Rolex Predictions : September 2020 Releases

Following an April announcement that there were inevitable delays to their 2020 release, Rolex’s newly confirmed debut date of September 1st is now just days away. Many in the industry worried that we would not see any new watches this year from the major brands. With this latest release coming so soon, it will quench some of the thirst for new stock that is building up in the market.

Predictions for September have been arriving from all angles in the online community of watch enthusiasts. Whilst Rolex themselves will not confirm how many models will be released on their website, the issue that is at the heart of the discussion is whether or not they will be going ahead with a full collection planned for this year, or limiting it to increase value. The rarity of the models will be of great use to the Genevan powerhouse in dominating the closing months of 2020.

Turning to one of our favourite blogs, the Rolex Passion Report, their predictions for this September are based on the brand’s notoriety in these matters. They rightly point out that ‘Rolex is the slowest in the market’ when it comes to introducing new models. Changes from year to year are often subtle, focussing on an incremental mechanical change or recolour. Due to this, RPR’s predictions are on the slighter side. They include the green bezeled Submariner 116610 LV, which RPR suggest may be revamped with a darker shade of green and potentially a black dial which would be reminiscent of the long discontinued 16610 LV ‘kermit’, they even predict the introduction of a blue dial and bezel to the steel range:

Popular online watch magazine Robb Report have placed their bets on an upgrade to the submariner movement, more specifically an upgrade from the 3135 to what could be a 3235. Contrasting the more stylistic choices predicted by RPR, the Robb Report focus in on mechanical changes.

As for our predictions here at Vine Jewellers, we believe that current ceramic Submariner references 116610 and 114060, now in their 10th year of production, could be due for a movement upgrade. Would this be a total overhaul of the design? Unlikely, much as that would be a bold step.

Similarly,with 2021 just around the corner and this year marking 50 years on from the introduction of the Explorer II model, could Rolex cull their current model in preparation for a 50th anniversary revamp? With COVID shutting the Rolex factories down for several months over this year, our sources predict that the brand is working at just 30% capacity. A 50th anniversary revamp could play well for Rolex, focusing resource into other models.

Those are our thoughts for the coming month at Rolex, we would be interested to hear your predictions or hopes for the reveal.