Okay we've all seen the new 116600 and the awesome 116719BLRO but....

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by DVR

I do not agree Mike. Think about it for a minute.
What would have happened if this watch was launched in SS ? Wouldn't it become the hottest seller in the Rolex line up by far ?
We know for a fact the ceramic Red/blue bezel is difficult to produce. They would never be able to produce enough to meet demand for a SS watch. So they wisely decided to offer it in WG , therefore limiting demand but making it possible for production to cope with demand. Nothing worse than everybody wanting one and none available. Think SS Daytona times 10.

Respectfully, I disagree. We have no data to support the assumption that Rolex cannot produce enough red/blue Cerachrom bezel inserts. I suspect that the decision to launch with a WG model was based more on profit margins than engineering/production considerations!
After all, the blue/black was launched in SS and I doubt this is any more difficult to produce. I would take Rolex's marketing guff with a generous pinch of salt.
As for the Daytona... well, reams have been written about the hype and artificial rarity of this watch. At the end of the day it's a mass-produced, relatively uncomplicated chronograph. No doubt Rolex could make as many as they wanted to.
Tightly controlling every stage through to sales and servicing has long been Rolex's way of doing things

[HauteHorlogerie]

Originally Posted by psmith

respectfully, i disagree. We have no data to support the assumption that rolex cannot produce enough red/blue cerachrom bezel inserts. I suspect that the decision to launch with a wg model was based more on profit margins than engineering/production considerations!
After all, the blue/black was launched in ss and i doubt this is any more difficult to produce. I would take rolex's marketing guff with a generous pinch of salt.
As for the daytona... Well, reams have been written about the hype and artificial rarity of this watch.
Tightly controlling every stage right through to sales and servicing has long been rolex's way of doing things

+1

[venom43]

They'll probably bring this in SS and piss off Pepsi fans.....

[HL65]

Great post OP...Love the watch and look forward to seeing it in the flesh..Preferably my fresh as in wrist.

[shane0mack]

Originally Posted by mike

That is a possibility. Wonder how many price increases that is though.

With the new SD breaching $10K, I'm afraid to even think about it.

[HauteHorlogerie]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Great post OP...Love the watch and look forward to seeing it in the flesh..Preferably my fresh as in wrist.

Thanks! I just spoke with my better half and we're taking a trip to Paris with her folks (they've never been so we are treating them on an adventure. Fortunately my father in law loves watches as well haha) And I'm going to try and scoop one up while we're there for three weeks.

In addition, I just left my favorite shop here to meetup with a friend and sold my 114060 (to the shop/AD) and my 5396G to him (enjoy the piece..he lurks on trf a lot haha) to make room for what 2014 brings. I never wore either of them in 2013 so I'm quite please with how I made out. I didn't loose anything really (lost on the rolex...but gained on the Patek so it balanced out). Ready to go. Ben Bridge in Seattle isn't taking orders yet on the SD so I will have to wait...though I'm sure it won't be hard to get a Sea Dweller 116600.

2014 is going to be fun....

[DVR]

Originally Posted by Psmith

Respectfully, I disagree. We have no data to support the assumption that Rolex cannot produce enough red/blue Cerachrom bezel inserts. I suspect that the decision to launch with a WG model was based more on profit margins than engineering/production considerations!
After all, the blue/black was launched in SS and I doubt this is any more difficult to produce. I would take Rolex's marketing guff with a generous pinch of salt.
As for the Daytona... well, reams have been written about the hype and artificial rarity of this watch. At the end of the day it's a mass-produced, relatively uncomplicated chronograph. No doubt Rolex could make as many as they wanted to.
Tightly controlling every stage through to sales and servicing has long been Rolex's way of doing things

No prob, it is what I think, not what I know.
But from reading the text on the Rolex site it is clear the red to blue is very hard to do. Much more so than turning blue to black. So I still think (!) that this is one of the reasons. I can not understand why they would leave so much money on the table. Everybody, and for sure Rolex, knows a new SS Pepsi would be selling like crazy. Making them much more profit than the handful of WG ones.

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by DVR

No prob, it is what I think, not what I know.
But from reading the text on the Rolex site it is clear the red to blue is very hard to do. Much more so than turning blue to black. So I still think (!) that this is one of the reasons. I can not understand why they would leave so much money on the table. Everybody, and for sure Rolex, knows a new SS Pepsi would be selling like crazy. Making them much more profit than the handful of WG ones.

A further point... releasing the red/blue in SS would probably have impacted sales of the blue/black, which is still quite a new model. This way, Rolex have both angles covered... a bi-colour SS model for higher volume sales, and another bi-colour model (the arguably more desirable red/blue) in WG for (even) higher profit margins per unit and 'flagship' status alongside the YG models

[dennywags]

All I can say is that Rolex has made/makes some awesome watches. Some I can afford and most I can't.

