Baselworld 2019: The Three Most Important Rolex Novelties
GMT-Master II Ref. 126710BLNR
Last year, Rolex caused a small sensation with the return of the GMT-Master II ‘Pepsi’ (Ref. 126710 BLRO) and its long-awaited steel version. Will the brand score another coup with an unexpected novelty this year? There is no need – why should they not built upon a reliable product and instead take a risk? Rolex did the former – the new GMT-Master II Ref. 126710 BLNR is a further development to last years ‘Pepsi’ watch. Strictly speaking, it is a new edition of the 2013 version with a black and blue ceramic bezel that the Rolex community calls ‘Batman’.
The new GMT-Master II with Jubilee Oystersteel bracelet
Hence, it carries the reference BLNR and not BLRO, the latter stands for the ‘Pepsi’ version with a red and blue bezel. Both watches however house the new-generation calibre 3285 and the contentious Jubilee bracelet, which is put on the ‘Batman’ (BLNR) for the first time. The five-piece Jubilee Oystersteel-bracelet was first developed in 1945 for the launch of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust and causes mixed feelings amongst Rolex fans.
The bezel has a blue & black Cerachrom insert with 24-hour graduation
It almost seems that the blue shade of the new reference has been reworked slightly – the blue appears to be more intense as seen on the 2013 version. The GMT-Master II Ref. 126710 BLNR has a 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert on its bezel. The in-house calibre 3285 is remarkably advanced thanks to a few Rolex patents. The movement has a powerful Chronergy escapement made of nickel-phosphorus, which makes the watch insensitive to magnetic interferences. An improved version of the blue Parachrom hairspring makes it up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. The power reserve has been extended to 70 hours. Price: 8.400 Euro
Sea-Dweller Ref. 126603 Rolesor
The ‚DeepSea Special‘, that dived into the Mariana Trench in 1960 already had a bicolor bracelet. Since 1933, Rolex calls the combination of steel and gold ‘Rolesor’, deriving from Oystersteel and 18 Karat yellow gold. Ever since, pretty much all Rolex diving watches have once in their lifetime been equipped with Rolesor.
The first Sea-Dweller with Rolesor (Oystersteel and 18 Karat yellow gold)
In 2019 finally, after 50 years the Sea-Dweller bridges the gap of the mechanical ‘sea dwellers’ made of Rolesor. It is technically unchanged to its predecessor model from 2017 and equipped with the precise calibre 3235. It is waterproof up to 1.220 meters and also has the 1967 patented helium escape valve, fitted into the side of the watch case. The devil’s in the detail: The hour markers on the dial are framed in yellow gold to fit the bracelet’s hue. For the first time, the lettering ‘Sea-Dweller’ appears in yellow gold instead of red. The new Sea-Dweller Rolesor Ref. 126603 has the Rolex typical Oysterlock folding safety clasp, that prevents accidental opening. Price: 14.600 Euro
To fit the bracelet, hour markers frame and lettering also appear in yellow gold
Yacht-Master 42 Ref. 226659 in white gold
The Yacht-Master, just like its name implies, is rather a tool watch performing above the water surface – other than its diving friends ‘Submariner’ and ‘Sea-Dweller’ that feel home in the depths of the sea. This year, Rolex puts even more attention to the Yacht-Master’s public presence.
Yacht-Master 42 in white gold
For the first time, it appears in a 42 mm case – any former Yacht-Master had a maximum of 40 mm case diameter. Since either the new GMT-Master II or the new Sea-Dweller come in white gold this year, it’s now the new and slightly grown Yacht-Master 42 Ref. 226659 that comes with an 18 Karat white gold case. The bezel is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in matt black ceramic. The dial is black lacquered and offers great legibility due to its long-lasting luminescence Chromalight hour markers. Like all novelties, also the new Yacht-Master is equipped with a new-generation movement: in this case it’s the reliable calibre 3235 that also runs inside the Sea-Dweller. It has a sporty Oysterflex bracelet with flexible metal blades coated with high-performance elastomer (a rubber-like material). It can be locked by a typical Rolex Oysterlock folding safety clasp. Price: 25.250 Euro
The first Yacht-Master with a 42 mm case diameter
All novelties have the “Superlative Chronometer” certification for exceptional performance, an exclusive designation that Rolex redefined in 2015. The dedicated green seal is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.
