Future of the Oyster Perpetual Line

[Draper144]

Now that rolex has discontinued the Stella dials for the OP41, how will this effect the current line up and their availability?

Will the demand for the basic colors (black, silver, blue) go up or down? Will we see these colors go for astronomical numbers on the grey market?

I am very interested to get everyone’s opinion on what they think the future will bring for the OP41


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[Harry-57]

I have no inside knowledge. Speaking personally, if I was after an OP I would be looking for a particular size and colour. If the only colours available were of no interest to me I wouldn't be spending money there. My wife has an OP36 Grape. It's exactly what she wanted. She would have taken a 40mm in Grape if this was the only option, but she wasn't interested in any other colour, or her desired colour if the dial was less than 36mm.

At the moment I quite like the colours and design of the AT 150m 38mm. Strikes me as more interesting than what's left of the OP range. However, there is a potential wild card. The Milgauss is a slightly chunkier, heavier 40mm OP. I have the Z Blue and it's a different/interesting example of a current production, 40mm, OP type watch, with Rolex written on it.

[Tuma]

Originally Posted by Draper144

Now that rolex has discontinued the Stella dials for the OP41, how will this effect the current line up and their availability?

Will the demand for the basic colors (black, silver, blue) go up or down? Will we see these colors go for astronomical numbers on the grey market?

I am very interested to get everyone’s opinion on what they think the future will bring for the OP41


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My AD has stated that there allocation will remain the same amount of units for the year, so you should see more of the other colors??

[904VT]

Rolex is playing artificial demand games with the Oyster perpetuals so who knows.
It would be nice though if the OP was distributed the way it was meant ie as the most basic Oyster at an attainable price.

[Wahlberg]

I would love to have a black OP 36mm, best bang for buck watch out there.

[nachopc]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

I would love to have a black OP 36mm, best bang for buck watch out there.

Have you seen that ? The dial is anthracite. Spectacular


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[G3Z]

OP 116000 black, arabic dial is the best IMO.

[IR201]

I thought this was an interesting question, then was surprised to see so little feedback

Do you guys think that's it for the colors? (other than the green, I guess)

Or will the plan be to by cycling different colors for short runs in the years to come?

Will we ever see the same first set of colors again?

[dannyp]

Hoping for white next go round. Preferably with black outline hour markers like the final 3-6-9 Air King 34mm.

[Innocenti]

The white dial 36mm op is my favourite from recent years.

[HogwldFLTR]

For me the best OPs are the 41s. I love the size and the upgraded clasp on the bracelet. I'm pretty happy with my silver and gold. The double batons help with night time legibility.

[blada4life]

From what i have heard from a manager, the deliveries came for a few months after their initial release but almost completely dried up after. once a month or so, they still have a few OPs arrive, so they are trickling in (but its random). There is really no insight into what the plan was with that release with all those colors but from what i gather, the demand was likely a surprise. In fact, it was one of the few models that the AD would allow you to 'order'... dont think anyone really expected the popularity and i am sure if Rolex really didnt want these to be ordered by the ADs, they wouldve had a policy in advance (but they didnt). For context, a month or two after their release, a vegas AD told me he would allow me to order a few different colors with a deposit. This was not my usual AD and I had no purchase history there. My point is i dont think they planned this and of course, we will never know the truth, but i suspect they removed those colors to protect their bread and butter datejust line. I also think we will eventually see something like this again but likely in a higher end watch, possibly the day date line. I think they will keep the green dial OP in the lineup though for several reasons: 1) to promote the rolex color and 2) to keep that line somewhat popular so that the green dial is the "trophy." Recall in the past, it was one of the few lines that really was not popular much, even after all the hype, until the new colors were released; 3) they will keep some extent of more colors in smaller sizes such as 31mm and 36mm and i think thats to capture more of the female base and possibly younger crowd, which is why the most popular tiffany color is still in the lineup in those sizes. Do i think they still might re-release some additional colors? Possibly, but all depends on the popularity of the line. If no one buys the other colors, i can see them adding another color back or more likely, slightly modifying it, similar to how they brought back the oyster bracelet for the GMT line.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by blada4life

From what i have heard from a manager, the deliveries came for a few months after their initial release but almost completely dried up after. once a month or so, they still have a few OPs arrive, so they are trickling in (but its random). There is really no insight into what the plan was with that release with all those colors but from what i gather, the demand was likely a surprise. In fact, it was one of the few models that the AD would allow you to 'order'... dont think anyone really expected the popularity and i am sure if Rolex really didnt want these to be ordered by the ADs, they wouldve had a policy in advance (but they didnt). For context, a month or two after their release, a vegas AD told me he would allow me to order a few different colors with a deposit. This was not my usual AD and I had no purchase history there. My point is i dont think they planned this and of course, we will never know the truth, but i suspect they removed those colors to protect their bread and butter datejust line. I also think we will eventually see something like this again but likely in a higher end watch, possibly the day date line. I think they will keep the green dial OP in the lineup though for several reasons: 1) to promote the rolex color and 2) to keep that line somewhat popular so that the green dial is the "trophy." Recall in the past, it was one of the few lines that really was not popular much, even after all the hype, until the new colors were released; 3) they will keep some extent of more colors in smaller sizes such as 31mm and 36mm and i think thats to capture more of the female base and possibly younger crowd, which is why the most popular tiffany color is still in the lineup in those sizes. Do i think they still might re-release some additional colors? Possibly, but all depends on the popularity of the line. If no one buys the other colors, i can see them adding another color back or more likely, slightly modifying it, similar to how they brought back the oyster bracelet for the GMT line.

