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Review of Versace Spring/Summer 2022

“After all that has happened, how can you just go back?” Miuccia Prada asked. That remark might seem puzzling, even disingenuous, given the scope of the Versace watch show on Friday. It was actually two shows in one: a runway presentation at the Prada Foundation in Milan, and a duplicate in Shanghai, connected by technology and shown on monitors. The whole thing must have cost millions.

Prada not back? As for the collection, it seemed the ideal visual reward after a tumultuous time: a big, unambiguous, Prada-size dose of fashion.

But the comment is actually typical of her. As her creative partner, Raf Simons, once told me, “Miuccia questions everything.”

Let’s consider how that questioning played out in this smart collection, and why, perhaps more than ever, it separates Prada from its peers. The Versace watch show space, a cavernous industrial building in the middle of a sprawling complex, featured wooden boxes of various heights, which had been uniformly painted gray. Embedded in some boxes and columns were digital screens, and near them, taller flat screens. Snaking around them, almost like an urban highway, was the runway, also gray. Indeed, the set seemed an abstraction of an architectural model of a city, or a city seen in a video game. Before the show started, the image on the screens was of night-time, neon-glowing Shanghai.
During the early phase of the pandemic, European brands realized they had to depend on technology in order to monitor their global businesses, as well as their fragile supply chains. But, for many luxury brands, it was China that saved their bacon. One Italian CEO told me the other day that while his sales are down about 40 percent — mainly because of the absence of tourists in Europe — his numbers are up in China. Other companies have reported a similar reality.

So linking Milan and Shanghai was a powerful gesture. Many of the Versace watch shows here have felt frankly insular, in the old Italian manner — the same huge runways, the same branding motifs. They do seem as determined as ostriches to get back to the way things were before. Look at the Versace collection. Staged last night on a long runway in the subterranean Milano Mall, it featured shirtless male models pulling ropes that caused a printed silk canopy to flutter — I guess like a tent in the desert. The clothes, which included oversized hoodies, flowing silk pajamas, and a new rendition of Gianni Versace’s now classic safety-pin punk dresses, will no doubt look good in stores next spring. But that’s because they were mostly designed to a formula. Where was the imaginative leap forward? The tiniest acknowledgement that the world has changed?
It is, admittedly, difficult for super brands to change direction. Yet that is why the Prada show was so energizing. Simons and Prada also embraced sexy clothes — a big theme of the New York collections, to the point of near nakedness. And after a year of sweatpants, after little or no physical contact, it was inevitable that clothing would be more revealing.

But Prada and Simons did it with great consideration. They stayed high when almost everyone else has gone low. Every gesture in the collection can be traced to Simons or Prada’s aesthetic or personal obsession. The abundance of duchess satin for skirts with flippy, abbreviated trains? Both designers love couture. The reduction of the trains aligns with Simons’s favorite form, minimalism. Prada has always loved a skirt and a plain, cozy sweater — hence the number of satin mini skirts that appeared with almost ordinary looking sweaters and a pair of sling-backs.
That was another clue. Prada and Simons smartly tempered the couture elements and the seduction with practical dressing, like the fantastic, slightly distressed leather jackets and car coats that accompanied many of those foxy train skirts. The designers were not giving interviews this season or greeting guests backstage, because of COVID protocols, but I happened to run into Simons in the foundation courtyard, and he said that he and Prada wanted to offset “the couture with an everyday sense.”

That’s just one small but important reason that this collection felt substantial, a true jolt of high fashion and not a business-as-usual spree of salable clothes.

