Introducing the New 2022 Rolex watches

Rolex has delighted its loyal patrons by introducing various new timepieces at this year’s Watches and Wonders event in Geneva. Among them, the most talked-about novelty is a GMT-Master II variant especially dedicated to left-handed customers. In addition to this, the brand has included several new references to its classic and professional lines. Let us explore the new models to the line-up of one of the most admired luxury brands in the world.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King

Air-King is an entry-level model of Rolex professional watch lineup. The Oyster Perpetual Air-King collection was introduced in 1958 as a graceful tribute to the golden days of aviation, the 1930s. The prominent features of this iconic series include minimalistic dial layout with three centrally placed hands and a compact case size with diameters, starting from 34mm. Made of steel, these Rolex watches are usually available with dial colors like black, blue, silver, white and salmon. Depending upon the variant, the dial features Baton-indices, Roman numerals, Arabic numbers or Indexes with 3, 6 and 9 digits.

During watches and wonders 2022, the brand unveiled a modern generation of this timepiece. The new Rolex Air King (126900) is larger in comparison with its predecessors. It comes with a 40mm-diameter case made of Oystersteel. For the new model, the brand has carried out several design enhancements and technical updates. Presently available with a black lacquer dial, it houses a current generation self-winding movement (calibre 3230) with a power reserve of 70 hours.

The dial spotlights a new and entirely different theme from the previous models. Firstly, it employs a triangular marker in place of the 12 o’clock hour-marker. Furthermore, Arabic numerals have been used for representing hour markers. Except 3, 6 and 9 digits, the remaining are displayed in minutes (5, 10, 20, 25, 35, 40, 50 and 55). This represents a perfect synthesis of symbolic designs of historic pilot watches and emblematic Rolex styles. It also spotlights a Mercedes-style hour-hand, a baton-shaped minutes-hand and a green-colored, lollipop seconds-hand. The new Air-King comes with an oyster-type bracelet.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date

The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date is the most prestigious line-up of the Swiss brand’s Classic range, popularly known as the President’s watch. This quintessential Rolex watch stands-out with its emblematic calendar display. It indicates the day of the week spelt out in full, via an aperture at 12 o’clock and the Date through a Cyclos glass window at 3 o’clock.

This Rolex Daydate watch is available in precious metals only. Spotlighting fluted or gem-set bezels, they traditionally come with President Style Bracelets. Made of 18K gold (Everose, yellow or white) or platinum, this timepiece is presently available in two case sizes: 36mm and 40mm. The brand has recently released various new references from both 36mm and 40mm categories.

A stand-out model is the Day Date 36 watch in platinum with gem-set bezel and an eye-catching ice blue dial adorned with 10 baguette-cut diamond hour markers. Also available are the two new 36mm Platinum versions with ice blue dial featuring Roman numeral hour-markers. Among these, first one features a fluted bezel and the second model boasts a gem-set bezel.

Apart from the ice-blue theme, Rolex has also released new dials for the 36mm platinum Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day Date watch. The options include white mother of pearl, silver, diamond-paved, blue ombré, white and pink opal. They feature fluted or gem-set bezels.

The brand has expanded the 18K yellow gold day-date 36 line-up by adding new models featuring white dial with fluted or gem-set bezel. Other new models are the new 18K Everose gold references with slate dial, with fluted or gem-set bezel.

Rolex also added latest versions of its 40mm Oyster Perpetual Day-date model in platinum. Featuring fluted bezels, these latest additions offer a number of dial choices like ice blue, silver, bright black, bright blue, olive green, meteorite, diamond-paved, slate and white.  

In addition to the above-mentioned platinum watches, Rolex has inducted several new references of Day Date 40 in yellow gold. The options include the dial variants like black, green, diamond-paved and onyx. They come with fluted or gem-set bezels.

These new generation of Rolex Day Date watches are equipped with in-house Caliber 3255, a self-winding mechanical movement with a power reserve of 70 hours.

Rolex Yacht Master 42

This exclusive watch series has been dedicated to prestigious sailing competitions. Combining luxurious features with optimum waterproofness and reliability, this timepiece is available in Oystersteel, Bi-metal (Oystersteel and gold), Everose gold, Yellow gold and White gold versions. The brand has recently added two new 42mm models in 18K gold to the existing line-up, which also has 37mm and 40mm Rolex Yacht Master watches.

The Yacht Master 42 watches are equipped with the No.3235 self-winding movement, displaying hour, minute, centre seconds and the date. It provides an impressive 70-hour power reserve. The Cyclops widow allows the quick reading of the date. They feature Oyster type case design for ensuring an optimum water resistance up to 100 meters and bi-directional rotating, 60-minute graduated bezels for count-down purposes. The new models are fitted with matt black Cerachrom bezel inserts.

The Rolex 2022 Yacht Master 42 collection includes a fresh to the market 18K yellow gold model with a black dial and the new Falcon’s Eye dial variation of the 18K white gold version. A stand-out feature of these new Yacht Master 42 models is the Oysterflex bracelet, which is flexible, reliable and comfortable to wear.

Rolex Datejust 31

Instantly recognizable thanks to its everlasting style, Datejust is a best-selling collection of Rolex. It is comprised of luxurious dress watches for men and women. The series is presently offering case sizes like 31mm, 36mm and 41mm.

During this year’s Watches and Wonders luxury watch expo, several new Rolex Datejust models were unveiled. A notable attraction among these was an array of floral-motif dial watches with 31mm case size. The eye-catching dial design of these new versions is inspired by the mild summer meadows. The brand is offering three distinct dial color choices – Azzurro-blue, Olive-green and Silver – for this new series.

The Rolex Datejust 31 floral-motif dial watches are available in 18K gold and Rolesor versions. In this new series, the brand is providing three types of bracelets: Oyster, Jubilee and President. Two bezel options are also offered: fluted and diamond-set. These timepieces are driven by the Calibre 2236, the in-house developed a self-winding mechanical movement with a power reserve of 55 hours.

Rolex GMT Master II

GMT Master II is one of the most-admired icons in the modern world. The origins of this model date back to the mid-1950s. An ultimate reference of additional time-zone watches, Rolex GMT Master is a collector’s delight, with prices touching million dollars for some rare and historic pieces. Introduced in 1982, GMT Master II represents the second generation of Rolex GMT watches.

The latest generation Rolex GMT Master II is driven by the manufacture caliber 3285, which provides a power reserve of 70 hours. Two stand-out features of this timepiece are a bi-directional rotating bezel and an extra hour-hand for monitoring additional time zones.

Rolex has added an unexpected novelty this year in the form of a left-handed version of the GMT Master II. So far, this timepiece was made for right-handed persons only, with the crown at 3 o’clock as usual. Exhibited at Watches and Wonders 2022, the new variant with reference number 126720VTNR features the crown at 9 o’clock, making it easier for a left-handed person to operate it. The date display is also shifted to the 9 o’clock position.

For the Oyster Perpetual GMT Master II “Lefty”, Rolex has opted for a black and green theme. Dressed in a 40mm diameter Oystersteel case, it is equipped with a bidirectional rotating bezel featuring a dual-tone Cerachrom bezel insert in green and black ceramic. An Oyster type bracelet extends the robustness and versatile appearance of the watch. With water-resistant to 100 meters, the new GMT Master II is also available with an attractive Rolex jubilee bracelet. Both versions feature a black dial with a date window at 9 o’clock.