Rolex W&W 2025: What We Loved (and Didn’t)

TLDR; Our unsalted summary

New Models

• Land-Dweller: All-new Rolex model with high-frequency movement, honeycomb dial, and integrated bracelet. We think it’s the coolest release this year.
• GMT-Master II “Sprite” (White Gold): Same crown-left layout, now in full white gold with the first ceramic dial. Clean, premium, and one for the collectors. Get the steel version, which is way better.
• 1908 with Settimo Bracelet: Finally, a bracelet for the 1908—vintage-inspired and beautifully executed. Let's hope it’s actually available.

Model Discontinuations

• Datejust 31 Floral Dials: Quietly removed. Beautiful and underappreciated—prices will go up.
• Oyster Perpetual Celebration Dials: Gone. No surprise after last year’s DJ motif phase-out. Expect collector hype.

Model Updates / Dial Changes

• Datejust 31 Ombré Dials: Inspired by the old vignette style, now back in red with diamonds. A classy comeback.
• Oyster Perpetual Pastels: Lavender, pistachio, and sandy beige. A strong visual refresh—Sandy Beige is our favorite. But please, Rolex. Send us all configurations. We love it!
• Matte dials replace sunburst on the Oyster Perpetual 41mm, now under new ref. 134300, for a more refined and elegant look.
• Rolex refreshed three icons with bold new dials—a turquoise lacquer Daytona (a bit too loud for our taste), a GMT-Master II with a natural tiger iron dial (surprisingly great), and a bright green Sky-Dweller that’s sure to be a hit.

Overall Take on WW25
Rolex played it safe, but smart. No wild surprises, but thoughtful updates and a few standout innovations. The Land-Dweller and 1908 bracelet steal the show.

The new Land-Dweller by Rolex

Rolex just took a bold leap forward at Watches & Wonders 2025 with the introduction of the groundbreaking Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller. This entirely new addition to the Rolex family isn't just another watch—it's a statement of innovation and design, purpose-built for those shaping tomorrow's world today.

At first glance, the Land-Dweller impresses with its refined yet robust aesthetic, featuring a seamlessly integrated Flat Jubilee bracelet—an elegant reimagining of Rolex’s iconic Jubilee style. Crafted in Oystersteel and white gold (White Rolesor), its 36 or 40 mm case blends polished chamfers and technical satin finishes to create a striking harmony of light and form.

Underneath its sophisticated exterior lies the revolutionary Calibre 7135, operating at an unprecedented 5 hertz (36,000 beats per hour). This high-frequency movement introduces Rolex’s Dynapulse escapement—a game-changing innovation that replaces the traditional lever escapement with a silicon-based mechanism that reduces friction, increases energy efficiency, and resists magnetic interference. Coupled with Rolex's advanced Paraflex shock absorbers and Syloxi silicon hairspring, the Land-Dweller guarantees precision, robustness, and reliability in even the most demanding conditions. And the best thing about this new caliber? It doesn’t need regular service.

The dial, available in intense white or ice blue, showcases a distinctive laser-engraved honeycomb motif that provides depth and visual intrigue. Luminescent hands and open numerals featuring Rolex’s Chromalight technology ensure perfect legibility, regardless of lighting conditions.

All this innovation comes with a transparent sapphire case back—uncommon for Rolex—that lets you admire the intricate finishing and sparkling yellow gold oscillating weight inside.

The Rolex Land-Dweller is set to become a modern classic, a true milestone in Rolex’s storied history. The watch just got released in steel, full rose gold and platinum, making sure we know what the release for 2026 will be: a full yellow gold Land-Dweller.

The new White Gold Sprite

Rolex’s newest take on the GMT-Master II—better known by collectors as the Sprite or lefty—takes the crown-left format to a new level of luxury. Crafted entirely from 18 kt white gold, this 2025 edition debuts the brand’s first-ever green Cerachrom ceramic dial, seamlessly matching the lower half of its two-tone black and green bezel. That dial is really stunning, and now made of ceramic which is a first for the GMT-Master II. 