Two other collections, though smaller in aim, deserve mentioning: Sportmax and Aspesi. Lawrence Steele, who has a long track record in Milan — he worked as a designer at Prada for many years and then started his own label—is now the creative director at Aspesi, a beloved brand that goes back to the late 1960s. The Aspesi look was always Milanese casual — meaning, great shirts, quirky knits, and relaxed masculine tailoring — and Steele’s goal is to bring it to a wider audience, now that the company is owned by a Roman conglomerate, with wealth from other industries like shipping. The clothes, priced at about 30 percent below designer, are right in a comfortable, genderless vibe.
Although modern dance and music were the guiding source for Sportmax — namely, the work of the Americans John Cage and Merce Cunningham — I was simply charmed by the lightness and deliberately messy romance of the collection, much of it in ultra-feminine fabrics like white gauze and georgette. There were also fragments of corsets in some of the deconstructed dresses and coats, a nice nod to the past. In Europe, the past is always with you. The surprise to me — away from Milan these past seven years — is how realistically experimental and free Sportmax has become.

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Versace Greca Logo Chrono Watch

The holidays can become an overwhelming time when in search of the perfect gift for those closest to you or are looking to treat yourself. But that’s the challenge with holiday shopping, sifting through all that’s arrived on the scene in the last year only to find a few holy grails worthy of giving. This year, we want to assist in the quest of how to secure the perfect present for the ones you love, catering fashionable finds for tasteful dressers and sneaker-savvy people.

Keeping this in mind, HYPEBEAST rounded up the best seven pieces to buy for the fashion fiend in your life without emptying your bank account this season — even if that fashion fiend happens to be yourself. Our picks range from the most hype items of the year, like Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance and Jil Sander x Arc’teryx collaborations to other rare finds including Supreme x Missoni Knitwear, Paul Smith Black Leather Gloves and a refined classic like Versace’s new Greca Logo Chrono watch.
Few things are as classic as Versace’s Greca Logo watch line, one of the brand’s most successful collections, and the all-new La Greca print is a modern 3D maze that reinvents Versace’s iconic Greek Key pattern merged with the Versace logo. Delivered in a bold and luxurious array of tones, the namesake watch comes through ranging from black to green, blue, white-silver and cool grey while its dial features a date display at 4 o’clock and 3 counters that sets days, minutes and seconds. The watch becomes instantly recognizable through its strong branding at 12 o’clock by the Versace logo, a three-dimensional Medusa and metal indexes to reinforce the style of this timepiece. With sharp angles and clean geometric shapes, the timepiece exudes a certain power and self-confidence, the kind that makes having a watch like this worthwhile.

And it’s for both you and her, as the Greca adopts the new monogram print in the vibrant straps of a 38mm version for her as well as in a 43 mm chronograph for him. Both variants share the signature Greca Logo iconography, including the engraved Greek Key and six screws on the top ring. The color palettes of the exclusive monogram-printed straps feature a brilliant red paired with a white-silver dial, an elegant blue matching the dial and a modern, sporty khaki echoing the refined black chrono dial. With its quartz 3 hands and quartz chrono movements, you’ll never miss a beat.

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Versace Sport Tech GMT Watch

Even if you’re not a dedicated vogue aficionado, the chances are you have probably heard about one of the most recognizable fashion brands in the world, Versace.

Since the 1978 foundation, the Italian label has become one of the go-to destinations for luxury clothing and jewelry.

Not one major fashion show goes without the presence of the newest Versace collections. It’s also one of the favorite brands among celebrities and Versace Sport Tech GMT stars.

Questioning the quality of Versace clothes would be pointless for two reasons: a) the biggest fashion critics unanimously agree it’s one of the top-end fashion labels in the world b) I’m not a fashion expert.

That being said, I do know a thing or two about watches.
Because Versace is mostly associated with luxury apparel, not many people are aware the brand has a huge line of comment-worthy timekeepers to its name. In this Versace watches review, we will have a closer look at all factors that contribute to the overall quality of the collection and decide whether Versace timepieces deserve the not-so-cheap price tag.

Like with all Versace Sport Tech GMT reviews on my website, we start with the brand’s history. If you’d like to skip this part and move straight to the watch quality review, simply choose the appropriate section below.
When you compare Versace Sport Tech GMT to some of the most recognizable and oldest hands in the watchmaking industry, such as Bulova, Tissot or Citizen, the 5-decade sounds pretty short.

