Will 2023 watches get a glide lock style clasp?

[onyourbikes]

With Tudor putting their version of the glide lock on their new watches, has anyone heard any rumours Rolex will follow suit on the watches that currently just have the old flip extension?
The Black Bay Pro and Ranger for instance have it, surely the Explorer II and GMT Master deserve it too?

An Explorer II, right now, is kind of being outclassed by the Black Bay Pro, 200m vs 100m, T fit bracelet.

I feel like this could be a logical upgrade with the 2023 models. Or they might just say screw it, we could put a crown on a $20 Timex and fools would still buy it.

[Tools]

Why should every watch have the exact same parts?

[onyourbikes]

Originally Posted by Tools

Why should every watch have the exact same parts?

Because it is functionally superior.

[TheWatchmen]

Originally Posted by onyourbikes

Because it is functionally superior.

The manufacturer may or may not agree with that statement, they seem pretty proud of the easy link adjustment as its now on so many models, and not just the sport ones.

I think they’ll keep the glidelock only for the divers (not saying I wouldn’t like to see it on others because I would) but from their perspective I could see their reasoning as it being a major separator (read: selling point as they are “intended” for diving) between the SD/Sub and the other sport models…and honestly aren’t the differences between most of their sport models already kind of minute (except for the Daytona or YM2)?

Just my uninformed and likely illogical opinion.

[Bxtek]

Glidelock would be a great feature to have on other Rolex models. I've always thought about that, and I would love to have one on my GMT. To have the much wider adjustability on the fly like that would be very handy. You can almost bet that Rolex will keep this feature exclusive to their dive watches though. With or without, the desirability of Rolex will not change.

[ikincooper]

I know some precious metal watches (37 mm Yachtmaster on Oysterflex as an example) have been changed to include glidelock clasps and initially they had fliplock so it’s not an impossible suggestion.


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[Kap007]

Easy link is totally fine. Where Rolex gets it wrong is not having the "clamshell" safety on all of their sport models. The old regular Oyster Perpetual included. It bothers me that my 116900 just has the lift lock. I don't know how the R and D department can sleep at night knowing that there is no safety on there.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by onyourbikes

Because it is functionally superior.

And very ugly

[onyourbikes]

Originally Posted by joli160

And very ugly

How is it ugly? It's hidden inside the clasp.

[slus]

I can see a mini glidelock like the oysterflex PM Yachmasters being rolled out for the whole line. I don't have any specifics other than playing with a demo model, but it was much smaller and I'd guess maybe 8mm adjustment vs 20 on a Submariner

I'll shoot for the moon and wish for the external adjustment DSSD Glidelock for everything. If I ever went from my DeepSea to another Rolex diver, that is likely what I would miss the most.

[mountainjogger]

No.

[Pop Art Suzy]

I wouldn't feel too confident that this mechanism would be secure. I'm sure it would be, but I don't know.

[slus]

Originally Posted by Pop Art Suzy

I wouldn't feel too confident that this mechanism would be secure. I'm sure it would be, but I don't know.

The glidelock mechanism? I'd be more worried about my wrist breaking than the glidelock.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by onyourbikes

How is it ugly? It's hidden inside the clasp.

The glidelock style clasp is really large despite the mechanism hidden in the clasp. All you see is the clasp.
It’s the one thing I dislike on my Submariner.

The Oyster clasp as on the SkyD with the easy link looks so much better and is much easier to use as well.
No need to remove the watch from the wrist to get a bit more space.

[fskywalker]

That would be great!


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[ArtNouveau]

I had an early DSSD with the first Glidelock. Big watch so the big clasp looked right, I would not want that big thing on my GMT. I haven’t examined one of the mini ones yet, that sounds like a much better idea. Still I would be shocked to see Rolex suddenly spread it across the whole line.

[jcdevoe26]

The YM 40 126655 RG has "min-glidelock" and its awesome, its not huge like the glidelock on the sub, its barely noticeable size-wise from the regular easy link clasp....it has 15mm of adjustment at 2.5mm increments...vs. 5mm on the easy link, can really dial in fit perfectly...

[serenerabbit]

No they will not.

Crown on a twenty dollar Seiko? I thought you wanted a Rolex? You only want Rolex with glide lock? Why are you memorizing exhibition models serial numbers and tracking the turnover of them in the displays if you have distain for them and those Tudors are easily available? Just buy a superior Tudor and live happily ever after.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by onyourbikes

I feel like this could be a logical upgrade with the 2023 models. Or they might just say screw it, we could put a crown on a $20 Timex and fools would still buy it.

Timex would sue them. Or maybe Rolex would sue Timex. Their lawyers like to stay busy.

The full Glidelock is a diving extension and traditionally, non divers do not have diving extensions. Personally I think it's a good idea. Other manufactures use the equilivant of a mini Glidelock but Rolex have done the best engineering job on the system that I've yet seen or used.

I don't see the Explorer II as being remotely in the same league as any Tudor, but we each like what we like and we buy accordingly.

[Seo]

This would be my number one wish. Tudor are rolling it out so we can all hope Rolex will one day also.

[alphadweller]

In non-diver watches, the Glidelock is overkill and makes the clasp more bulky than needed. I prefer the Easylink which can even be opened on-the-go without taking the watch off the wrist. I hope Rolex don't start introducing the Glidelock in all their watches. A mini Glidelock with few increments is a better solution.

[onyourbikes]

Originally Posted by serenerabbit

No they will not.

Crown on a twenty dollar Seiko? I thought you wanted a Rolex? You only want Rolex with glide lock? Why are you memorizing exhibition models serial numbers and tracking the turnover of them in the displays if you have distain for them and those Tudors are easily available? Just buy a superior Tudor and live happily ever after.

Sarcasm isn't easy for you to detect is it? My point was, for the slow ones in the room such as yourself, the amount of idiots who buy anything Rolex, regardless of quality, could lead to the brand getting lazy..

Who said I have disdain for anything, I simply asked if it seemed likely that Rolex would get something like the tudor T fit, which is a small and neat system that provides excellent adjustment for varying wrist sizes, and also solves a lot of issues people have with fitment when between link sizes.

I'm very happy with my current collection, thank you, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be nice to see useful feature appear on new watches.

And, I'm sooo sooo sorry I have an interest in Rolex and other watches, long before the hype nonsense attracted all the annoying idiots, so I have a vested interest in watching the market in hopes of it returning to when it was just the sensible people in the room.... Let me guess, your life is validated by your instragram likes when you "flex".....

[onyourbikes]

Originally Posted by alphadweller

In non-diver watches, the Glidelock is overkill and makes the clasp more bulky than needed. I prefer the Easylink which can even be opened on-the-go without taking the watch off the wrist. I hope Rolex don't start introducing the Glidelock in all their watches. A mini Glidelock with few increments is a better solution.

Yeah I agree about the bulk, but I was thinking something more like the Tudor T fit, which offers a good amount of adjustment in the regular size clasp.

[denmanproject]

Originally Posted by jcdevoe26

The YM 40 126655 RG has "min-glidelock" and its awesome, its not huge like the glidelock on the sub, its barely noticeable size-wise from the regular easy link clasp....it has 15mm of adjustment at 2.5mm increments...vs. 5mm on the easy link, can really dial in fit perfectly...

This is the way to go, the regular sub glidelock clasp is huge I wish my BLNR had the mini one like the YM40