Nobody can say for sure what 2023 has in store for watch fans (or are you one of those rare folks with a crystal ball at home?). I can however tell you the watches I would personally like to see Rolex and Omega release in 2023. They include a (rose) gold icon, a new edition of an extremely polarizing timepiece, and a truly never-before-seen Rolex. What do you want to see released in 2023?
Watch #1 We’d Love to See: A Gold Rolex Submariner
Ever since I’ve gotten into watches, I’ve always wondered why there’s no gold Rolex Submariner “No Date”. Gold to this day has always been reserved for the “Date” model of the legendary diver’s watch. Just why is that? The “No Date” is for fans the one true Rolex Submariner, which basically means a precious metal variant of it is long overdue, wouldn’t you say? I would love to see an Everose gold Submariner with a black dial. The problem is, though, Rolex does everything to keep its two icons, the Submariner and GMT-Master II, separate from one another in terms of looks. Since there’s already an Everose GMT-Master II, I strongly (and sadly) doubt we’ll ever see this same version of the Submariner. Now, there is an Everose gold Rolex Yacht-Master, which means I still haven’t given up all hope. So whether it’s yellow or Everose gold, or with a black or even a green dial, I hope that 2023 sees the release of a gold Rolex Submariner. What about you? Is this the release that will make your horological year?
Watch #2 We’d Love to See: The Next Omega X Swatch MoonSwatch Collection
Spoiler alert: You’re probably going to disagree with me on this one. In any case, the Omega X Swatch MoonSwatch made from the proprietary Bioceramic did something last year that no luxury watch has yet to achieve: get a wider public into watches. The Swatch with a Speedmaster design (and logo) was refreshingly different and, yes, more exciting than the annual rehash of all those Genta-inspired 70s-looking timepieces. I personally can’t picture Swatch not having a second go-around with the MoonSwatch in light of last year’s success. What would it look like? The Omega X Swatch MoonSwatch after all has combed the full reaches of our Solar System, so what about the next galaxy? Granted, that might be a bit of a stretch, even for the likes of the jazzy MoonSwatch. I could however imagine a new collection celebrating the great moments in space exploration, of which there are plenty. Something like a “First MoonSwatch in Space” would easily grab the attention of space fans. And if you thought the lines outside the Swatch stores were long last year, what do you think they’ll look like if the Swiss watchmaker releases a Snoopy MoonSwatch this year? And how about if Swatch releases a collection designed around the Omega Seamaster, and based on different Bond characters? Even though that wouldn’t be something that would personally grab my attention, Swatch would probably enjoy a similar amount of success with this decision – 007 is after all even more iconic than Omega timepieces themselves. Do you think Swatch is “one and done” with the MoonSwatch? If not, which Omega X Swatch collection would you like to see in 2023?
Watch #3 We’d Love to See: A Truly New Rolex
You’ve probably noticed that Rolex doesn’t just stick to its tried-and-true models, but every once in a while presents an entirely new timepiece. 1992 saw the release of the Yacht-Master, followed by the Yacht-Master II in 2007. Although having the same name, its complications meant that we were dealing with a brand-new watch that year. The last time Rolex released something entirely new was in 2012 with the Sky-Dweller. More than ten years have elapsed since then, meaning, at least for me, that it’s time for Rolex to surprise us again with something brand new. Is that really going to happen? Well, there’s reason for doubt, because this year the Rolex Daytona turns 60, meaning there’s going to be plenty of fanfare surrounding this watch. The Rolex Milgauss is furthermore long overdue for a revamp. If, however, my wish comes true, I hope Rolex brings out something truly new. Although the Sky-Dweller wowed fans with its different complications, it is in fact based upon the Rolex Datejust. It’s basically a given that a brand-new Rolex would feature an array of exciting, perhaps unusual complications. This time, however, the watch would have to have an entirely new design, which would truly make it the event for watch fans in 2023, don’t you think?