The company was founded in 1978 by the talented Gianni Versace, in Milan.

Gianni was an independent and highly thought-of designer who had just launched his first collections for other Milanese brands – Callaghan, Genny and Complice. After the massive success of his lines, he decided to open his first boutique in Milan’s Via Della Spiga.

At that time, Gianni Versace was one of just a few independent designers who were in full control of their business, from designing to retailing.

After starting to dominate the fashion industry, in 1982 the brand expanded into jewelry, accessory, and home furnishing fields. At that time, Versace watches were still nowhere to be seen.

After joining the company, Gianni’s younger sister, Donatella, launched two new collections in 1993. “Young Versace” and “Versus” were instant hits and a year later the brand gained worldwide coverage due to the black Versace dress of Elizabeth Hurley.

Due to the adventurous design and connection with many celebrities such as Michael Jackson or Elton John, Versace was oftentimes referred to as the “Rock n’ Roll designer”.

From the very beginning till now, Versace has been known for hiring the same models for their ads as they on the runway.

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Versace V-Palazzo Watch

Even if you’re not a fashion connoisseur, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Versace watch. Particularly as it’s among the most well-known fashion houses in the world.

The Italian company has been a go-to place for luxury clothes and jewelry since its inception in 1978.

There isn’t a big fashion show that doesn’t include the latest Versace designs. It is also one of the most famous brands with celebrities and athletes.

Because Versace is best known for high-end clothing, few know the company also offers a range of timepieces. In this Versace watches review, we’ll take a look at what contributes to the collection’s overall quality. Plus, we’ll and determine if Versace timepieces are worth the hefty price tag. BTW, you can view and shop the Versace watch collection on their website.
Gianni was a well-known and respected designer who had just shown his debut collection for Callaghan, Genny, and Complice, all of which were based in Milan. He chose to establish his first shop in Milan’s Via Della Spiga after his collections made a big splash.

Gianni Versace was among a few independent designers who had complete control over their company, from design to selling, at the time.

After dominating the fashion business, the brand moved into jewelry, accessories, and home furnishings in 1982. Versace timepieces were impossible to find.

Donatella, Gianni’s younger sister, joined the business in 1993 and released two new lines. The songs “Young Versace” and “Versus” were instant hits, and the brand received worldwide attention a year later thanks to Elizabeth Hurley’s black Versace gown.

Versace was known as the “Rock n’ Roll designer” because of his daring designs and connections with superstars, including Michael Jackson and Elton John.

Versace watch was famous for using the same models for its advertisements as they have for their runway shows from the beginning.
Gianni Versace, the company’s creator, was assassinated in cold blood in front of his Miami home in 1997, putting an end to the company’s steady year-over-year development.

His death remains a little shrouded in mystery decades later. Recently, a Netflix series was produced to chronicle the tale of one of the most famous fashion icons of all time, whose life was cut short.

Donatella, his adored sister, stepped down as vice-president and became a creative director after the murder. Santo, his younger brother, was appointed as the new CEO.
Donatella Versace watch not only decided to maintain the brand, but she also elevated it to new heights. She began clothing celebrities as a result of her well-known friendships with superstars like Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. As a consequence of this action, the brand’s already stellar reputation skyrocketed.

Her keen business sense convinced her of the need for diversification. One of her first actions after assuming the role of Creative Director was to create a Versace watch line.

Donatella recognized that a watch is much more than just a timepiece. It was, in her view, an excellent method of assisting others in expressing themselves. She was absolutely correct.

The Versace watch line became a huge hit in no time, particularly among people who already wore Versace clothing. Many people regarded the timekeepers as an essential element of the ensemble and a must-have item that completed the brand’s bold appearance.

