At Baselworld 2003 Rolex unveiled the Submariner's 50th anniversary 16610LV timepiece.  The green and black Reference 16610LV is a distant cousin of the all black Reference 16610LN but it has some differences.  The Maxi dial features larger hour markers and larger hands, creating better legibility.  Also the lugs are more tapered than the later cases, making it quite a bit smaller than the more bulkier cases.  But most notably the "Kermit" green bezel helps this timepiece stand out from it's all - black (bezel and dial) sibling. 

Rolex has been the main anchor that has held Baselworld together for many years.  Although Baselworld has been seeing many of its smaller exhibitors head for the doors in recent years, Rolex and many of its counterparts could always be counted on for having mammoth booth spaces. 

Rolex decided to leave along with Patek Philippe, Tudor, Chanel and Chopard.  They didn't like the January date for the 2021 Baselworld and were not properly consulted when CHF selected the date.  However, the rising booth prices have not helped the situation either.   The Swatch Group left in 2019, leaving a major hole in the exhibit room 1.1.  However, now the hall is decimated.  The remaining exhibit hall is now anchored by Omega, Blancpain, Tissot, Corum, Rado, Jaquet Droz, and Glashiitte. 

The struggling Baselworld has been working on reinvigorating excitement in its event by launching new exhibit areas, and other events during Baselworld. 

So, what happens now?  Baselworld, for Rolex fans, is a dead story.  Certainly management will attempt to make amends and bring Rolex back.  However, it seems Rolex has decided to go all in on the next Geneva event. 

The Corona Virus situation closed Baselworld this year.  And Rolex's decision to launch new watches is usually centered around the Baselworld event.  However, it looks as if Rolex will use Geneva's event to launch its timepieces going forward. 

Although Baselworld didn't help itself by raising prices and having an air of snobbery around the management of its events, social media also has put an end to the need for massive events.  And the Corona Virus put a final dagger into Baselworld this year.  And let's be honest, Rolex is big enough to do their own event centered around just Rolex.  They don't need Baselworld, and haven't needed them for many years. 

With the closure of 3 of Rolex main manufacturing facilities on March 17, 2020, production of new Rolex timepieces has come to a screeching halt.  Rolex CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour sent a letter to his employees saying:

“Dear Sirs and Madams. We are facing a very serious situation. In order to protect you, your families, and your loved ones, but also to limit the risks of spreading the Coronavirus as much as possible, we have decided to close our production sites in Geneva, Bienne, and Crissier from March 17 at 5:00 PM through Friday, March 27, 2020. That date may of course be pushed back according to the evolution of the epidemic.”

However, the pandemic has not halted its march across Europe and into America in its ever-Westward expansion.  The coronavirus is putting extreme pressure on a market that was already feeling strained due to massive waiting lists on some of Rolex's most coveted steel timepieces. 

The waiting lists for prized Rolex's started to really hit since 2016 when the Daytonal 116500LN was released at Baselworld.  However, even today, the waiting lists have spread to the GMT-Master II, the Submariner, the Explorer and the Sea-Dweller. 

Many believed that Rolex was cutting supply or creating shortage artificially, but that just simply isn't the case.  Demand for steel sports timepieces from Rolex just surged past what Rolex was able to produce.  Each Rolex timepiece must undergo meticulous handcrafted design and testing.  There are only so many Rolex employees entrusted to craft these works of art. 

It is true that many people have lost their jobs during this pandemic, and that a quarter of all Rolex timepieces are purchased by one of the hardest hit areas of the world - Asia.  You might think that the demand for Rolex would tumble. 

However, the opposite is true.  There really isn't an end in sight to the shutdown of production, of not only Rolex, but of many Swiss retailers.  Individual investors are still shopping online.  And with the stock market tumbling, one of the most sought after treasures is Gold Rolex and other Rolex timepieces that can hold its value and potentially grow it over time.  Quite possibly the reason for the wait list on the stainless steel Rolex lineups is because these timepieces are the lowest priced Rolexes that an investor could make. 

