Basel so soon...

[clock]

Where’s the hint from Rolex?
How are we supposed to know what won’t be around?

[JacksonStone]

Last year, the only teaser we got dropped five days before Baselworld opened.

[Vamp]

Originally Posted by clock

Where’s the hint from Rolex?
How are we supposed to know what won’t be around?

[Etschell]

This year Rolex announces it will release new watches in Baselworld 2020.

[WatchNutcase]

Time to bust out the travel cases! WATCHPOD

[Brian7708]

Based on last year’s posts, are we to expect a website reveal on Wednesday the 20th at 7am EDT?

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Brian7708

Based on last year’s posts, are we to expect a website reveal on Wednesday the 20th at 7am EDT?

That's my understanding. I think the unveiling of models occurs at noon local time the day before opening, on the press day. The new releases typically show up on the website at the same time. Basel is UTC +1. EDT is UTC -4.

[Duey]

Who really cares ?

It's not like you'll be able to purchase anything. (if you're lucky you can put your name on a list - WOW)

[stylinleems]

Originally Posted by Duey

Who really cares ?

It's not like you'll be able to purchase anything. (if you're lucky you can put your name on a list - WOW)

So true ...

[Jocke]

This year Rolex will only selling postcard of their SS watches.

[cvo]

Still entertaining to dream. I am thinking coke versions for Tudor and Rolex will come true this year.

[Junior_]

Originally Posted by Jocke

This year Rolex will only selling postcard of their SS watches.

Damn, a five year wait list for postcards.

[904VT]

Sometimes Rolex will feature a watch more on their social media leading up to Basel in the new year. Not a ton of history with the social media but my 2 guesses that are high probability imo are:

Milgauss update
DJ 36 3235 update

The only hints i've seen so far outside of those are Tudor's dive watch bezel hint on the safe. If Rolex does a mirror release again then perhaps that tells us Rolex will release a diver too. If so my guess would be a Smurf with 3235 or even Platinum introduction. After all the GMT Master does have an additional metal with Everose Gold now. I don't think RG is as fitting on the Submariner, so my guess if a new metal addition comes again is Platinum. Only a few weeks left to find out.

[Clasper]

Ceramic Dial TT Daytonas to sell more.

Ceramic Bezel on Explorer 2

A couple of new Rose Gold models

There you go


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[RHIII]

I’m with Jocke on the one —- maybe limited edition postcards...or a new club...to join, with nominal monthly dues...to be considered for the new model, list....


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[visualplane]

Rolex will be releasing a new sub, you heard it here first.

[visualplane]

I lied

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by 904VT

Sometimes Rolex will feature a watch more on their social media leading up to Basel in the new year. Not a ton of history with the social media but my 2 guesses that are high probability imo are:

Milgauss update
DJ 36 3235 update

I've gone back through Rolex's Instagram to the beginning, and they rarely feature a model in the weeks and months leading up to Basel that ends up getting a release that year. Case in point, two years ago, for the entire month of January Rolex plastered their Instagram account with pictures of the GMT. Based on that, lots of people thought the GMT would be getting a refresh that year. Didn't happen. The big models that did hit - the SD43 and the SS SkyD - got virtually no clues whatsoever.

Rolex's pattern is to focus on a given model for a few weeks, then move on to another one. This happens year round. It just so happens that they'll focus on a model for several weeks in advance of Basel, but that doesn't mean they're cluing us in to an imminent release. I suppose things could change, and if there is a Milguass update this year, then that will be evidence to interpret moving forward. But based on history so far, Instagram is not an oracle for what to expect at Basel in any given year.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Duey

Who really cares ?

It's not like you'll be able to purchase anything. (if you're lucky you can put your name on a list - WOW)

I care, if only because I'm hoping we'll get an updated Sub so people will finally stop speculating on the future of the Supercase. Either it's staying or going, but it would be nice to finally know, irrespective of whether I can actually get a new one.

[SLS]

Originally Posted by clock

Where’s the hint from Rolex?
How are we supposed to know what won’t be around?

I'm sure your AD knows!

[904VT]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

I've gone back through Rolex's Instagram to the beginning, and they rarely feature a model in the weeks and months leading up to Basel that ends up getting a release that year. Case in point, two years ago, for the entire month of January Rolex plastered their Instagram account with pictures of the GMT. Based on that, lots of people thought the GMT would be getting a refresh that year. Didn't happen. The big models that did hit - the SD43 and the SS SkyD - got virtually no clues whatsoever.

Rolex's pattern is to focus on a given model for a few weeks, then move on to another one. This happens year round. It just so happens that they'll focus on a model for several weeks in advance of Basel, but that doesn't mean they're cluing us in to an imminent release. I suppose things could change, and if there is a Milguass update this year, then that will be evidence to interpret moving forward. But based on history so far, Instagram is not an oracle for what to expect at Basel in any given year.

2018-Last year the DJ and then the DJ 36 update with 3235

2017-Was the GMT Master which of course wasn't until the following year. I truly believe Rolex intended to release the GMT Master update, but was hit with production and quality issues on the 3285. Or increased production issues with the BLRO bezel. Perhaps similar to Tudor's GMT issues is more likely.

2016-Was the Daytona and then came the Daytona C

2015-No social media

[Boaters]

Curious to see what comes out but getting your hands on it will be a pipe dream unless you have lots of disposable income.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by Jocke

This year Rolex will only selling postcard of their SS watches.

