From new design options to engineering breakthroughs, here are the latest offerings of Rolex and Tudor.
Last week, Rolex and Tudor held Watches & Wonders 2022 at Makati’s Diamond Residences as their first event of the year.
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Hosted by Rolex Philippines’ general manager Brahim Drissi, the latest iterations of the Swiss watchmakers’ Oyster Perpetual collection were presented.
Tudor’s Black Bay line is among the debut offerings, which takes inspiration from its 1969 catalog.
At the same time, more precious metal options are available for Rolex classics. The Yacht-Master 42 is now available in yellow gold, while the Day-Date 40 now has a fluted bezel in platinum.
The latter is something Drissi says the company celebrates, as it took years of engineering trials to make “perfect” bezels using platinum.
Here are seven new collections and models from Tudor and Rolex and their freshly launched debut features.
TUDOR BLACK BAY line
Tudor’s Black Bay line features details inspired by their classic offerings. The case, “unprotected” crown, and dial follow their diver’s watches from the 1950s, while its angular hands, known to collectors as “Snowflake,” is from models in the 1969 catalog.
All Black Bay models (31, 36, 39, and 41 S&G models) are available on a five-link bracelet in 316L steel and yellow gold. In addition, the purchase of Tudor products comes with a five-year guarantee—something Drissi regards as rare in the luxury watch market.
ROLEX AIR-KING
Rolex wants Air-King wearers to remember that “the sky’s the limit,” as the model is their tribute to aviation pioneers. The new generation Oyster Perpetual Air-King features a redesigned case with a crown guard and straight sides.
Other updated details include a broader center link, the addition of zeros on the five minutes scale (which Drissi says provides a more balanced appearance), and a Rolex-exclusive Chromalight display for the hands and triangular hour marker to make the time legible in dark conditions.
ROLEX GMT-MASTER II
The GMT-Master II can provide you the time in several localities for jet setters and traveling professionals. Specifically, Rolex says the watch can display either the local time and the reference time or the local time and an alternative time zone. The date is synchronized with the local time.
It features a bidirectional rotatable bezel and a 24-hour graduated insert, available in various dual-color combinations like black with red, blue with red, and blue with black.
ROLEX YACHT-MASTER 40
The Yacht-Master 40’s bezel is inspired by the colors of the horizon, where the sky meets the ocean. It’s set with sapphires in purple, pink, dark blue, light blue, and diamonds, a color sequence that the brand dubs “the glow of dawn.”
This gem-set version has a caliber 3235 movement to display the hours, minutes, seconds, and date.
ROLEX YACHT-MASTER 42
This year, the Yacht-Master 42 is now available in 18-carat yellow gold after only being offered in 18-carat white gold. Similar to the nautical watch’s original model, it includes a bidirectional rotatable bezel and Chromalight display.
While the skies inspire the Air-King, Yacht-Master models have taken from the world of sailing since its 1992 launch. Made with ceramics for monobloc bezels and bezel inserts, Rolex claims them to be “virtually scratch-proof.” In addition, its waterproofness is reliable to a depth of 100 meters or 330 feet.
ROLEX DAY-DATE 40
Rolex is releasing the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 in platinum—recognizable with the “ice blue” dial—with a fluted bezel for the first time. According to Drissi, it took many years of trials to manipulate platinum to an exact design, given the material’s qualities.
The Day-Date 40 has only ever been available in 18-carat gold, a precious metal the general managers say is easier to work with. Its movement is a caliber 3255, enabling it to display the hours, minutes, seconds, day, and date.
ROLEX DATEJUST 31
The watchmaker presents three new versions of the Datejust 31, with floral motif dials of either sunray, matte, or grained finishes. Each flower detail is set with a diamond in its center.
Its material, Rolesor, is a combination of gold and Oystersteel on a Rolex piece—a signature feature of the brand since 1933 when the name was registered. Each new version is fitted with a caliber 2236 movement, a design developed and manufactured by the brand in 2014 and used in DateJusts four years later.
Images courtesy of Rolex.
For more information you can visit the official websites: Rolex.com and TudorWatch.com