Add to this that the Rolex factories could be  shut down for a quarter of the year - reducing supply by a quarter million units.

Another reason demand has not dipped is the fact that many people are forced to stay home.  Rather than focusing on working, partying, or life in general, they are taking account the things they actually want - Rolex being one of these coveted items that fit almost anyone's bucket list. 

People fully expect that the markets will surge once the virus has passed us by.  In fact the market has surged, on huge government bailout-type monies.  2 Trillion dollars by the US government.  Could some of that money be used to buy a Rolex?  Why not?  Investing in something timeless, and stronger than humanity itself, could have great appeal to investors - even first time investors. 

When Baselworld and nearly every other event worldwide cancelled due to real scares due to the coronavirus pandemic, a question that was on every Rolex collector's mind became, "When is Rolex going to announce its newest models?"

With Rolex itself closing its doors due to fears for the safety of its workers and the outbreak of the pandemic in Switzerland and the surrounding countries such as Italy, Spain and France, it is clearly possible that any and all announcements due to new Rolex timepieces will be delayed.

Normally Baselworld is where all of these announcements are made - in April.  However, it is more than likely the new models will be announced later on - after the pandemic has run its course. 

Rolex removed the references to last year's "New Rolex Timepieces".  This section of the website, exhibited 6 or so of the newest models Rolex announced and released at last year's Baselworld in 2019.  Only recently has this part of the site been removed - probably in preparation for the new 2020 Baselworld event and the newest "New" Rolexes that would be announced. 

There are several options for Rolex.  Clearly Rolex does not need Baselworld to announce and release its latest versions of its timepieces.  It is likely that Rolex would wait for the pandemic to end and then schedule a press conference event of its very own and announce its newest models with tremendous fanfare you would expect.

However, Rolex might also be selective and only announce 1 or 2 models, rather than the entire lineup that they would normally release.  Perhaps they might pick a model like the Submariner or one of its less popular models - the Milgauss or the Air King.  Similarly, Rolex might find these announcements distasteful and just choose to slip these new models into the marketplace without much fanfare at all. 

It is even possible, although many of us anticipating the "new" Rolex lineup would fear this option the most, Rolex could announce that no new Rolex watches would be released in 2020.  Baselworld is scheduled for 2021, and Rolex could whet the appetites of Rolex followers by announcing an amazing array of changes to the Rolex line-up next year.

I'd say that 2020 is probably a wash in terms of a year.  It is over, just as it has just begun.  Although the earth has not stopped spinning, commerce has reduced to a trickle.  It is like a faucet with an incessant drip, drip, drip.  However, the rusty old handle can release a torrent of commerce when the time is right.  Slightly at first, then with the strength of full force.  I'd say that Rolex would continue to manufacture the same 2019 models and schedule the 2020 models to come out in 2021 along with the 2021 models as well - making the 2021 Rolex event to be the epic Rolex announcement year in our lifetimes.

Rolex announced their price hikes for 2020, and it might be surprising to know which Rolex timepieces have received the highest increase since 2019.  As a collector or a potential owner of a Rolex, one of the most important questions you might ask is "What Rolex will be the best investment in the near future?"  We know which Rolexes are flying off the shelves and are difficult to obtain in the market.  Certainly some Daytonas, GMT's and Submariners might fit that description.  If that were all that we needed to consider when looking at buying a new Rolex, this would be a very short article. 

One thing we need to consider is what will Rolex charge for a new Rolex coming out of the retail store.  So, what Rolex is selling Rolexes for is very very important.  This creates a baseline for Rolex prices.  If it were a stock market, this is the trend line that stock prices will often bounce off of.  Prices could go higher and lower, but that trend line has magical magnetism that attracts and moves the price in that direction. 

The Oystersteel DateJust

Unbelievably, the Oystersteel Datejust takes the prize for the biggest price hike of all Rolex timepieces.  Rolex raised the price an unbelievable 10.5 percent.  That is amazing.  Any stock broker would be ecstatic with a 10.5 percent gain.  Certainly waiting from December to January could take a real toll on any Rolex investor. 