Aside from the dial, the signature left-hand crown and 9 o’clock date window remain. It’s powered by the trusted calibre 3285, offering independent hour adjustment and a 70-hour power reserve. With a precious metal case and matching Oyster bracelet, this new Sprite blends innovation with exclusivity. 

Perpetual 1908 Gets Its First Bracelet: The New Settimo

Rolex surprised many with a refresh to the Perpetual 1908—not through a dial or movement update, but with the debut of a completely new bracelet. The all-new Settimo bracelet, crafted from 18 kt yellow gold, is the first metal bracelet ever offered for the 1908. We think it’s a seriously cool move: elegant, vintage-inspired, and unlike anything else in the current lineup. It reminds us at the early days at Patek, with those elegant full gold bracelets. Get me? Amazing release if you ask us. This bracelet should come as a standard on all 1908 watches in the Rolex catalog.

Its seven-piece link construction feels delicate yet solid, with polished, domed surfaces that reflect light beautifully. The integration with the case is seamless thanks to a clever attachment system (Rolex even filed a patent for it), and the concealed Crownclasp keeps the silhouette clean and refined. It’s vintage elegance with a modern Rolex twist.

What really wonders us, is the availability of this amazing bracelet. Yes, we truly love it. But the same goes for the 1908, ever since the introduction. We haven’t seen one in the flesh, we haven’t sold one since nobody offers one. So, what will be the availability of this Settimo bracelet? Can everybody order one, or do you need proof you have a 1908 in your collection?

2025: Year of the new Rolex dial colors

New Datejust 31 dial color schemes

Vintage charm meets modern finesse in the latest update to the Datejust 31. Rolex has introduced a new range of Ombré dials, drawing inspiration from the beloved vignette-style designs of the past. The standout? A rich red ombré dial created using PVD technology—an especially challenging hue to master. It shimmers between light and shadow depending on the angle, delivering serious throwback energy with a contemporary Rolex twist.

Set with 10 diamond hour markers and paired with 18 kt yellow gold, this new Datejust 31 variant leans into luxury while celebrating the brand’s heritage in dial artistry. The Ombré family signals a stylish evolution in the Datejust lineup—and a welcome one at that.

To be honest, we’ve been waiting for something like this. Back in the days, Rolex used the Vignette dials on both the larger and smaller Datejust models, and is now back in business. The vignette-dials are the most popular ones amongst collectors, so it’s a good thing these dials can be found on the Datejust. Let’s hope they will introduce them on the 36mm as well.

New Oyster Perpetual Dial colors

We were close. In our rumor roundup, we guessed a pistachio dial might be coming—and Rolex delivered. But not just that: the 2025 Oyster Perpetual refresh brings three new dial options, each uniquely matched to a case size. The lavender dial appears on the 28 mm, sandy beige on the 36 mm, and the long-speculated pistachio green on the 41 mm model. While not exactly what we predicted, it’s a pastel palette that expands the personality of the collection without overstepping its elegant simplicity.

Visually, the new dials lean matte over gloss, with a lacquered softness that adds sophistication. The pistachio green 41 mm also debuts subtle case and clasp refinements, hinting at even more comfort and precision. All in all, this update doesn’t shout—it whispers with confidence.

With these new dial colors matched to the case sizing, Rolex has done it again. The Oyster Perpetual line-up is just simply amazing, especially with these new dial colors. With that being said, you won’t find the Celebration-dials anymore (those Tiffany-blue dials with the dots). It doesn’t come as a surprise after Rolex discontinued the motif-dials on the Datejust last year. 

From Shiney Sunburst to Matte dial

Another thing that has changed within the Oyster Perpetual catalog, is the fact that the 41mm features a new reference number (134300) and that the case is slightly more elegant compared to the older ones. Furthermore, Rolex has now changed the dial colors to mat finishes instead of sunburst/sunray dials, except for the silver dial, that remains as a sunburst silver dial. From now on, the Oyster Perpetual features a mat finish, which gives the watch a more elegant look.

