The crown has claimed its rightful place on the throne, revealing a generous suite of new designs for the year. Revealed at Watches & Wonders, the Rolex 2021 releases were among the most hotly anticipated of the show. The surplus of new releases include a two-toned Explorer, bedazzled Day-Date, and a new face for the Datejust.
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Check out the new Rolex 2021 men’s and women’s releases here.
Explorer
Potentially the biggest news comes in the form of mofitications to the Explorer range. The Explorer’s 39mm case has been reverted to 36mm; small for today’s standards, however matches the case size released after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to reach Mount Everest’s peak. So far the Explorer has only ever come in stainless steel, with this year marking the introduction of a new colourway. The Explorer will now be available in a two-toned Yellow Rolesor version in addition to the standard Oyster Steel.
Explorer II
Initially created for intense explorers and cave divers, the Explorer’s younger sibling, the Explorer II, also received some minor changes. The bracelet and case have been finetuned, while the white lacquer dial now features matte black hands, as well as the signature orange 24-hour hand. New technology in the form of an improved Chromalight luminous material on the hour markers and hands enables longer-lasting legibility in poorly lit conditions.
Cosmograph Daytona
A watch with racing heritage, the Cosmograph Daytona is made for professional drivers and amateur speed demons. The new Cosmograph Daytona models will come in white gold, yellow gold, and everose gold (Rolex’s take on rose gold) and feature meteorite detailing; a material that actually comes from outer space. The new releases have been equipped with a calibre 4130 movement, further pushing the boundaries of watchmaking technology.
Day-Date 36
One of the funkier updates, the Day-Date 36 gets a fun makeover in the form of new leather bracelet tones and a surplus of diamonds. The new iterations of the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 feature hour markers that match their alligator leather straps, as well as a diamond-encrusted dial, case, and bezel.
Datejust 36
The timeless Datejust 36 gets a summery refresh with two new watch faces, once featuring a palm motif and the other a fluted motif. Available in olive green, silver, and gold, there’s a colour for everyone.
Lady-Datejust
The newest version of the Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust showcases the brilliance of diamonds. Crafted from 18kt yellow gold, diamonds adorn every surface of the Lady-Datejust, which is equipped with a calibre 2236 movement.
Words by Theo Rosen