Rolex has put a great deal of emphasis on the Datejust in recent years.  It is probably the most iconic of all Rolex timepieces.  Even though the Rolex Submariner, GMT and Daytona get much of the press, the Datejust is widely sold and worn.  The pricepoint comes at a reasonable $6,300.  That is a huge discount from the Gold Daytona coming in at 23,800.  This means new investors looking to own their first Rolex need not look further than the DateJust lineup. 

The Datejust not only has a huge array of dial colors, bezel options, bands, hour markers, and more.  The newest DateJust models even have the new caliber 3235 with the enhanced 70 hour power reserve.  You truly can't go wrong with a classic Datejust.  Even though you could go with Rolesor, or Gold DateJust models, it is the Oystersteel Datejust that takes the ring for the biggest value jump in the past year.

The Oystersteel Submariner

If I had to plunk some money down on a bet for which Rolex has the most value, the Sub would easily be one at the top of my list.  And that is without knowing what Rolex might think.  Clearly James Bond's favorite timepiece (in the Classic era) has quickly become one of the most sought after Rolex timepieces in the world.

However, Rolex is certainly giving the Submariner the love it deserves this year, by raising prices an outstanding 9.6%. 

The Submariner has had quite a bit of tweaks over the years, but hasn't received the new caliber with the higher power reserve yet.  I do expect a new Submariner release in the very near future - perhaps this year. 

However, the Oystersteel Submariner comes in the All Black version, the Green (hulk), and the Blue version.  It is a beautiful timepiece, no matter which color fits your personality most.  Waterproofness to 1000 feet, you can safely dive, swim, and do most water based activities without any fear of damaging this incredible professional timepiece. 

Besides choosing the coloring option, really it comes down to choosing the DATE aperture window with cyclops lens version or the NO-DATE version.  Certainly both options are excellent, but collectors tend to lean towards the no-date version. 

The Day-Date in White Gold

Rolex's third most hiked price goes to the Day-Date in White Gold.  This timepiece rose a cool 9% this year.  Although it looks like a highly coveted Oystersteel model, owners know that they will be wearing greater luxury with the white gold version of this classic Rolex model.  The band is Oystersteel, but the case is Rolesor (both Oystersteel and White Gold).  So, you get the luxury of gold and the durability of steel, while the same silver color gives it a uniform look. 

At 40 mm the Day-Date in White Gold is slightly smaller than the Oystersteel version, giving it a slightly lighter feel. 

Rolex upped the prices on there whole lineup with an average hike of about 7.5%.  However, it helps to know that Rolex is backing up their value with price hikes that help owners grow their investment's value over time. 

Patrick Mahomes is quickly becoming the face of the new NFL.  His recent Super Bowl victory as the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, over the San Francisco 49ers was epic.  He came from behind after the 49ers defense held him to one of his worst showings of the season in the first half.  However, his 4th quarter performance was outstanding.  It earned him not only the victory, but also the MVP. 

Mahomes was drafted in 2017 from Texas Tech, but was named the starter in 2018 and threw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns - setting multiple records along the way.  He is only one of 7 quarterbacks to pass for over 5,000 yards in a single season. He didn't make many mistakes either with only 12 interceptions.  In 2019, he had a stellar performance in the playoffs with victories over the Houstan Texans and the Tennessee Titans.  In the Super Bowl, he lead the Chiefs on a 21-0 run, with two passing touchdowns and one running TD, to help topple the 49ers who seemed unstoppable.

Not only is Mahomes an excellent passer, with some of the highest passer ratings in the league, but he is also a talented runner.  He has excellent speed and early on in his career, experts suggested he transition into a wide receiver rather than quarterback.  Mahomes is multi-talented.  His father and godfather are both former major league pitchers. In college Mahomes played both football and baseball, but eventually announced he was leaving baseball behind to focus 100% on football.  He left college with 1 year left of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, where he was selected 10th overall.

