BaselWorld 2011 was not Rolex's most exciting year in terms of new releases, but it does look to be the most controversial. Part of the excitement was lost dues to the early leak of a video showing the new Rolex Explorer II, right before the start of Basel 2010. What was unexpected, though in retrospect hinted by the leaked images was the new 42 mm case diameter. The maxi dial, which in my opinion overwhelms other Rolex watches, looked just fine on the new Explorer II.
The question raised by the new 42 mm case diameter of the Rolex Explorer II is whether or not this is the start of the migration of Rolex's 40 mm sports watches to larger 42 mm cases. In many ways, this makes sense. Rolex's dress-sports watches, the Day-Date and the Datejust are available in 41 mm sizes. This makes the updated dress-sports watches larger than the "pure" sports watches. We could see the original Yacht-Master, Daytona, GMT Master and Submariner migrate to this new larger case for the remainder of this decade.
The release of a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a ceramic bezel will leave the community asking if this is already the new updated Daytona, or if the black and rose gold watch is a one-off. Do we see this ceramic bezel going down the line to yellow gold and bi-metal models next year, to be followed by it incorporation in the stainless steel Daytona by 2013? Or do we see a completely revamped Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 2012?
There is the smaller issue of will the Yacht-Master II be release in an all stainless steel model?
We have to wait till BaselWorld 2012 will answer these questions.
About Rolex. Rolex SA is a Swiss manufacturer of wristwatches and accessories founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. Rolex is the largest single luxury watch brand by far, producing over 2000 watches per day. Rolex is the best known and most sought after watch brand in the world.
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