New Dial Looks for the Daytona, GMT-Master II & Sky-Dweller

Rolex isn’t done turning heads this year. Three icons—the Cosmograph Daytona, GMT-Master II, and Sky-Dweller—return with bold new dial configurations that push the visual identity of each model forward.

The Daytona now comes in a striking turquoise blue lacquer dial with black counters, paired with yellow gold and an Oysterflex bracelet—an unexpected combo with big contrast energy. Not our favorite release to be honest, since it really gives us the cheap-vibes while it’s the iconic Daytona. But someone will love it, that’s for sure.

Meanwhile, the GMT-Master II in Everose gold gets a dial in tiger iron, a natural stone featuring golden and reddish textures never before used by Rolex. Another thing we predicted was the return of the stone dial. We just didn’t expect it to be in the GMT-Master II. And the Sky-Dweller? It lights up in a fresh bright green sunray dial, now paired with an 18 kt yellow gold case and Jubilee bracelet. This configuration will probably be the most popular one from now on, expecting some serious requests for this piece already.

Also a Farewell to the other Dials

Floral dials on the Datejust 31 faded away

Just like the motif dials on the Datejust 36 and 41 are being phased out, the elegant Floral motif dials on the Datejust 31 are no longer available either. Previously offered in olive green, silver, and blue, these intricately detailed designs have quietly disappeared from Rolex's online configurator—marking the end of a colorful, artistic chapter in the Datejust lineup.

What probably will happen on the market: expect prices to rise from now on for these Floral dial Datejust 31’s, if you’re lucky enough to find one. These were already quite hard to find, and the hunt will continue. It’s no surprise these dials are discontinued, after Rolex discontinued their motif-dials last year on the Datejust models.  

Oyster Perpetual Celebration Dials Discontinued

Alongside the introduction of new pastel tones for the Oyster Perpetual, Rolex has also quietly phased out one of its boldest recent dial designs: the Celebration dial. Previously available in multiple sizes and defined by its playful multicolor dot motif on a turquoise background, the Celebration dial can no longer be configured—marking the end of one of Rolex’s most unconventional expressions in recent memory.

If you own one of these Celebration dials, or you’re on the lookout for one, expect rising prices in the coming days on the grey market. Every year, Rolex announces the new collection and the discontinued models - those prices will sky-rocket. If you really want one, just wait a couple of weeks and get your hands on the desired configuration.

Our opinion on the updates of Rolex at Watches & Wonders 2025

Watches & Wonders 2025 marks a bold year for Rolex. The Land-Dweller debuts a groundbreaking movement with the Dynapulse escapement, while the white gold “Sprite” GMT introduces Rolex’s first ceramic dial. The 1908 now sports the elegant Settimo bracelet, and the Datejust 31 embraces vintage flair with new Ombré dials. Meanwhile, the Celebration and Floral motif dials have quietly disappeared.

Rolex’s strategy is clear: blend innovation with timeless design. They're doubling down on technical advancement while refining the aesthetic across core collections.

Expect rising collector interest in discontinued dials, more ceramic experimentation, and further precious metal expansions. All in all, Rolex continues to shape the future—quietly, confidently, and with purpose.

Our opinion on the 2025 release from Rolex? A bit boring to be honest. We’re thankful that there’s no full diamond release like last year, or a full gold heavy diver, so we’re getting closer to some nice pieces. The Land-Dweller will be one of the coolest releases with the integrated bracelet, open caseback and the dial finish. But as always, list prices are pretty high, so you’ll probably need to break the bank if you want one on the grey market. The best release personally? The 1908 Settimo config, which is stunning. A big yes to Rolex for releasing that bracelet. The other one that really pops, is the Oyster Perpetual 36 in Sandy Beige. I need one.

What is your favorite update this release?