Round-UpThe New Rolex Novelties For 2024: Celebrating The Harmony Of Contrasts
Presenting harmony on various levels, the new 2024 Rolex watches—from the dressiest to the sportiest—showcase complementing contrast between functionality and aesthetic appeal, performance and innovation offset against fine watchmaking traditions and crafts
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Unveiled at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, last month, the new Rolex novelties bring to the fore new combinations of materials, textures and colours. From a precious new edition of a deep-sea diver’s watch and a new jewelled interpretation of an iconic chronograph, to new versions of their dress watch and the ‘ultimate watch of prestige’, the new releases offered quite a plethora of options. The visually spectacular set of new watches also emphasises Rolex’s high standards of quality, along with their mechanical superiority in watchmaking. Here’s a closer look at each new edition.
The New Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II
Probably most famous for its edition with the blue-and-red GMT bezel, the GMT-Master II is indeed a collection that most Rolex aficionados look out for. This 2024 addition is the first one in Oystersteel, with a bezel insert in Cerachrom, in black and grey—a combination that was first used in 2023.
While the contrast is not as stark as it is in other combinations, it’s definitely distinctive in this new Rolex GMT-Master II, as it continues to be an approximate indication of day and night in the time zone of reference. It’s meant to work in tandem with the green GMT hand with a white arrowhead pointer, which does stand out in contrast against the black backdrop of the dial. This new Rolex comes with a bracelet options in either the three-link Oyster or the five-link Jubilee.
The New Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date
Often referred to as the ‘ultimate watch of prestige’, the Day-Date is only ever crafted with precious metals, paired appropriately with the brand’s signature President bracelet. It’s the perfect representation of the harmony between various motifs and elements that come together, complementing each other, forming the icon that this watch is.
The new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 watches come in either 18-carat Everose gold with a new slate ombré dial, or 18-carat white gold, housing a pearlised white mother-of-pearl dial. While the former presents a darkening towards the periphery, the latter embraces the light, reflected playfully off the voluminous texture of the dial.
At 36mm, smaller versions have been presented in yellow gold and in Everose. Set within the yellow gold is a while lacquered dial, with Roman numerals that are deconstructed and faceted; and in the Everose gold case, you’ll see a brilliant blue-green dial. This fresh, vibrant hue is complemented by 60 trapeze-cut diamonds set on the bezel.
The New Rolex Perpetual 1908
Named after the year in which the brand’s founder, Hans Wilsdorf coined the word ‘Rolex’, the 1908 line of elegant dress watches is the only one that doesn’t fall within the ‘Oyster Perpetual’ umbrella of collections for Rolex. And in 2024, the new Rolex Perpetual 1908 has been presented in 950 platinum, housing a gorgeous dial in ice blue, with guilloche work used to create a rice-grain pattern. Lending textural splendour to the face of the watch, this pattern looks resplendent as with light reflecting off it when viewed from different angles. Enhancing the visual even further is how this pattern seemingly emerges from the small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock.
The New Rolex Deepsea
Always precious, but never before in this manner, the new Rolex Deepsea is the first one from this line in 18-carat yellow gold. Paired with this gold is a dial in blue—also seen on the compression ring and the Cerachrom bezel insert, which features a circular satin finish. This unidirectional-rotating dive-timer bezel forms a part of the Ringlock system of case, which aids the watch with withstanding the immense pressure of the deep seas
The New Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona
Among the most iconic chronographs ever created, the Cosmograph Daytona has been reinterpreted in several ways over the years, yet the Rolex team continue to give this collection new life with every new edition. Among the more resplendent editions is this year’s new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, with a black or white mother-of-pearl dial, with diamonds for most hour markers, and also paved on the bezel. The contrast in mother-of-pearl, the dimensionality brought about by the gemstones lend these new Rolex Daytonas depth and brilliance in visual display—all the while reflecting the fine crafts in gem-setting and dial making.
The New Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller
Becoming a little more distinguished this year, the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller comes in 18-carat gold—either yellow or Everose—and with the five-link Jubilee bracelet for the first time. It definitely lends the watch an air of added sophistication, with the central links smaller and polished, and the outer links wider and satin-finished. The semi-circular profile of the links allow for reflections off the precious metal that enhance the visual impact even further. The Sky-Dweller will continue to enthral travellers and Rolex aficionados alike.
