There’s been no rumour of a new release, and their annual showcase has been postponed. When it comes to Rolex and Patek Phillipe, no one knows what’s in the pipeline…
Last month, luxury watch investor, Aaron B David should have been attending the Baselworld watch show. Instead, it was cancelled with little reason as to why. But that’s not all. Thousands of would-be attendees have been left with questions of: what would have been released at the show and what did some of the world’s premium watch brands have up their sleeves?
Lockdown has forced many businesses to adapt, and a number of luxury watch brands have instead unveiled new products online. Watches & Wonders in Geneva even went a step further and arranged an online event for 30 brands to showcase their pieces. Breitling is also amongst those who held a digital event.
The recent government measures have clearly not halted the efforts of some of the world’s most-loved watch brands. But, when it comes to Patek and Rolex little has been said. The Baselworld show typically revolves around the launches of these companies but, with this now postponed, what can investors expect?
Aaron B David says that instead of seeing their silence as a negative, we should be looking at the positive signs. “Rolex and Patek clearly feel confident enough that they can hold back new models. I think it’s a very significant and strong move… Not only does it mean the pressure on retailers is reduced and they can stock up on pieces, but it also allows them to hold onto cash which is especially needed in the current climate.”
Patek sometimes offer a little information about their new releases before an official launch. When it comes to Rolex, we’ve never been given any details prior to a launch. This has led many experts to question as to whether the new Rolex release will be that radical. One thing that can be said is that the new piece will likely not be as radical as the funky Cosmograph Daytona ‘Rainbow’ and ‘leopard’ models of 2012 and 2004.
Rolex’s releases are often a simple matter of upgrades, tweaks and adaptions – some of which are even invisible mechanical improvements. The last time Rolex did make a large change to their range was in 2012 – with the arrival of Sky-Dweller. Often the discontinuing of a Rolex watch is bigger news than the release itself.
So, what can we expect from Rolex this year? It’s likely that we’ll see some design changes to the Submariner dive watch – although these may be unnoticeable. It’s also rumoured that the Sea-Dweller may be upgraded to a full-gold piece – as well as gold versions of the Everose and a white gold Yacht-Master 42 piece.
In terms of Patek Phillipe, fans are eagerly expecting a new model. After all, at the last Baselworld show, its steel-cased reference 5212A Weekly Calendar garnered attention. There’s also talk of some of last year’s favourites being adapted to include different colourings. The popularity of steel Nautili and integrated bracelets could have also meant some thematic variations as well as additional strap colours.
However, these are all just rumours. No one can say what the future holds – but, time will tell…
