Listen in as Tim Mosso makes his annual Rolex new watch predictions in front of a live, global audience. From rumors of a new Rolex Explorer II to potential discontinued models—he’s hitting it all.

Rolex at Watches & Wonders 2021 (3:53)
This year, all eyes are on Rolex as the celebrated Rolex Explorer II marks 50 years since its 1971 debut. Originally designed for cave explorers, the reference 1655 was a single time-zone watch like its GMT-Master running mate. The mid-1980s and reference 16550 witnessed the first true dual-time Explorer II and the arrival of the accidental collectible "cream" dial Explorer. Rolex last redesigned the Explorer II with 2011's reference 216570, a 42mm sports watch that many considered too large for traditional Rolex buyers.

The Predictions (13:11)
Tim fully expects a new development in the 2021 Explorer II model line. A smaller Oyster case of 41mm would fit with the general Rolex trend towards larger watches and the 2020 arrival of 41mm Oyster Perpetual and Submariner models. While a new case is likely, and a new 70-hour movement is inevitable, the actual form of the watch is uncertain. Rolex has added ceramic bezels to the Submariner, Daytona, and Yacht-Master, but it's not clear that this material is an aesthetic match for the Explorer II -- a watch whose brushed bezel has been integral to its style since 1971.

Inside the case, the 2021 Rolex Explorer II may pay homage to the original "Steve McQueen Rolex 1655" with a return to a straight seconds hand, matte black dial, and orange arrow GMT hour hand. More intriguing is the potential for a revival of the Rolex Explorer II "cream" dial, a coloration effect that emerged by accident from the aging of Rolex 16550 white dials. Add a "rail dial" text block at six o'clock, and Rolex collectors will queue around the block in every one of the world's major cities.

Additional possibilities for a 2021 Rolex Explorer II include historic "firsts" such as a precious metal option or the use of the Oysterflex strap bracelet.

Potential Rolex Retirees (20:05)
Which Rolex watches will be discontinued in 2021? Rumors suggest that the Rolex Cellini dress watch collection will be discontinued or substantially reduced in size. Also rife are theories that the Rolex Milgauss Z-Blue or even the entire Milgauss collection will be discontinued. With the 70th anniversary of the Milgauss model set to arrive in 2026, Rolex might decide to put its "technician's watch" on hiatus for a few years in order to rebuild interest in the line. Moreover, the presence of so many 39-41mm three-hand steel sports watches in the Rolex collection suggests that one -- and the Milgauss is the oldest -- is likely to be discontinued soon.

Whether or not any major model lines are retired in 2021, new variants of existing Rolex watch models are guaranteed to appear. So far, the Oysterflex strap bracelet has been fitted to the Yacht-Master and Cosmograph Dayton models in full precious metal. Given the pattern of Rolex technologies trickling down from flagship models, it's highly likely that watch collectors will see a two-tone steel-gold Rolex with an Oysterflex strap in the near future. This could come in the form of a new 2021 Rolex Submariner or 2021 Rolex Daytona; both models sell more slowly than stainless steel. A new two-tone Submariner with the Oysterflex strap could provide exactly the kind of demand that two-tone models have lacked relative to full steel and even full gold Rolex models in the current marketplace.

Watches & Wonders 2021 marks the first time in ages that Rolex has entered a new year with no plans whatsoever to launch new Rolex watches at Baselworld. The decline of the famous wristwatch trade show had led to a virtual event that combines many of the luxury watch brands previously split between January's SIHH watch launches and the late March Basel event. Tim will discuss his theories of 2021 Rolex model launches; these Rolex predictions range from certain bets (e.g., an Explorer II) to outright fantasy (e.g., a Rolex atomic watch).