Rolex : Baselworld 2018 Review

Mar 27, 2018,15:43 PM
 





"I just wanna Rolly Rolly Rolly, My Rolly don't tick tock, it just glide"

Rolex, expect the unexpected. At this moment the company could be said to be in extremely rude health. You can not for love nor money it seems get a sports "Rolly" maybe unless you are rapper, tennis player or famous Golfer perhaps. Maybe all the brand ambassadors took them?

So the big news, Pepsi, not Coke (the drinkable type). The world goes mad. A steel Pepsi. Every journo wet themselves, dribbling.... well they need the advertising revenue. Rolex maybe in rude health, but in a sense I am thinking Emperor's new clothes.

The new GMT is very nice, pay a premium nice- NO WAY. Wait 5 years nice- no keep it. Seriously, I would take a 16710 Pepsi any day or better still a vintage 1675. Why this watch, only so you can say you got the latest Rolly. The bezel is very hard to make for sure, getting the colours to a nice red and blue probably impossible. It shows. Its more pink and purple. Don't get me wrong, its made like a tank. The movement is the new calibre 3285, and its a wonderful movement. Oh and 904 steel is now Oystersteel. A little pretentious if you ask me. Now the bracelet, a new Jubilee with comfort link and safety clasp. Its a good clasp. I really dislike the way it joins the case. It looks clumsy- much like the ill fated Sea Dweller 4000.

Side by side with the "Batman", no competition for me. If the "Batman" gets the new upgraded movement,  I would put my money in that one- not that it would be available anyway.
Its a good watch, decent, but not worth the hype. Paid for at retail price, I would say positively yes. Pay a premium and I think your money, your loss. The Rolex bubble will burst IF people stop buying premium prices from grey dealers. It will crash in an instant. Dealer will need to offload, sell without premium and stop paying flippers a profit. Trouble is too many want to be A-list celebrities with the latest "Rolly". My advice be a connoisseur and get a vintage.



 




















Now in stark contrast to the Pepsi, is the new Everose gold and Oystersteel "Rootbeer". This was stunning. Seriously a beautiful watch on an Oyster bracelet. No doubt being bi-metal it will be fairly readily available. The ceramic bezel colours were spot on. Equally stunning was the Everose model. These two were the standout GMT for me.
















Next up, the new Sea Dweller DeepSea. For those that thought they won the lottery with the JC DeepBlue being discontinued, get ready to weep. Not only does it stay, the new update is better in every way. The wider bracelet at 22mm is better, the bezel is wider like the SD 50th. But its still too top heavy. It also has the movement update. Interesting fact- all new models with the new movement have a Rolex crown between the Swiss Made at the bottom of the dial.
















The Yachtmaster on Oysterflex got some ice this year, so you can see it on the dance floor....










The Datejust 41 got a new dial....






Now perhaps the most important watch. The bi-metal Datejust 36. One of the pillars of the Rolex collection, the new references contain the new movement and slightly narrower lugs- for a better shine apparently and the hidden clasps gone. A shame if you ask me.










The Day Date in platinum now gets a meteorite dial, with some ice






There were some blingtastic ladies pieces.....








The White gold Pepsi, gets a new dial....to differentiate it from the steel






All of the Sky Dwellers in precious metal had dial makeovers a la the steel Rolesor models from last year






this rose gold version was particularly beautiful






and finally, there were updates to the Oyster perpetual 39, and my favourite pice from the collection
 featuring a gorgeous black dial






I think 2017 was a hard act to follow with the Sky dweller and Sea Dweller 50th. And it showed.

my top 3:
1. OP 39mm black dial
2. Rolesor GMT in Everose and Oystersteel
3. GMT Oystersteel (just ahead of the Everose GMT)

Best
Imran


More posts: 116600116710167101675batmanDatejustDay DateDeepseaGMT MasterGMT Master IIOyster PerpetualSea DwellerSky Dweller

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Thanks for the review

 
 By: TimeKeeper99 : March 27th, 2018-16:33
I agree with you that the situation with premium prices and unavailability of certain models is turning me off...but I do really like the new everose GMT so maybe that will be on my wishlist...in 5 years time (LOL)...in my part of the world it seems any g... 

I think "cerachromizing" things changes a watch a lot, but not in a too bad way = just a different character.

 
 By: Thevenin : March 27th, 2018-16:50
Thanks, Imran. I believe it's just a matter of time to adore this new iteration; that is, unless you already don't. Which will be seen more and more common, now that it's in SS. Having said that, I'm with you, and I would like to insert my 16710 here ...  

Thanks for the Report!

 
 By: Mark : March 27th, 2018-17:03
The Everose GMT is a knockout for me. Wish there was a jubilee version for that.

You have a solid point regarding the steel Rolex sport models. They are simply following Patek.

 
 By: Arie - Mr Orange : March 27th, 2018-17:06
It works for Patek, and it seems to be working for Rolex too. Now about the bicolor GMT....you might be right as well. It does look almost perfect. The downside of vintage: sometimes age starts showing... ...  

Thanks for this great post and i have to agree with you on most words .

 
 By: Watchonthewrists : March 27th, 2018-23:04
The highlight from rolex for me was also tge GMT bi color . Great color combo 👌🏻

New Rolex Virgin

 
 By: MTF : March 27th, 2018-23:41
miranda, I read your Rolex 2018 summary with anticipation because I knew you are not a rapper fan boy. I've had a couple of vintage Roly before but never any new modern models. I also find it incredulous that a manufacturer with production capacity approa... 

Thank you for the report, Miranda!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : March 28th, 2018-00:58
Looking forward to see the new steel GMT in real, but fear my judgement will be the same as when the white gold version was introduced. The colours kills the watch. Best Blomman

Love your reviews but posting that ugly picture is Imo unfair

 
 By: Bruno.M1 : March 28th, 2018-06:13
Let’s be honest this is by far the worst picture you can find lol I took this picture from FX his Instagram to show you the difference I mean,,, this looks great and I guess nobody would mind wearing this beauty, right? ...  

welcome pepsi

 
 By: alexxelor : March 31st, 2018-10:47
welcome pepsi