version of the stylish Rolex Yacht-Grasp 40 sequence. It options the model’s proprietary 18okay rose gold alloy, which the corporate refers to as Everose. The ref. 116655 additionally incorporates a distinctive tackle the ceramic bezel, that includes a matte end with raised and polished graduations. Because the Yacht-Grasp bezel is often offered in sand-blasted valuable steel, it appears solely becoming that the ceramic insert would additionally obtain the identical remedy and be solely distinctive to the gathering. An identical matte black Maxi dial topped with Everose gold-trimmed arms and hour markers provides the crowning glory to the long-lasting luxurious sports activities watch.
Rolex Daytona with Cerachrom Bezel – 2016
Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN Key Options:
Case Measurement: 40mm
Supplies: Stainless Metal
Dial: Black or White w/ Luminous Hour Markers
Bezel: Mounted, Black Cerachrom w/ Tachymeter Scale
Motion: Caliber 4130
Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Ft
Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet
Click here for our ultimate buying guide on the Rolex Daytona.
2016 was an thrilling yr for Rolex. The corporate rolled out the reimagined Air-King ref. 116900 with a bigger 40mm case measurement and antimagnetic capabilities, a totally new model of the 41mm Datejust, a slight dial and hand replace to the Explorer ref. 214270, and (most notably) a chrome steel Daytona with a ceramic bezel.
Even 4 years after its launch, the ref. 116500LN stays probably the most sought-after editions of the Rolex Daytona in the marketplace immediately. As the primary stainless-steel Daytona fitted with a scratch and fade resistant ceramic bezel and all-around a flat-out grat watch, it isn’t arduous to see why it’s so universally desired. Rolex produces the Daytona 116500 with both a black or white dial with contrasting registers, and each variations obtain a black Cerachrom bezel. It’s powered by the model’s first in-house mechanical chronograph motion, the famed Caliber 4130 with a vertical clutch and a 70-hour energy reserve.
Rolex Sea-Dweller with 43mm Case – 2017
Sea-Dweller 126600 Key Options
Case Measurement: 43mm
Supplies: Stainless Metal
Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers
Bezel: Unidirectional, Black Cerachrom Insert w/ 60-Minute Scale
Motion: Caliber 3235
Water Resistance: 1,220 Meters / four,000 Ft
Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet
Click here to learn more about the Rolex Sea-Dweller.
Rolex launched eight new watches in 2017, together with strong 18okay gold and Oysterflex editions of the Daytona, the Sky-Dweller in Rolesor (metal and gold) choices, and a 50th-anniversary version of the Sea-Dweller sequence.
Amongst its most notable choices of the brand new Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 is the Caliber 3235 motion with options Rolex’s patented Chronergy escapement, a bigger case measurement (rising from 40mm to 43mm in diameter), and a Cyclops magnification lens on the crystal – one thing that had beforehand served as the best visible distinction between the Sea-Dweller and the Submariner. As a captivating nod in the direction of the inaugural Sea-Dweller ref. 1665, the new-model additionally contains the “Sea-Dweller” title in crimson letters on the dial.
Rolex GMT-Grasp II with Cerachrom Pepsi Bezel – 2018
GMT-Grasp II 126710 BLRO Key Options:
Case Measurement: 40mm
Supplies: Stainless Metal
Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers
Bezel: Bidirectional, Pink and Blue Cerachrom Insert w/ 24-Hour Scale
Motion: Caliber 3285
Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Ft
Bracelet: Jubilee Bracelet
Click here for our ultimate buying guide on the Rolex GMT-Master.
New to the Rolex catalog in 2018 had been a shocking new tackle the GMT-Grasp II Rootbeer in Everose Rolesor, a brand-new technology of 31mm Datejust watches with upgraded instances and actions, and simply essentially the most headline-grabbing, a brand new ceramic bezel Pepsi GMT in stainless-steel.
The reference 126710BLRO is the primary occasion of a crimson and blue Pepsi bezel on a stainless-steel Rolex wristwatch for the reason that long-running ref. 16710 was discontinued in 2007, after which Rolex rolled out a brand new technology that lacked the basic crimson and blue bezel choice. The Pepsi bezel in ceramic made its debut inside the GMT-Grasp II sequence by way of the white gold version ref. 116719 on a three-link Oyster bracelet. The bezel choice then expanded to the metal ref. 126710BLRO in 2018, this time paired with the five-link Jubilee bracelet and shortly turning into probably the most fascinating luxurious watches on the planet.