The Rolex that Patrick Mahomes was wearing at the post Super Bowl celebrations was none other than a  Rolex Yacht Master.  This 40 mm masterpiece has a diamond paved dial and is created with 18 ct Everose gold.  The comfortable Oysterflex bracelet not only adds some continuity of the black colorings from the black colored bezel, but it has a stunning tuxedo look about it.  It contains an 18 ct Everose gold Oysterlock safety clasp. 

The movement of the Rolex Yacht Master reference 126655 is a calibre 3235 which is precise, resistant to shocks and magnetic fields, and has a power reserve of 70 hours.  The bezel has a bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated ceramic with polished raised numerals.  The screw-down winding crown has a triplock triple waterproofness system which protects the timepiece at a diving depth of 330 feet.

This timepiece is a stunner.  The diamond bezel adds just enough bling to add to the beauty, but it is certainly a beast of a timepiece.  Sturdy, resistant, and resilient, Mahomes has selected a timepiece that nearly matches his own talents.  Mahomes could easily do a pickup football game and fully expect his timepiece would survive some rough play.  The waterproofness means he can play in any weather and even wash it clean when he is done without causing damage to the timeless components of the Rolex timepiece.

Quite possibly the most talented NFL quarterback in 2019, Lamar Jackson, is getting reamed by al letter to the Baltimore Sun.  The author, a writer named Karen, offers criticism that Lamar Jackson is buying his Offensive Line Rolex watches this year. 

The Sun contributor bases her criticism on the luxury of Rolex and finds the gift obscenely ostentatious.  She argues that the O-line are all rich fellows and can afford their own Rolex timepieces.  She continues by saying that Jackson should instead donate that money to charity. 

Jackson Has Earned His Right To Spend His Money However He Wants

Lamar Jackson has worked his entire life to become one of the greatest QB's in the game today.  He won the Heisman trophy in 2016 and nearly won it again the year after.  He declared for the draft in 2018 - a young man.  He was told he might not make it as a QB and many thought he should try out as a running back or wide receiver. 

This year he will break Michael Vick's single-season rushing record, and he did well as a pure passer too.  He is a shoe in for MVP this year - bringing his Raven football team deep into the playoffs - falling last week to the red hot Tennessee Titans. 

The bottom line is that it is his money.  He has more than earned the right to spend it the way he wants.  He knows that his O-Line is part of his success.  When they succeed, he succeeds.  He is not the highest paid QB in the NFL.  For him to spend a fortune to give back to the big boys that protect him from being blind-sided by giant men that want to take him down - that is a gift worth giving.  And, to her point that O-Linemen can afford their own Rolex - let's just say that they are the blue-collar workers of the NFL and will never make the kind of coin that a QB makes. 

Other QB's Give Extravagant Gifts

Famed quarterback Dan Marino gave extravagant gifts to his offensive linemen each year.  This was commemorated in the funny film Ace Ventura Pet Detective - in which Dan Marino played a cameo part.  It comes with the territory.  A QB is the leader of the team.   However, the line is where the game is won and lost.  The QB gets the fame and the criticism of wins and losses. 

Jackson Is Already Charitable and Young

Lamar Jackson is not only one of the youngest NFL players - and playing outrageously well.  He is also charitable.  He helped raise 30k for charity - dressing himself up as Harry Potter for an anti-bullying campaign.  He also holds an event each year giving kids the opportunity to play ball with him.  Give him some time and he will likely prove to be even more charitable in the future. 

I would be curious if Karen was so charitable herself.  Or anyone else at such a young age.  Seriously, how many charitable things did we do in our early 20's?  Charity is something that people think about later in life.  And we put so much pressure on young athletes.  They have to speak like a pro, play like a pro, and now be charitable like a Bill and Melinda Gates too?

