Fratello’s Top 5 Rolex Releases Of 2025

It’s Friday, so it’s time for another list. After visiting Rolex a few weeks ago to check out the novelties for 2025, we immediately agreed that the Genevan brand treated us to some amazing releases this year. Having a chance to see them all displayed at once gave us a good idea of the variety among the new additions to the catalog. We then went ahead and picked our five favorite 2025 Rolex releases. As it turns out, it was quite the task. We were spoiled for choice with so many great watches on the table. In the end, though, we feel this selection of favorites perfectly displays the great diversity among the offerings.

Before we get started, here’s a quick explanation of how we went about our selection. We decided to pick our favorite individual watches. So, for example, when it comes to the Oyster Perpetual, it’s about one size and one dial color. As a result, all of the picks are specific references rather than one general model with multiple variations. Understandably, this made selecting them quite a bit tougher. Additionally, not every Fratello team member would pick these same five watches as personal favorites. However, because this list was a group effort, we all agree that these are the best Rolex releases of 2025 overall. Now, without further ado, let’s find out what they are.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 ref. 126000-0015

We knew from the start that we’d have to pick an Oyster Perpetual as one of the best Rolex releases of 2025; that was never in question. Even the 36mm size was pretty much a no-brainer. But which of the new dials deserved our pick the most? Rolex unveiled three soft dial colors that look super nice, as Lex explained.

But the blue- and black-lacquered dials were two new variants we didn’t see during Watches and Wonders. When we saw them a few weeks ago during the presentation of almost all the new introductions, we found them very impressive. The black-dial version is wonderful, but we think the blue-dial version tops even that.

The new dial color has a richness that isn’t hard to describe, but you have to see it in real life to properly appreciate it. It’s a medium blue, light enough to be vibrant but dark and saturated enough to have depth and sophistication. This makes it a surprisingly versatile color perfectly suited for everyday wear, no matter the occasion. It sounds almost too simple to be impressed by a simple blue dial, but honestly, it is different from the many blue dials we usually see. So yes, it is that simple and good, as Thomas also explained.

The perfect entry-level daily wearer from Rolex

Other than that, you get the familiar 36mm case with its 11.5mm thickness and 44mm lug-to-lug. It houses the automatic 4Hz caliber 3230. This movement offers Superlative Chronometer certification with an accuracy rating of ±2 seconds per day and a power reserve of 70 hours. Rounding out the package is the ultra-comfortable Oyster bracelet, which makes this Oyster Perpetual 36 ref. 126000-0015 the perfect entry-level daily wearer in the Rolex collection at €6,400.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126518LN-0014

Our next pick was subject to a lot of discussion. With eight new Rolex Daytona releases this year, picking our collective favorite was quite the challenge. Was it going to be the trio of meteorite-dial versions? Or could it be the one in full Everose gold with the chocolate-brown dial?

Ultimately, Lex and I got our way with the brilliant new yellow gold Daytona with the turquoise-lacquered dial and the Oysterflex bracelet. I wrote the introduction article for the watch, and it immediately stood out because of its dial color. It reminded me of the brilliant turquoise dials that Rolex used in the 2000s for the white gold Daytona. When I saw the new watch in person, I was blown away by how well the combination of colors works.

Sure, this dial color is not for everyone, and neither is the Daytona. I am guilty as charged. I have gone on record here on Fratello multiple times to state that while I am a fan of the hand-wound Daytona models, the modern automatic ones generally leave me somewhat cold compared to the many other options in the brand’s collection. But with every new addition to the catalog comes the possibility of an exception. This year, I saw two. The version in full Everose gold with the chocolate dial is an absolute winner. But the sheer impact of seeing the turquoise dial with the yellow gold case on the Oysterflex bracelet made me smile.

More sophisticated than the colors might lead you to believe

What surprised me most is that the watch is a lot more sophisticated than its bold, contrasting colors might suggest. The black sub-dials, Cerachrom bezel, and Oysterflex bracelet play a decisive part in reining in the watch’s flashy potential.

This results in a far more balanced overall presence than I would have thought, and that’s why it was even better than I could have imagined. The watch has the familiar 40mm case with an 11.9mm thickness and a 46mm lug-to-lug. Inside the case, the in-house chronometer-certified caliber 4131 offers a healthy 72 hours of power reserve. This extravagant second pick has a retail price of €37,700, and if I had that kind of spare cash lying around (and the proper connections), I would not hesitate for one second to snap this watch up.

Rolex Land-Dweller 36 ref. 127234-0001

You didn’t think we would leave the Land-Dweller off this list, did you? The series reintroduced the Oysterquartz aesthetic to the Rolex lineup, and we love that. Additionally, the new groundbreaking caliber 7135 is a proper tour de force that represents a big step into the future for the brand.

The Land-Dweller is the first new non-dress collection since the Sky-Dweller debuted in 2012, and it is an impressive one. While all of us here at Fratello agree that the honeycomb pattern and the open numerals on the dial aren’t our favorite dial elements, with possible introductions of simpler dials in the future, the Land-Dweller has the potential to become a huge hit.