Whereas the bezel might be essentially the most thrilling characteristic of the Rolex GMT-Grasp II 126710BLRO, it’s additionally necessary to notice that this latest version of the stainless-steel Pepsi GMT additionally boasts the gathering’s next-generation Cal. 3285 Perpetual motion with an extended 70-hour energy reserve and Rolex’s more-efficient Chronergy escapement.
Rolex GMT-Grasp II “Batman” with Jubilee Bracelet – 2019
GMT-Grasp II 126710BLNR Key Options:
Case Measurement: 40mm
Supplies: Stainless Metal
Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers
Bezel: Bidirectional, Black and Blue Cerachrom Insert w/ 24-Hour Scale
Motion: Caliber 3285
Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Ft
Bracelet: Jubilee Bracelet
Click here to learn more about the “Batman” Rolex GMT-Master II.
The primary occasion of the GMT-Grasp II Batman hit the market in 2013. With a putting black and blue ceramic insert, Maxi dial, three-link Oyster bracelet in stainless-steel, and a Caliber 3186 Perpetual motion, it shortly grew to become a favourite for a lot of collectors. The ref. 116710BLNR quickly grew to become the must-have watch to put on and it flew off the cabinets at licensed sellers worldwide.
In 2019, Rolex discontinued the primary version of the Batman GMT, changing it with ref 126710BLNR. The up to date mannequin retained an analogous black and blue bezel however adopted the brand new Caliber 3285 motion, a five-link Jubilee bracelet, and a much less squared-off lugs for a sleeker look on the wrist. As a newer-model GMT-Grasp II, the reference 126710BLNR additionally makes use of 904L-grade Oystersteel, a Triplock screw-down crown, and Chromalight lume on its arms and hour markers.
Rolex Submariner with 41mm case – 2020
Submariner 126610LV Key Options:
Case Measurement: 41mm
Supplies: Stainless Metal
Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers
Bezel: Unidirectional, Black Cerachrom Insert w/ 60-Minute Scale
Motion: Caliber 3235
Water Resistance: 300 Meters / 1,000 Ft
Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet
Click here for our ultimate buying guide on the Rolex Submariner.
Ever for the reason that 2003 launch of the “Kermit” Submariner, Rolex has at all times stored a inexperienced model of its iconic dive watch out there in its catalog. In 2020, Rolex discontinued the all-green “Hulk” and changed it with the reference 126610LV, which featured the identical coloration profile of the Kermit with its black dial and inexperienced bezel, however presents its signature inexperienced bezel in Rolex’s proprietary Cerachrom ceramic.
Whereas the case now measures 41mm, it options barely extra tapered lugs for a match that’s near-identical to its 40mm Tremendous Case predecessor. It additionally homes Rolex’s new-generation Caliber 3235 Perpetual motion, full with Chronergy escapement, blue Parachrom hairspring, and Paraflex shock absorbers. As a newer-model Rolex Submariner, the ref. 126610LV additionally boasts Chromalight lume on the dial and a full 904L Oystersteel development.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual with 41mm Case – 2020
Oyster Perpetual 124300 Key Options:
Case Measurement: 41mm
Supplies: Stainless Metal
Dial: A number of Choices Out there
Bezel: Mounted, Stainless Metal, Clean Type
Motion: Caliber 3230
Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Ft
Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet
Click here to learn more about the 2020 Rolex Oyster Perpetual.
Rolex launched a shocking array of dial coloration choices for the 2020 Oyster Perpetual. The ref. 124300 is the all-new 41mm version, which marks the primary time that Rolex’s basic assortment has ever been made out there on this case measurement. Moreover, the mannequin is on the market with a variety of vibrant dial colours equivalent to turquoise blue, inexperienced, yellow and coral crimson. Chromalight-finished batons adorn the dial, giving the sequence an undeniably trendy design aesthetic that nearly appears to toe the road between dressy and sporty.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 additionally takes benefit of the model’s next-generation time-only motion, the Caliber 3230. Rolex’s revolutionary blue Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers, and Chronergy escapement are built-in into the motion, giving this newest technology of Oyster Perpetual watches all of Rolex’s newest and biggest applied sciences.
With so many thrilling releases over simply the previous 5 years, it is going to be thrilling to see what Rolex comes up with subsequent!