As long as everyone wears them in good health I am happy.

[AK797]

They should have released the Pepsi in SS first, this year even, and next year the BLNR in WG for those who wanted a brand new and exclusive gold watch, like the blue subc.

[mailman]

Excellent post OP Have fun in Paris

[horseco]

Originally Posted by DVR

I do not agree Mike. Think about it for a minute.
What would have happened if this watch was launched in SS ? Wouldn't it become the hottest seller in the Rolex line up by far ?
We know for a fact the ceramic Red/blue bezel is difficult to produce. They would never be able to produce enough to meet demand for a SS watch. So they wisely decided to offer it in WG , therefore limiting demand but making it possible for production to cope with demand. Nothing worse than everybody wanting one and none available. Think SS Daytona times 10.

This is quiet insightful, rather than the AD & Grey market, reaping GIANT amounts over list on a SS Pepsi, due to scarcity, relative to demand, they make it to WG & keep the profits for themselves...

[Piloto]

Originally Posted by venom43

They'll probably bring this in SS and piss off Pepsi fans.....

Nope... That will be in platinum.

[elcompa]

Originally Posted by HauteHorlogerie

YG Pepsi? You mean WG? I agree in some ways...but if they wanted it to be really special (like the smurf or 116718 green dial then they had to do white gold...)

"Rolex know-how

In keeping with its quality standards and its mastery of the production of all its key watch components, Rolex developed in-house the expertise, processes and high-technology equipment needed to acquire complete independence in the production of its ceramic components. The workshops are housed at the impressive Rolex Plan-les-Ouates production site on the outskirts of Geneva. There, the brand makes all the elements for its cases and bracelets, starting with the casting of its own gold alloys or the sourcing of other raw materials, to their machining, assembly and polishing. The production of ceramic components is completely mastered, from raw material to the finished Cerachrom bezel insert. Such complete in-house mastery allows Rolex to devise innovative solutions and create components that correspond exactly to its specifications and quality criteria.

Since 2007, Rolex expertise has produced exclusive Cerachrom bezel inserts in blue and in green – in addition to black – for its Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date models or its 18 ct yellow gold Oyster Perpetual Yacht‑Master II. In 2010, it took another leap forward in developing a monobloc Cerachrom bezel – rather than a bezel insert – to equip the Cosmograph Daytona. It first appeared in black, and then in brown in 2013 on the platinum version that marked the 50th anniversary of the legendary chronograph.

During all this time, the creation of a two-colour ceramic bezel – which should, moreover, be half red – remained mission impossible from a technical point of view. Yet the extensive internal resources of the Research and Development Department took up the challenge and finally managed to combine the technical performance of the Cerachrom bezel with the iconic two-colour aesthetics of the GMT‑Master.

In 2013, after many years of research and fine-tuning the exclusive manufacturing process, Rolex unveiled the first two-colour Cerachrom insert in the world – in blue and black. Now, in 2014, that mission has been brought to a successful conclusion with the introduction of a two‑colour Cerachrom insert in red and blue that complies with Rolex's strict quality standards for its watch components"

I think it actually did take them a longgggg time and they want to make up for the R&D buy selling a WG watch

No. Sorry if I was not clear. I did mean...why did they not make an SS this year and YG next year as opposed to the WG that was produced this year. SS this year and YG next year might have given people the feeling of going a level up to the YG. Now that we have a WG Pepsi, I don't see a YG in the future. I also believe that the chances for an SS Pepsi and null and void as the common man won't see the difference between SS and WG.

[HauteHorlogerie]

Originally Posted by mailman

Excellent post OP Have fun in Paris

Thanks! Very excited.

Originally Posted by elcompa

No. Sorry if I was not clear. I did mean...why did they not make an SS this year and YG next year as opposed to the WG that was produced this year. SS this year and YG next year might have given people the feeling of going a level up to the YG. Now that we have a WG Pepsi, I don't see a YG in the future. I also believe that the chances for an SS Pepsi and null and void as the common man won't see the difference between SS and WG.

Oh I see what you are saying. Are you thinking YG in a bi color bezel? Say root beer bezel? Because we have two YG gmt's already (black and green dials)

I'm thinking they honestly should have done Pepsi and coke this year both in SS and rose good next year with root beer. But yes I see your angle. But we all know rolex does what rolex wants to do haha

[iLLGT2]

Originally Posted by HauteHorlogerie

It's stupid on many levels...in that it definitely alienates people. And for those with the funds to purchase it...it'll be challenging to not go with something more complicated from another house...but for me I actually wanted this in white gold or platinum because I wanted something to make the GMT truly special...though the 116718 green dial is special..it doesn't do it like this thing, for me at least.

Exactly. Fortunately I can afford it, however, I have never even looked twice at a Rolex above 20k.. but that's just me

[subtona]

amazing watch!