Rolex Baselworld 2016 – Predictions for the novelties that Rolex could launch in 2016

This is it! This is the big one… In a little over a month from now the entire world of watch collectors will be waiting for Rolex to unveil their Baselworld 2016 novelties. Just like we did last year, and in 2014, we’re going to show you our predictions: what will be the Rolex Baselworld 2016 novelties? It’s a mix of a bit of hope, our own expectations, data compiled from discussions at several watch forums and the right dosage of luck. And hopefully our Rolex 2016 predictions will be right. Let’s have a closer look at the watches that Rolex could potentially launch at Baselworld 2016 – or at least the novelties we hope to see from Rolex in 2016. Remember, these are predictions!

Rolex Baselworld 2016 – The new Rolex DateJust 40 with new Calibre 3236

Last year, at Baselworld 2015, “The Crown” impressed us with an entirely new Rolex Day-Date 40, with redesigned, smaller and slimmer case, new dials and mainly, a completely new movement, the Calibre 3255 – with new barrel for a longer power reserve, the Chronergy escapement, a new variable-inertia balance wheel, an improved gear train and a nicer finish. This Rolex Day-Date 40 was replacing the older Day-Date II, which had a 41mm case. The new one is smaller, thinner, the case is slender and the dial and bezel are more refined. In order to give some coherence to the collection, we are hoping Rolex to apply the same concept on the DateJust, with the new 2016 Rolex DateJust 40, replacing the 41mm DateJust II.

We expect the 2016 Rolex DateJust 40 to be based on the same case as the Day-Date 40 – in fact the old Day-Date II and the DateJust II shared the same case, same size and same style. Based on this idea, we’re showing three potential editions, in stainless steel or in two tone (the Rolex DateJust 40 won’t be available in full gold, as usual for the DJ):

• The 2016 Rolex DateJust 40 in stainless steel, with flat / polished stainless steel bezel, 40mm case, Oyster Bracelet and grey dial with baton indexes
• The 2016 Rolex DateJust 40 in stainless steel, with fluted white gold bezel, 40mm case, Oyster Bracelet and grey dial with Roman numerals for the indexes, shaped like the new Day-Date 40 and blued
• The 2016 Rolex DateJust 40 two-tone (steel and yellow gold, with fluted yellow gold bezel, 40mm case, Oyster Bracelet and champagne dial with Roman numerals for the indexes, shaped like the new Day-Date 40 and in gold

Besides the new design, we also expect Rolex to fit a simpler edition of the Calibre 3255 in this ‘imagined’ new Rolex DateJust 40 (a movement that could be called the Calibre 3235, to respect the Rolex nomenclature), without the day feature but still with the date in a window at 3 (with the iconic cyclops). Prices, in such configuration, could start around € 7,500 Euros for the stainless steel edition and go up to € 12,500 Euros for the two-tone edition. Please keep in mind… these are our prediction, no official new models, and no official prices.

Rolex Baselworld 2016 – The new Rolex Daytona White Gold on leather strap with black ceramic bezel – ref. 116519LN

For years Rolex collectors have been waiting to see a new Cosmograph Daytona. We don’t don’t expect it to come any time soon, at least not in 2016, unfortunately. However, we do have reasons to think that Rolex will come with a new iteration of their iconic chronograph, at Baselworld 2016. If you take a closer look at the Rolex website and the various editions of the Daytona, you’ll see that actually one is missing: the Daytona white gold on leather strap ref. 116519. It is absent of the catalogue for a few weeks now. So what about a new version of this watch, a new 2016 Rolex Daytona White Gold, leather strap, black ceramic bezel – ref. 116519LN – just like the Everose gold edition.

That’s why we expect that Rolex is going to introduce a new 18k white gold Daytona for Baselworld 2016. We imagined a full black dial and red accents (in fact one of the dials available on the Daytona white gold ref. 116509 on bracelet) for a pure racing look. The 2016 Rolex Daytona White Gold on leather strap with black ceramic bezel – ref. 116519LN will share the same black ceramic bezel as the Everose gold edition, with of course white gold filled tachymeter scale. No other changes to expect: same 40mm case and same 4130 movement. Possible price: around € 26,500 Euros.

