First of all, the big question. How big? The new Rolex Submariner measures 41mm, but it doesn’t wear too big. Most of us at the get-together, current sub owners or not, found the watch size a non-issue. Having said that, I’ve never had problems with subs. Sea Dwellers and Deep Seas yes, a bit too large after a while. Even the Sky-Dweller. But this sub was fine. Yes it is a size up at 41mm, but they took a bit off the lugs and even the crown guard actually, and adjusted the bracelet size proportionately. End result is it isn’t all that different, at least to those of us that were there.
I was a little worried about the overhang on a wrist that has been fluctuation with pandemic weight changes, and you see the photos here. But it turned out to be fine.
What else? The green bezel on the Oystersteel Date was nicer than I thought it would be, and I was never all that drawn to the combination. But the big winner for me was the blue Cerachrom bezel on a black lacquer dial. It looks wonderful, especially in the sun. It does however only come in white gold. Which is heavy. Which costs more that a steel sub, and a steel GMT, and a two-tone GMT combined. So it is great, but that’s a whole different ballgame. Still, wonderful move by the brand.
Speaking of color, think pink and turquoise and yellow and orange (they calling coral red). Thankfully these aren’t on any subs, though we do love our Doxas and their orange dials. The new colors are on the Oyster Perpetual. They are hugely eye-catching, and while they may not appeal to traditionalists we do see them catching many an eye of younger watch buyers.
On a more calm note, the other new version of the classic Oyster Perp has hour markers and hands in 18 ct yellow gold on a silver or black Sunday-finish dial and encased in Oystersteel. A very nice somewhat old-school vibe on a modern interpretation.
The Sky-Dweller gets an Oysterflex bracelet. The 18 ct yellow gold watch has a black Sunray-finish dial, and the heavy watch does sit a bit lighter and tighter on the wrist with the high-performance elastomer bracelet.
The Datejust 31s got some attention as well. New versions in white Rolesor are available. These new white gold and Oystersteel watches are offered with your choice of a mint green Sunday-finish dial, a white lacquer dial that is actually quite stunning, and a dark grey Sunday-finish dial. The fourth new piece has an submerging dial surrounded by a diamond-set bezel.
It seems people were reading to the very end of the last article I posted here, and talked to me about what I said. So thank you. Here’s something for those that do so here. Something that’s not in the paperwork. Rolex did something to make the face more readable on the new Submariners, they said. What was it?
