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Jay (Eire)'s initial reaction to Rolex's 2020 Oyster Perpetual releases captured the community's excitement, particularly around the vibrant new 'Stella-inspired' dials. His post sparked a lively discussion on how these colorful additions, reminiscent of vintage Rolex Stella dials, would integrate into modern collections and the broader market. This article synthesizes the community's immediate impressions, debates on sizing, and predictions for these now-iconic references.
I donβt know about you guys and gals, but this is the most exciting news from Rolex for me tonight.
A nod to the Stellas of the past, which have of course risen in popularity and price exponentially in recent years. I think this is a good move. The solid colours are arguably better than the gimmicky patterned dials we have seen. I think these will be hugely popular.
How much more fun could you have with 36mm? (Note, all but the pink dial seem to come in the OP41 too).
Key Points from the Discussion
- The new Oyster Perpetual models, especially the colorful dials, were widely considered the most interesting Rolex releases of the year, offering excellent quality-to-price ratio.
- The OP36 case appears to have been reprofiled, aligning with the slimmer lugs of the Datejust 36 reference 126XXX, a welcome change from the previous generation's thicker lugs.
- The discontinuation of the OP39 in favor of the OP41 created a significant gap between the 36mm and 41mm sizes, which was a point of disappointment for some collectors.
- Rolex's introduction of aggressive, playful dials on the entry-level Oyster Perpetual line was seen as a strategic move to appeal to younger, first-time buyers without alienating traditional Datejust/Day-Date consumers.
- There was a noticeable difference between official press photos and live shots of the new colored dials, particularly the green, suggesting colors might appear more muted in normal lighting conditions.
- The original Stella dials were predominantly in yellow gold, with some in rose gold and very few in white gold, influencing how collectors perceive the new colors on different metal types.
- Many brands were releasing colorful models in 2020, possibly as a response to the prevailing global mood, making Rolex's vibrant OPs part of a broader industry trend.
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