It’s another year of firsts for Rolex with key changes, additions, and subtractions for their 2024 model line-up. There’s a hole left behind by the sought-after Le Mans Daytona – retired after the 100th Anniversary of the race – but we’ve gained a handful of new precious metal references that join the line-up to fill the needs of collectors. Look out for the revised Sky-Dwellers and Deepsea in yellow gold below.
The major release for Watches and Wonders 2024 was that of a GMT-MASTER II sporting a Grey and Black bezel. However, don’t let that simple change distract you from other outstanding new Rolex models, including the updated Day-Date 40 that adds a mother-of-pearl dial for the first time. We’re covering all that and more in our guide to the new Rolexs below, including pricing, reference numbers, and more.
RELATED: Best Watch Releases of Watches & Wonders 2024 – Part 1.
GMT-MASTER II with Grey and Black Cerachrom Bezel
Price: $17,150 AUD
The Rolex GMT-MASTER II copped a colour change this year with a two-colour Cerachrom bezel insert in grey and black ceramic. Now available in your choice of an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet (as pictured), the 40mm watches also feature a signature green motif on the triangle-tipped 24-hour hand and the ‘GMT-Master II’ inscription on the black dial.
What we think: Sometimes keeping things simple is the way to go and this is certainly a great addition for first-time Rolex buyers who want something they can wear every day. Alas, being such a neutral colour, there’s slim to no chance the average punter will ever get the chance to buy one.
You can read our full feature article on the Rolex GMT-MASTER II grey/black right here.
Reference No.: 126710GRNR
Diameter: Ø 40.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 3285 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 70 hours
Rolex Deepsea in 18 ct Yellow Gold with Blue Lacquer Dial
Price: $83,500 AUD
Never worry about dropping your Rolex off the side of your luxury super yacht again because the new Rolex Deepsea has arrived in solid 18 ct yellow gold and carries a waterproof rating of 3,900 metres. It’s adorned by a blue lacquer dial for all the nauticalness you could ask for and still carries the patented helium escape valve to relieve excess pressure built up inside the watch case during a saturation diver’s decompression phase.
It’s powered by the same calibre 3235 movement that it’s had since 2015. While copping an update that added an optimized ball bearing to the oscillating weight in 2023, it offers the same 70-hour power reserve. Notable is the nickel-phosphorus escapement that’s resistant to strong magnetic fields.
What we think: We’re not sure why this watch exists, but there’s one thing for sure, it will help speed up your descent because it must weigh a tonne. One commentator online called the new solid-gold Rolex Deepsea ‘the ultimate tool watch’ and we tend to agree. Why the brand chose to produce such a functional watch in solid gold we’ll never know, but flexing on the fishes is the only logical answer.
Reference No.: 136668LB
Diameter: Ø 44.00 mm
Waterproof: 3,900m (12,800 feet)
Movement: Calibre 3235 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 70 hours
New Rolex Day-Date Models
Four new Rolex Day-Date models join the line-up for 2024. First up is a headlining Day-Date 40 model in Everose Gold that debuts a gorgeous ‘Slate Ombré’ dial in black that transitions from light to dark around the edges. This is also the first time we’ve seen Roman numerals and faceted index hour markers in 18 ct pink gold on the ombré dial of this watch. Typically set with diamond hour markers, Roman numerals were previously reserved for the Day-Date 36.
Maybe the unsung hero of the entire Rolex line-up for this year is the Day-Date 40 in White Gold with Pearlized White Mother-of-Pearl Dial. This is the first time we’ve seen Mother of Pearl used on the dial of a Day-Date and what a way to start. It’s a clean watch that benefits from this natural material and is paired with ten baguette-cut diamonds set onto the dial as hour markers.
Finally, two Day-Date 36 models round out the line-up. Perfectly sized for comfort and using faceted, deconstructed Roman numerals and index hour markers for the first time (previously exclusive to the Day-Date 40), these watches are available in either a clean yellow-gold with white lacquer dial or Everose gold with blue-green dial (introduced on the Sky-Dweller last year) and 60 trapeze-cut diamond bezel.
Every Day-Date model uses the same calibre 3255 movement that carries the Superlative Chronometer certification (−2 /+2 seconds per day) and 70 hours of power reserve.
Day-Date 40 in 18 ct Everose Gold with Slate Ombré Dial
Price: $66,500 AUD
Reference No.: 228235
Diameter: Ø 40.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 3255 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 70 hours
Day-Date 40 in 18 ct White Gold with Pearlized White Mother-of-Pearl Dial
Price: $75,250 AUD
Reference No.: 228239
Diameter: Ø 40.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 3255 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 70 hours
Day-Date 36 in 18 ct Yellow Gold with White Lacquer Dial
Price: $56,100 AUD
Reference No.: 128238
Diameter: Ø 36.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 3255 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 70 hours
Day-Date 36 in 18 ct Everose Gold with Blue-Green Dial
Price: $128,000 AUD
Reference No.: 128395TBR
Diameter: Ø 36.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 3255 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 70 hours
New Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Models
Two natural mother-of-pearl-laden Rolex Cosmograph Daytona models join the line-up for 2024. The first is an Oysterflex bracelet equipped model with a dial in white mother-of-pearl with chronograph counters in black mother-of-pearl. The second flips the dial colours around and is fitted on an Oyster bracelet. Both carry the same 36 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel.
Cosmograph Daytona in 18 ct White Gold with White Mother-of-Pearl Dial
Price: $98,500 AUD
Reference No.: 126589RBR
Diameter: Ø 40.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 4131 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Cosmograph Daytona in 18 ct White Gold with Natural Mother-of-Pearl Dial
Price: $112,400 AUD
Reference No.: 126579RBR
Diameter: Ø 40.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 4131 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 72 hours
New Rolex Sky-Dwellers
Jubilee bracelets have been fitted to precious metal Rolex Skydwellers for the first time with two new models in 18 ct Everose Gold with slate dial and 18 ct Yellow Gold with white dial. Like all Skydwellers, these models are equipped with the calibre 9002 movement that offers travellers the ability to see the date and the month, as well as an additional time zone in 24-hour format, and the hours, minutes and seconds.
With a case measuring 42mm in diameter, the Skydweller has never been the most comfortable watch for travel when specified in precious metal. However, the addition of the comfortable, five-piece link Jubilee bracelet is sure to counteract some of that added weight. The bracelet includes patented ceramic inserts inside the links to help with flexibility on the wrist and add longevity.
Sky-Dweller in 18 ct Everose Gold with Slate Dial
Price: $81,600 AUD
Reference No.: 336395
Diameter: Ø 42.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 9002 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Sky-Dweller in 18 ct Yellow Gold with White Dial
Price: $78,600 AUD
Reference No.: 336938
Diameter: Ø 42.00 mm
Water resistance: 100m (330ft)
Movement: Calibre 9002 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 72 hours
1908 in 950 Platinum with Ice Blue ‘Rice Grain’ Dial
Price: $48,600 AUD
Introduced in 2023, the Rolex Perpetual 1908 has been updated with a 950 platinum case and ice blue dial in a rice-grain motif for 2024. The dial motif is the clear highlight here and sports a three-dimensional, repeating geometric pattern that extends across the surface of the dial. Thankfully, this Rolex dress watch has been casually paired with a brown alligator leather strap fitted with a Dualclasp for absolute class. Other than that, nothing has changed from the yellow gold model that was released last year.
Reference No.: 52506
Diameter: Ø 39.00 mm
Water resistance: 50m (165ft)
Movement: Calibre 7140 (−2 /+2 seconds per day)
Power reserve: 66 hours
You’ll also like:
