The New 2022 Rolex Watches: What You Need to Know

There’s a totally rejiggered Air-King and a left-handed GMT Master II with never-before-seen bezel colors. But that’s not all. When you’re talking about Rolex, even the subtlest changes can be a big deal — but this year, we got updates both big and small from across the brand’s ranges.

Here’s what you need to know.

The new GMT Master II is unexpected in a couple ways

Rolex

This GMT Master II (ref. 126720VTNR) is Rolex’s first lefty watch. Ever. The crown is on the lefthand side, as are the date display and “cyclops” magnifier.

Rolex could’ve simply reached into its archives and pulled out one of the nicknamed bezel designs fans have been clamoring for. Instead, they gave us something without a nickname (though how about “The Starbucks?”).

Rolex is a brand generally associated with green, and it’s an on-trend color, but nobody saw this move coming.

Price: $11,050 (Oyster bracelet), $11,250 (Jubilee)

It’s a new era for the Air-King

Rolex

We can’t say we anticipated this — until we watched Rolex’s teaser video. Still, it’s rather a big deal for the brand to completely overhaul a collection as they did with the Air-King for 2022.

The Air-King (ref. ref. 126900) boasts small tweaks and refinements, but it’s really the Oyster case with its sporty crown guards that gives this watch a niche all its own within Rolex’s catalog.

Of course, its unconventional dial will always be rather polarizing, but the new Air-King feels overall like a cohesive offering — not to mention a proper pilot’s watch.

Price: $7,400

A baby-blue dial that feels very of-the-moment

Rolex

No doubt: the new GMT Master II and Air-King are Rolex’s key announcements from Watches & Wonders, but release weeks like this always bring welcome extensions to existing collections with new dial colors and the like. This reference 228236 Day-Date comes in platinum with an “ice-blue” dial.

It’s reminiscent of a certain platinum Rolex Daytona, but it also recalls a particularly hot dial color of the moment (Tiffany-dial Patek, anyone?).

We wouldn’t think that Rolex is jumping on the hype of that watch, but it’s especially notable because of the timing.

Price: On request

This isn’t the Yacht-Master we’d hoped for

Rolex

First, Rolex tested a titanium Yacht-Master on Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie last year. Then, the brand hinted at a Yacht-Master in its teaser video yesterday.

We were cautiously hopeful that Rolex might drop its first titanium watch, but what we got instead was this still lovely Yacht-Master 42 in 18k yellow gold.

We’re not complaining …

Price: $28,300

All Our Coverage from Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022

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