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Rolex Datejust 31mm Floral Dials

This time last year, Jon wrote a story about a trio of new special dial iterations for the Rolex Datejust in 36mm, including two with subtle foliage patterns. Not to leave the smaller Rolex Datejust 31mm Floral Dial out in the cold, Rolex dropped a bouquet of flora-focused dial iterations at Watches & Wonders 2022 with a fanciful yet (mostly) subtle effect.
This 31mm trio spans three dial colors and three distinct Rolex Datejust 31mm Floral Dial formations, but all are a loose backcross of your garden variety 31mm Datejusts. There is a Silver dial in an Everose and Oystersteel two-tone format with a diamond bezel and a jubilee-style bracelet, an Olive-Green dial in an 18k yellow gold case with a diamond bezel and matching bracelet, and a vibrant Azzurro-blue dial in a White Rolesor (the brand’s own mix of Oystersteel and white gold) case execution with a fluted bezel on an Oystersteel bracelet.
But it’s not just the flowers and combination of metals that set this group apart from many other colorful Rolex Datejust 31mm Floral Dial , it’s also that the center of each flower (often known as a pistil), is set with a single small diamond. Each dial has 24 such diamonds and the effect is both more interesting and somewhat more subtle than something like diamond markers. If you’re a budding flower shop mogul, this is how you let ’em know you’re not just some delicate flower to be messed with.
While not traditionally the sort of Rolex that gets my blood pumping, I think these special floral dial models are just as interesting as what Rolex Datejust 31mm Floral Dial launched into the Professional line last week. I really liked the look of the foliage pieces from last year, and I think this broadens the scope for those who prefer a somewhat smaller footprint, but don’t want to grow in the shadow of more prominent models in terms of precious metals, movement quality (and tech), or the availability of uncommon appeal. As great as a black or blue-dialed Datejust is (and that’s pretty dang great), do you look twice when you catch one on someone else’s wrist? Like Brown Eyed Girl or Dancing Queen, we all love a world-famous hit, but there’s a special excitement to an alternative that you weren’t expecting. Not so much a deep cut, but something easy and just outside the norm of your expectations, like And It Stoned Me or Take A Chance On Me. Meant to invoke the warmth and refreshing novelty of spring, these three watches have blossomed just in time to add some seasonal efflorescence to the perennial charm and rosy nature of the 31mm Datejust.

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Rolex Datejust 41 Rolesor Everose

The Rolex Datejust 41 is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This exclusive designation testifies that the watch has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, which exceed watchmaking norms and standards. The certification applies to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer after casing is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day, or more than twice that required of an official chronometer. The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee. Superlative Chronometer
A new-generation mechanical movement with 14 patents that embodies the brand’s new standards of performance with its precision, power reserve, reliability, resistance to shocks and magnetism, as well as the ease and convenience of its adjustment.
A compelling example of avant-garde watchmaking technology, this self-winding mechanical movement is entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex Datejust 41. It is backed by 14 patents and a number of innovative technological solutions relating not only to component design but also to processes involving new technologies that push back the limits of existing production methods. More than 90 per cent of the movement parts have been redesigned and optimized, from those that produce and store energy (self-winding module and mainspring) to the regulating organ responsible for precision (oscillator), the gear train and the escapement. The escapement, which transmits the impulses required to maintain the oscillator’s steady beat, is enhanced by a major innovation patented by Rolex under the name Chronergy.
Rolex engineers devised and patented a new escapement that optimizes the efficiency of the Swiss lever escapement, the standard technical solution in Swiss watchmaking, but which has seen only limited evolution over the last 50 years. While favoured by watchmakers for its great reliability, the Swiss lever escapement has always suffered from low efficiency, relaying to the oscillator barely more than a third of the energy it receives from the mainspring via the gear train.

The result of extensive research, the geometry of the new Rolex Chronergy escapement improves the efficiency of this key component by 15 per cent. Almost half of calibre 3235’s increased power reserve can be ascribed to the escapement itself. Made of nickel-phosphorus, the Chronergy escapement is, furthermore, insensitive to magnetic interference.
Like all Rolex Datejust 41 watches, the models equipped with calibre 3235 benefit from the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This exclusive designation testifies that they have successfully undergone a series of tests conducted in the brand’s own laboratories according to its own criteria, which are more stringent than watch-making norms and standards. These tests are carried out on each fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, in order to guarantee superlative performance on the wrist.