Let's Not Overlook Lamar Jackson's Excellent Taste in Rolex

Of course my blog is about Rolex.  However, the fact that Lamar Jackson chose to give his O-Line Rolex timepieces rather than AP, or Panerai, a Tesla car, or a trip to Tahiti, shows his great sense of style and taste. 

Consider all of the options a 1 million dollar expenditure would buy.  He could have done anything with that money.  He could have hoarded it.  He could have spent it on something personally himself.  Instead, he shared it with his co-workers. 

Imagine if your boss or office mate came into a boatload of cash and shared it with you by buying a $40,000+ piece of jewelry for you.  Wouldn't that be amazing?  We should be honoring LJ's generosity, and his brilliant choice of settling on buying his teammates Rolex timepieces.  Lamar Jackson, I have to tell you I am a bigger fan of yours today than I was before.  You just gained one more fan.  I look forward to watching your career develop and wish you luck on next year's season. 

Picture of Basel Switzerland by Etienne Ehret

Rolex seems to come to Baselworld with new watch designs every single year.  Each year, they tweak their awesome timepiece lineup and make perfection even more perfect.  We could only guess at what this year might bring - well that is what this article is about.  In part we will be guessing what we think Rolex might bring to the forefront.  Also, in some ways we will be hoping these are some of the items that will be on the agenda for Rolex's 2020 unveiling.  No matter what comes of this year's event, we expect big things and will be eagerly anticipating what they reveal.

New Submariner and Sea-Dweller

The Submariner and Sea-Dweller from Rolex are two timepieces that seem to have been overlooked in the past few years.  These timepieces are hugely popular as they are, with or without changes to them.  Rolex has added some tweaks to the Submariner over the years and had a major rework about 10 years ago.  However, now the new higher power reserve caliber that is being sported by most other Rolex timepieces, is starting to make the Submariner look like the Cinderella scrubbing floors in the evil step sister's basement. 

The Submariner is nearly a perfect timepiece.  However, the new caliber will give the Sub an equal standing with the GMT- Master II and the DateJust which got such beautiful reworks last year. 

Besides an enhanced caliber, I expect there to be some new designs that will enhance the look of the Submariner.  Although I would probably holding my breath to see a platinum version of the Submariner, it would be interesting to see some gemology added to the diving timepiece. 

Another enhancement I fully expect to see in the new Sub and Sea-Dweller is the use of Oysterflex bands. We have seen that Rolex has adopted a similar approach to Vulcanized rubber bands as the premier maker of Rolex rubberized straps - Rubber B.  Rubber B straps have always had a unique T design at the curved end link between the lugs, which compliments Rolex watch models nicely. 

Rubber B is known for their T shaped design since they first came onto the market. It took me a while to get used to rubber visually, but the design really does work and eventually it won me over. We have seen that it also won over Rolex, and last year we saw that Oysterflex was added to the Daytona. 

Rubber B makes watchbands for all kinds of Rolex timepieces, Panerai, AP, and even Rolex's sister company Tudor.  They have always features this cool looking T-design.  Rolex can't afford to ignore this tremendous trend of rubberized bands - especially when designing this new Submariner. 

The T shape is easily recognizable. I’ve see it on all kinds of celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Prince Andrew and most recently Kevin O’Leary who absolutely loves them.

Besides the "T" design, the comfort of a rubberized band makes it a timepiece open for a much larger audience - watch owners that not only want to own the luxury of Rolex, but also the comfort and ease of use of a rubberized band. 

One of the biggest benefits of getting a http://rubberb.com band is adding color to the timepiece.  A green submariner would look even better with a green band.  A blue sub with a blue band.  Why not swap out with a red or white band, depending on the season or where your whim takes you.  Even Rolex has only released a black Oysterflex band thus far.  I expect that to change in the future.

The Showpiece Daytona

Every single year, Rolex comes to Baselworld with a fantastic new design of the latest Daytona.  Two years ago there was a rainbow colored Rolex with different colored gems around the bezel.  Last year the gold Daytona with Oysterflex band became the timepiece that dominated billboards the world over in 2019.  I don't know what this year has in store for the Daytona-Rolex's most popular timepiece today.  But it will sure to be big.