Rolex Baselworld 2016 – The new Rolex GMT-Master II Two Tone, Root Beer dial and brown ceramic bezel

If this one could be the least possible of our Rolex 2016 Predictions, it is also a watch that is eagerly awaited by collectors. As we did with our 2015 predictions, we’re again predicting, or is it hoping for, the Rolex GMT-Master II “Root Beer”. The “Root Beer” is a nickname given by collectors, and refers to the ‘root beer’ brown dial and brown/yellow bezel.

This will be a sort of vintage re-issue – just like the GMT-Master II Pepsi – with a two-tone case (stainless steel and yellow gold), a (root beer) brown dial with gold indexes and hands and finally, a brown ceramic bezel (something we’ve already seen in the Platinum Daytona), with numerals filled with yellow gold. Nothing new technically, just an interesting new iteration that could please vintage lovers.

Our Rolex GMT-Master II Two Tone, with Root Beer dial and brown ceramic bezel Ref. 116713LM (for ‘lunette marron‘, brown bezel) could be one of the great surprises for Rolex at Baselworld 2016. While we think the chance that Rolex to come with this GMT-Master II are very low, the crown could surprise us, and we wouldn’t mind! Approximate price in such configuration: € 13,000 Euros.

Rolex Baselworld 2016 – the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 ref. 114300 Olive Green

In 2015, Rolex launched a new edition of the Oyster Perpetual, with a 39mm case and coloured dials. This year at Baselworld 2016, we expect Rolex to present a new Oyster Perpetual 39 ref. 114300 with an Olive Green dial – for two reasons. First, Green is THE colour of Rolex, and such a dial already exists in the 34mm Oyster Perpetual. Secondly, Monochrome’s Founder and Executive Editor, Frank Geelen, fell completely in love with this 34mm Olive green edition last year and he would love to see it in the more masculine 39mm case. So here it is.

Rolex, with the Oyster Perpetual 39 ref. 114300, already played with coloured dials, as besides the traditional anthracite version, there’s also a Red Grape and a bright Blue edition. So it isn’t totally crazy to imagine such an Olive Green edition. And frankly, with the contrasting orange accents, it looks really great. In a few weeks we’ll know…. Possible price is probably similar to the other coloured models: € 5,200 Euros.

Rolex Baselworld 2016 – the new Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ceramic in steel and yellow gold (and Oysterflex)

After a first edition in 2015 – that we really love – we are now hoping that Rolex will present three more editions of the Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 at Baselworld 2016. These new version should again come with a matte black ceramic bezel, polished raised numerals and the new OysterFlex rubber bracelet. This version of the Rolex Yacht-Master seems to be very successful and it looks very good. However, for the moment, it is only available in Everose gold, as seen here.

We’ve imagined 3 new editions, based on the same idea:

• a 2016 Rolex Yacht-Master in stainless steel, 40mm case, with black ceramic bezel and OysterFlex bracelet
• a 2016 Rolex Yacht-Master in stainless steel, 40mm case, with black ceramic bezel and stainless steel Oyster bracelet
• a 2016 Rolex Yacht-Master in yellow gold, 40mm case, with black ceramic bezel and OysterFlex bracelet

The addition of the black ceramic bezel was already changing the face of the Yacht-Master considerably. Moreover, in steel the Baselworld 2016 Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 would become even sexier, sportier and it will more affordable. An approximate price for the steel version could be € 9,000 Euros.

If you liked our Rolex Baselworld 2016 – Rolex Predictions 2016 article, we would love to hear your thoughts about our predictions. Please use the comment-box below. You can also share via our Facebook page, our Instagram account (@monochromewatch) and our Twitter page (@monochromewatch).