It was said on here by multiple members that they'd heard (independently) that red and yellow were dropped due to QC issues with the producing them. Beyond that, all we lost was the 41 in turquoise.

[IR201]

Originally Posted by dannyp

It was said on here by multiple members that they'd heard (independently) that red and yellow were dropped due to QC issues with the producing them. Beyond that, all we lost was the 41 in turquoise.

Isn't that a lot to lose? Yellow, red, tiffany? I wonder if a new palate of colors is on the horizon

[sleepydoc]

My hope would be for increased production of the current colours.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by IR201

Isn't that a lot to lose? Yellow, red, tiffany? I wonder if a new palate of colors is on the horizon

The yellow and red are gone across the board, but AFAIK only the 41 lost turquoise.

[S.Explorer]

Personally, I'd like Rolex to go back to the sunburst dials of the 2010s.

[zengineer]

The only OP that really ever interested me was the 39mm white dial. I had one and foolishly sold it. I've since purchased a somewhat similar but honestly more interesting white dial Dornbluth and not looked back. The 39mm black dial is nice but again, the 39mm Explorer is more my style.

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[Meyrin]

Originally Posted by zengineer

The only OP that really ever interested me was the 39mm white dial. I had one and foolishly sold it. I've since purchased a somewhat similar but honestly more interesting white dial Dornbluth and not looked back. The 39mm black dial is nice but again, the 39mm Explorer is more my style.

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Dornblüth & Sohn make lovely, high quality watches, and that´s a real beauty you have there!

[ArtNouveau]

I was just in Vegas and stopped into the Tourneau at Caesar’s Shops sporting my Coral Red OP41. Looking mostly at some of their pre-owned stock I asked the SA if they were getting more of the remaining colors after three being discontinued.
He seemed like he had to think about it for a minute before replying “I don’t think so. They have always just kind of trickled in randomly and not in great numbers.” That’s probably about right, I think Rolex wants an “entry level” model but most likely makes more volume in higher priced models.

[CarlOver]

Numerous dealers have said that with all the size and color options, getting an OP in specific size and color can be a test of patience. The AD is getting them though.

[DC116710LN]

Rolex mishandled the OP line in my opinion. From drastically underestimating demand to immediately discontinuing colors, it doesn't seem like the process was well thought out or executed.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by DC116710LN

Rolex mishandled the OP line in my opinion. From drastically underestimating demand to immediately discontinuing colors, it doesn't seem like the process was well thought out or executed.

Other than the turquoise 41, the discontinuations seemingly had to do with quality control issues and too few of the yellow and coral dials passing inspection.

I do wish there were a blue lacquer dial and a white but the dial colors are a vast improvement over the previous (never a fan of the colored squares at the outer tips of the hour markers).

[DC116710LN]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Other than the turquoise 41, the discontinuations seemingly had to do with quality control issues and too few of the yellow and coral dials passing inspection.

I do wish there were a blue lacquer dial and a white but the dial colors are a vast improvement over the previous (never a fan of the colored squares at the outer tips of the hour markers).

Right, that was part of the reason I took issue. Ensuring that they're able to produce these watches at scale and quality is something that should have been done prior to launch.

I find the colors to be quite nice and agree that they're an improvement over the prior versions. I purchased the Pink 36 for my wife (which she loves) and would be happy to add the green for myself if it ever becomes readily available.

[fskywalker]

36MM OP amazing!




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[dlrolex]

They need to bring back the textured white

[SLWoodster]

“Future”?

It’s only been a couple years since release.

I like it way better than datejust.

[CanadaDan]

To be honest they haven't discontinued all of the stella dials as of yet, the green is still available. I do think the dial will be discontinued out of the 41mm line up in the near future though. As of the for rest of the line up, I see a white dial making a comeback & maybe some some other sunburst color variations... I dont think any other funky colors...maybe Rolex will leave that for the day date line!

I actually already think they did... well test test the waters anyway with the 228238 in green. The dial color virtually identical to the Op.

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[IR201]

Originally Posted by CanadaDan

To be honest they haven't discontinued all of the stella dials as of yet, the green is still available. I do think the dial will be discontinued out of the 41mm line up in the near future though. As of the for rest of the line up, I see a white dial making a comeback & maybe some some other sunburst color variations... I dont think any other funky colors...maybe Rolex will leave that for the day date line!

I actually already think they did... well test test the waters anyway with the 228238 in green. The dial color virtually identical to the Op.

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Interesting. More sunburst options would be cool. Would that not take them into Omega Aqua Terra territory? (which I suppose was a response to the OPs, but still). I wonder if it is also possible they bring back the exact same colors? Especially if the discontinuation was simply QC and not strategy related as Danny points out. I was trying to think if Rolex has precedent in discontinuing something and then bringing the same thing back. I thought of the 116710BLNR to the 126710BLNR. Basically same though they did have the movement upgrade as a distinction.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Draper144

Now that rolex has discontinued the Stella dials for the OP41, how will this effect the current line up and their availability?

Will the demand for the basic colors (black, silver, blue) go up or down? Will we see these colors go for astronomical numbers on the grey market?

I am very interested to get everyone’s opinion on what they think the future will bring for the OP41


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well today hype sells Rolex watches and depending on the hype as many today buy the hype to wear it, its sad but Rolex watches today are thought of by many as just ££$$€€ object things and little more. Once they were bought to wear and enjoy wearing for decades to come. As for the Stella dial back in the 1970s when they were first introduced they were quite poor sellers, compared to the other dials in the line up.