Milgauss, Air King and Explorer Reworks?

It is largely doubtful that Rolex will rework all of these timepieces in one year.  Rolex loves to spread things out over time and release new versions slowly.  However, with the new caliber available and the Oysterflex bands, as well as Rolex's gemologists starting to tinker with adding their artistry to standard Rolex timepieces, I fully expect one of these timepieces to get some love. 

If I were a betting man, the Rolex Explorer II will get the first rework of the three.  However, I would love to see the Milgauss and the Air King to get a revision or two themselves. 

The Rolex Cellini

This timepiece seems to not fit in with the rest of Rolex's lineup.  It rarely gets any love from the Rolex expert designers.  However, the classic watch needs some classic Rolex redesign.  Not only should it have a new calibre added with a better power reserve, but the classic design needs to have some new enhancements to add interest.  Perhaps adding a tapestry design or a skeleton dial to create interest.  Adding some of the gemology magic from Rolex's highly touted sapphire and diamond cutters, could add some bling to a rather ho-hum timepiece. 

And of course the band itself.  The leather strap is so 1940's.  Today, going with a vulcanized rubber band is more ethically sound, but also has the ability to adapt to multiple color offerings.  Rather than being limited to just a brown or black leather band, Cellini owners could go with white, red, yellow, orange, green or blue.  Whatever suits their tastes at the moment.  Plus the rubber bands can have better wear and tear and offer the owner the ability to use their Cellini in the pool or in sporting activities without damaging their band. 

The Cellini itself should also be certified to go deeper with waterproofness that matches other Rolex Oyster cases.  Otherwise, why buy a Rolex Cellini?

Baselworld is the most iconic Watch show every single year.  It has been around for over 100 years, but it has fallen out of favor and in the past two years - it has actually lost money.  Over 1000 watchmakers and jewelry companies have dropped out of Baselworld, largely due to the high costs that attending a Baselworld event entails.  Even Breitling pulled the plug on this year's event.

So, this year marks the first in a series of changes that will catapult Baselworld back into a more profitable position. 

Live Streamed

It is amazing that although Baselworld puts on a tremendous showing of new technology in timepieces, the show itself is pretty low tech.  That changes this year.  Baselworld will be adding live streaming technology so that people that can't attend the live event, will be able to partake in all of the festivities, announcements, speaking opportunities, and more. 

Besides this, a redesigned App for visitors of the event will help visitors experience the show with more organization, direction, and technological support. 

Year-Long Baselworld

The streaming features will allow Baselworld to play and replay video captured at the show year round.  More than this, Baselworld is opening a new digital innovation center that will be available for visitors all year long.  This will extend the reach to a yearlong event rather than the 6 day event which has been constricting (becoming shorter) in recent years.  This pushes against the grain and allows promoters to offer more marketing value to exhibitors, and opens the doors to more potential revenue from web-only advertisers.

New Sponsors

For years, Baselworld has been primarily a place for jewelry makers, timepiece makers and has shunned the likes of other luxury brands.  That is changing.  Baselworld is opening its doors to fine automotive companies, and other opportunities.  Luxury real estate, aircraft, and other industries that might want to market to the same clientelle that would purchase an AP or Rolex timepiece, will get their chance starting this year.

Going Small

Although huge brands such as Rolex keep adding to their Baselworld footprint, small brands couldn't afford the prices of Baselworld past.  The new Baselworld will open the doors to the previously closed hall 2.  Here they will add small sponsors.  They will adopt smartwatches and digital watch brands, and entice them to come with a price slash of 30% off of last year's booth prices. 

Expanding Out

Baselworld is going to the city.  They want to make the new Baselworld bigger as it takes clients to the city for off-site demonstrations, viewings, and one-on-one treatment.  New events, parades, and other enticements will make Baselworld more enjoyable and allow for a more unique experience for attendees year after year.