My error.
Delete please mods.

Thank you.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by 904VT

2016-Was the Daytona and then came the Daytona C

I did say Rolex "rarely" signals an upcoming release on Instagram. The Daytona is one of those rare times. It got blanket coverage during the month of February 2016, leading up to the debut of the ceramic Daytona that year. This is a pretty clear example of where Rolex was signaling an upcoming release. Conversely, it was three years ago, shortly after Rolex established its Instagram account, and we haven't seen such a clear-cut example since.

Originally Posted by 904VT

2017-Was the GMT Master which of course wasn't until the following year. I truly believe Rolex intended to release the GMT Master update, but was hit with production and quality issues on the 3285. Or increased production issues with the BLRO bezel. Perhaps similar to Tudor's GMT issues is more likely.

That's conjecture. The flurry of GMT posts could just as easily fall into the category of any number of other models that get highlighted without anything coming of it. All we can say for sure is (1) the January 2017 coverage of the GMT did not portend a 2017 release, and (2) Rolex did not do any special singling out of the GMT on Instagram in 2018 in advance of the release that year.

Originally Posted by 904VT

2018-Last year the DJ and then the DJ 36 update with 3235

Every February since 2017, Rolex has highlighted the Datejust or Datejust 41 as promotion for the Oscars. It's also true that the some form of Datejust got a new release those years, but it also did in 2016 (when there was no signaling on Instagram), and likely will again this year. There are so many permutations of the Datejust, we can figure there probably is going to be some DJ release in nearly any given year. As such, I’d say the DJ stands apart from other models that get infrequent changes, where predicting is much tougher.


So, out of the last three Baselworlds, we can point to the Daytona three years ago as a definite signal for an upcoming release, and the DJ, which serves cross-promotional purposes each year, and comes as no surprise. In the aggregate, that’s not a whole lot of signaling or hint dropping. It’s still the case that most models singled out on Instagram don't end up getting a release at the upcoming Baselworld, and most of the new models that do get released in a given year did not get any special attention on Instagram leading up to their unveiling. Based on that, I stick with my position that Instagram is - as yet - not a good way of predicting Rolex Basel releases. As you say, there's not a whole lot of history here, so if moving forward we get more clear examples of Rolex signaling releases (e.g., the Milgauss does get an update this year), I'll alter my view accordingly.

[tyler1980]

Basel is the worst. Prepare for weeks of "i told you so" threads from people who were guessing

[Vamp]

Originally Posted by Jocke

This year Rolex will only selling postcard of their SS watches.

I foresee a lot of new iphone/computer screen savers being the only thing obtainable

[oldman2005]

Originally Posted by Jocke

This year Rolex will only selling postcard of their SS watches.

LOL, The only thing I'll probably get from Rolex is the 2019 Rolex Basel catalog. Many here didn't even had chance to see last year 2018 Basel SS BLRO in real life.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

I did say Rolex "rarely" signals an upcoming release on Instagram. The Daytona is one of those rare times. It got blanket coverage during the month of February 2016, leading up to the debut of the ceramic Daytona that year. This is a pretty clear example of where Rolex was signaling an upcoming release. Conversely, it was three years ago, shortly after Rolex established its Instagram account, and we haven't seen such a clear-cut example since.


That's conjecture. The flurry of GMT posts could just as easily fall into the category of any number of other models that get highlighted without anything coming of it. All we can say for sure is (1) the January 2017 coverage of the GMT did not portend a 2017 release, and (2) Rolex did not do any special singling out of the GMT on Instagram in 2018 in advance of the release that year.


Every February since 2017, Rolex has highlighted the Datejust or Datejust 41 as promotion for the Oscars. It's also true that the some form of Datejust got a new release those years, but it also did in 2016 (when there was no signaling on Instagram), and likely will again this year. There are so many permutations of the Datejust, we can figure there probably is going to be some DJ release in nearly any given year. As such, I’d say the DJ stands apart from other models that get infrequent changes, where predicting is much tougher.


So, out of the last three Baselworlds, we can point to the Daytona three years ago as a definite signal for an upcoming release, and the DJ, which serves cross-promotional purposes each year, and comes as no surprise. In the aggregate, that’s not a whole lot of signaling or hint dropping. It’s still the case that most models singled out on Instagram don't end up getting a release at the upcoming Baselworld, and most of the new models that do get released in a given year did not get any special attention on Instagram leading up to their unveiling. Based on that, I stick with my position that Instagram is - as yet - not a good way of predicting Rolex Basel releases. As you say, there's not a whole lot of history here, so if moving forward we get more clear examples of Rolex signaling releases (e.g., the Milgauss does get an update this year), I'll alter my view accordingly.

The focus on the DJ every year is in an Oscar's post(s), but that is separate from the watch focused feature they did last year for the DJ unrelated to Oscar's posts. They do show those other similar posts every year in Oscar's posts, but not what I'm referring to. 2/3 years so far on social medial have held true and the 3rd was a precursor to the following year's release. With one of those 3 years being a huge release in the Daytona C. Of course each year is more than one release though, so just one potential tidbit.

[avega357]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

Basel is the worst. Prepare for weeks of "i told you so" threads from people who were guessing

I have already written ALL my I told you so posts, I am just waiting to see which models come out so I can send those specific posts out saying I told you so and delete the rest of the posts were I was incorrect


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[Rocket launcher]

What dates it on