Rolex is extending its 'Yacht-Master' range with a new 42 mm model in 18 ct white gold, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 (Ref. M226659). 'Yacht-Master' sailing watches are recognizable thanks to their distinctive bidirectional rotatable bezel with a raised 60-minute graduation. They offer legibility in all circumstances, and especially in the dark, thanks to its Chromalight display.…
Some anniversaries are celebrated with confetti and champagne. Others mark their place in history with an event that redefines their own work. Vacheron Constantin chose the latter for its 270th birthday: the presentation of Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grande Complication – La Première. A unique piece, a supernova of watchmaking, a new world record for the…
Rolex's legendary Daytona celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. As a result, our anticipation was particularly high in the run-up to what the horology house would come up with to mark this important birthday. Now the secret is out. Rolex has fundamentally revised the model line, both visually and technically. Other highlights include the new…
Earlier this year, Van Cleef & Arpels introduced several new timepieces that uphold the maison’s long-standing skills in the field of highly technical yet stunningly crafted jewellery watches. We decided to take a closer look at some of the brand’s imaginative new Lady Arpels models, including the Lady Arpels Casse-Noisette, Lady Arpels Jour Enchanté, and the Lady Arpels Nuit Enchanté. Combining tradition and innovation, the timepieces’ extraordinary dials collectively showcase…
It's been another extraordinary year for us all, and the watch world is no exception. That is why the Swisswatches team sat down once more to comprise a list of our top watches of 2021. From horological giant OMEGA to independent watchmaker Armin Strom, we are presenting you with 24 special highlights to emerge from…
The decade of the 1950s was a crucial period for music – and it was also a golden age for watchmaking. Cliff Richards produced his first songs in the notorious Abbey Road Studios as did the Beatles little later. Vacheron Constantin introduced their first automatic watch (Ref. 6073) in 1956 which today lives on in…
Swisswatches recently had the honour of meeting once again with the CEO of Breitling, Georges Kern, following the launch of the brand’s first own boutique located in Munich, Germany. Spanning over 220 square metres and two floors, the boutique in many ways embodies Breitling’s plans for the future – as Kern explains to our very…
Foreword by Joern Frederic Kengelbach Where do the boundaries of feasibility lie? Who pushes these boundaries? How many parts of a mechanical watch, in this age of computerised production, are truly made by hand? Every collector with a love of the rare and the exclusive faces this question at some point in their life. This…
In 2017, OMEGA introduced a series of new watches from their popular Seamaster Aqua Terra collection. To pay a special tribute to them, OMEGA hosted a glamorous gala-dinner at the prestige Palazzo Pisani Moretta in Venice, the place where the Seamaster history began. The Palazzo Pisani Moretta in Venice Not everyone is aware of the…
„I fly to escape the people and to be able to think“, once said the Brazilian inventor and aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. This attitude nearly ended up deadly for him at the beginning of the 20th century, when he stroked the roof of a building with his airship and only managed to rescue himself in the…
On 6 November, Christie's held what the auction house described as one of the most significant private collections it has ever auctioned. Exceptionally rare and historically important: this is the best way to describe the impressive collection of Mohammed Zaman, a collector from the Sultanate of Oman, who amassed the pieces over the last 40…
Ever since watchmaker Louis Cottier developed the first world time wristwatch in 1931, its mechanism was steadily improved in order to make this function as attractive and simple for its wearer as possible. The classic execution displays the 24 world time zones using a peripheral ring on the dial that can be adjusted accordingly from…
A good reputation is easily lost, but takes far longer to build. So when Jaeger-LeCoultre is often – and fondly – referred to today as the ‘watchmaker of watchmakers’, it may sound like a well-worn phrase, yet there are countless reasons and decades of history behind it. The current Polaris collection, including recent additions such…