Rolex has announced its new men’s models for 2021.
They include a new Explorer II, to coincide with the watches 50th anniversary and three new gold Daytonas with a new meteorite dial.
The new-generation Explorer II features a redesigned 42mm case, a new bracelet and Rolex’s new-generation calibre 3285 movement. The dial is white lacquer with contrasting hour, minute and seconds hands in matt black. The 24-hour hand retains its trademark orange colour, as does the “Explorer II” inscription that has been on the dial since 2011.
The new model also features a new “Chromalight” display, a new luminescent material exclusive to Rolex that causes the hour markers and minute hands glow an intense blue in the dark.
There’s also a new Oyster Perpetual Explorer. At 36mm, it returns to the size of the original model launched in 1953 after the first ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay that year.
It comes in yellow “Rolesor” version (Rolex’s combination of Oystersteel and 18kt yellow gold). The black dial is now lacquered and also benefits from a “Chromalight” display.
There are four new Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 models, too. These feature new dial motifs: “palm” and “fluted”. The palm motif is on three of the new watches, the fluted motif is one the dial of the final watch – another yellow Rolesor version – and comes on a Jubilee bracelet. All new come with Rolex’s latest calibre 3235 movement.
Finally, there are the three new Cosmograph Daytonas. All the models are 40mm and feature meteorite dials, with black chronograph counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.
A version in white gold is fitted with a monobloc bezel in black ceramic with a tachymetric scale, and an Oysterflex bracelet. The other two watches, one in yellow gold and the other in Everose gold, have a metal bezel with a tachymetric scale and are on an oyster bracelet.
All the new models are available from today.
Rolex Explorer, £8,700; Explorer II, £6,800; Datejust 36 £5,650-£9,600; Cosmograph Daytona £17,350-£35,100; rolex.com
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox
Need some positivity right now? Subscribe to Esquire now for a hit of style, fitness, culture and advice from the experts
