To the disappointment of many, this years Basel Fair 2015 seemed lackluster. Brands made their annual releases and upgrades, but very few pieces created any real buzz. Rolex, always greatly anticipated, had their fans feeling let down. The previous year, there were multiple releases that turned Rolex enthusiasts on their heads. There was the Pepsi GMT Master in white gold, the Milgauss blue dial, and the Deep Sea Sea Dweller James Cameron piece. This year, just one piece really gave Rolex fans something to pause on, The Yachtmaster Everose Gold.
The Yachtmaster has been around for plenty of years with not much change. The most recent update came when a blue dial was added to their steel with platinum bezel piece. This years update is way more drastic. For the first time, Rolex is offering a stock rubber strap on a piece. This black rubber strap attached to the classic 40mm now rose gold case is a big change for Rolex; a brand mainly known for metal bracelets. To accompany this black rubber strap, the sporty bezel bearing raised numerals has now been produced in matte ceramic. Paired with a black dial and rose hands and markers, this piece does not lack style points.
Rolex is not reinventing the wheel here. There have been an influx of rose gold pieces with black bezels over the last ten years. Starting with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad and continuing in brands like Ulysses Nardin with the Maxi Marine Diver and Hublot with the Big Bang, black on gold is a proven combination. Rolex may be late to the party but that does not discredit this piece. Introducing their loyal consumer to a new segment with this rubber strap, coined “OysterFlex”, is clearly paving the way for future models to offer the same sporty band option. Where RubberB had the market cornered, Rolex has taken it upon itself to keep its loyalists in house and offer what so many have been waiting for. Considering Rolex did not make many waves at Basel this year, the new Yachtmaster will surely ride high once released. Having just landed in the U.S> with an MSRP of $24,950, these are already flying out of Rolex cases. Comfortable and new to the lineup, Rolex has reshaped this classic line.
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