I reflected on the right size for the Land-Dweller in a lengthy article only a couple of days ago. The simple conclusion that my Fratello colleagues and I all agreed on is that the 36mm Land-Dweller in stainless steel with the white gold bezel is the one to go for. It offers the great refinement we know from the similarly sized original Oysterquartz, Day-Date, and Datejust. While the 40mm version will be great for many fans, for us, the smaller Land-Dweller wins because it represents the classic 36mm Rolex aesthetic that feels balanced and works well on wrists of many sizes.

A display case back revealing the revolutionary caliber 7135

The biggest news regarding the Land-Dweller is the new caliber 7135. This automatic high-beat movement operates at 36,000vph and offers 66 hours of power reserve. The movement features the revolutionary Dynapulse escapement — essentially, a silicon sequential-distribution escapement with an antimagnetic ceramic balance staff. As we know from Rolex, the caliber is a certified chronometer and offers an accuracy of ±2 seconds per day. The caliber can be seen in action thanks to the display case back, making things even more interesting.

The Rolex Land-Dweller is a great new line added to the collection that will undoubtedly have an increasing impact, especially once more dial variants become available. For now, the 36mm stainless steel version only comes with a white dial and has a retail price of €14,550.

Rolex 1908 ref. 52508-0008

Our next pick is not even a new dial variant. It is an existing model that is now available with a full-gold bracelet. But ask people who have seen and worn the watch, and they will tell you that adding the bracelet is a huge step for the Rolex 1908. The so-called Settimo bracelet has a vintage charm that fits the overall style well. However, as we know from Rolex, the engineering and production quality are anything but vintage. The execution is flawless, and it makes the 1908 an absolute joy to wear.

Maybe even more importantly, the bracelet has given the 1908 a renewed relevance that will draw in new fans. I certainly am one of them. While I enjoy the looks of the 1908 on a strap, there is something special about the new seven-row bracelet with its vintage-looking curved end links and brilliantly subtle Crownclasp. It makes the yellow gold 1908 look phenomenal. But the impact is even greater once you put the watch on your wrist. The combination of the build quality, materials, and superbly comfortable bracelet makes this one of my absolute favorites and one of the biggest surprises from The Crown this year.

The 1908 on a bracelet is a great pick at the price

What has stayed the same is the 39mm yellow gold case with its 9.5mm thickness and 47mm lug-to-lug. The case is matched with a coin-edge bezel and the choice of a white or a black dial. While I would probably lean toward the latter, the white version we saw was undeniably classy as well.

If you turn the watch around, you can see the in-house caliber 7140. The automatic movement operates at 28,800vph and offers 66 hours of power reserve. The caliber displays the hours and minutes centrally and features small seconds at 6 o’clock. The seconds sub-dial gives the yellow gold Rolex 1908 just the right retro charm. At €36,200, this release beats a legion of other dress watches at that price, especially with a bracelet as good as this.

Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126715CHNR-0002 “Tiger Iron”

Our last pick is another much-debated one. The newly presented Rolex GMT-Master II “Tiger Iron” features a new dial that is not everyone’s cup of tea. This stone dial is made from a mixture of tiger eye, red jasper, and hematite stones. As a result, every single dial has a unique look, ranging from predominantly gray to a vibrant mix of gray, yellow, and red. That makes this new dial variant interesting but not equally appealing to everyone. While it was first presented as an Everose GMT-Master II, we quickly discovered that the new dial is also an option for the yellow gold GMT-Master II for a far more contrasting aesthetic.

Because the dial colors match the Everose gold model slightly better, we decided to stick with that version. However, we’ve not yet had the pleasure of checking out the yellow gold version, which might end up being the winner of the two. Until then, the Everose variant presented at Watches and Wonders will make this list because it looks spectacular.

The watch features the familiar 40mm Everose gold case with a 12mm thickness and a 48mm lug-to-lug. Rolex paired it with a black and brown Cerachrom bezel insert that matches the dial colors nicely. Finishing the look is an Everose gold Oyster bracelet. Inside the case, you will find the in-house caliber 3285 that operates at 28,800vph and offers 70 hours of power reserve. At €51,250, this last pick for our list is the most expensive. But what you get in return is a distinct, characterful take on the GMT-Master II.

Final thoughts on our five favorite Rolex releases of 2025

There you have it — our top five Rolex releases of 2025 as introduced at Watches and Wonders. Knowing that we left out the other great dial colors for the Oyster Perpetual, the full-gold Daytona releases, and a great new olive-green-dial version of the Day-Date will tell you that it’s been a great year for Rolex fans. Seeing nearly all the releases next to each other on display gave us a good overview, which only cemented that feeling.

When asked what my favorite of the new Rolex releases was, I went back and forth between multiple models several times. It’s quite remarkable because there is usually one clear standout every year. Last year, it was the 36mm Day-Date with the white dial and deconstructed Roman numerals. In 2023, it was the steel and gold GMT-Master II with the black and gray bezel, and in 2022, the titanium Yacht-Master was my undisputed favorite.

But this year, it’s a toss-up between the turquoise-dial Daytona, the 1908 on the bracelet, and the Oyster Perpetual with the blue dial. And I’m even leaving out the Everose gold Daytona with the chocolate dial. We would say Rolex had many great releases in 2025, but let us know what your favorite is in the comments!