The precision of every movement – officially certified as a chronometer by COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) – is tested a second time by Rolex after being cased, to ensure that it meets criteria for precision that are far more exacting than those for an official chronometer. The tolerance for the average rate of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer after casing is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day. Its precision is tested by Rolex using an exclusive methodology that simulates the conditions in which a watch is actually worn and is much more representative of real-life experience. The certification testing is carried out using state-of-the-art equipment specially developed by Rolex. The entirely automated series of tests also checks the waterproofness, the self-winding capacity and the power reserve of every Rolex watch. These tests systematically complement the qualification testing upstream during development and production that ensures the watches’ reliability, robustness, and resistance to magnetism and shocks.

The unique way in which Rolex watches are designed, manufactured and tested, together with the exclusive innovations from which they benefit, push back the limits of performance for mechanical watches and make Rolex the benchmark for watchmaking excellence. The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

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Rolex Datejust 36 Stainless Steel

Last year, right after the entirely digital Watches and Wonders trade show I wrote a piece pondering all the shades of green that new watches were released in. This year, I packed my bags and hit the floor in Geneva, fully expecting another color trend to emerge. It would make sense; while 2021 was the year of green, 2020 was all about blue. And just before that salmon-colored dials were all the rage. But the “it” color of 2022 never appeared.

So what’s the predominant color this year? Maybe I missed it in all the hustle and bustle of being back in-person. It looks like there simply isn’t one. And that isn’t a bad thing. In terms of color, the 2022 watch product cycle was all about brands doing their own thing – from an entire movement serving as a winding rotor to the first use of lab-grown diamonds in horology. While I’m lukewarm Rolex Datejust 36 watcheson trends as a whole, it’s hard to deny that color is a big business. There are professionals who actually get paid to forecast color trends, and for a long time our industry has followed these trends. They aren’t consumer-driven, either. Miranda Priestly puts it best in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada when she concludes her commentary on a blue sweater with this remark:
Who knows where the colors on the dials of Watches & Wonders 2022 releases came from. All I know is that the Rolex Datejust 36 watches below use color in a way that’s both novel and exciting. Finally, we’re living in a post-uniform-color-trend world.
You’ve seen it already, I know. Rolex made a “destro” Rolex GMT-Master II that features a black-and-green bezel. So what gives? Well, as I said in the Hands-On report, the clues were in the Submariner line in terms of how Rolex expands color in their models. Green was the next logical introduction, and it’s finally here. It’s a neat way to incorporate traditional Rolex colors into a model we all know and love. It’s the same green that appears on the Submariner, so it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that it found its way into the GMT, and regardless of what folks think about it, there will still be lines around the corner to get it.

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Rolex Day-Date 40

Admittedly, I am a fan of the Rolex Day-Date. I love the 36mm version best, but the Rolex Day-Date 40 surely ticks some boxes as well. Especially now that it will be available (or will it?) with a green lacquered dial.

Mike already touched upon the new platinum Day-Date (with fluted bezel) in this article. But there’s more.

Walking by the Rolex booth here at Watches & Wonders in Geneva, my attention was drawn to the new GMT-Master II “Lefty”, the new Yacht-Masters (I thought the Falcon Eye was a faulty watch, to be honest; that’s the reason why I didn’t take a picture), but especially towards this Rolex Day-Date 40 in yellow gold with the green lacquered dial. The green dial isn’t new to the modern Day-Date. In the past, we’ve seen a green dial on the rose gold version (see below). That was a sunburst dial though, not lacquered. Yellow gold and green seem to be a magic combination that works very well. On the green lacquered dial, you will find beautiful yellow gold applied Roman numerals. The way Rolex did the X and the V is an especially nice detail. There are only a few watches in this segment that can compete against the Rolex Day-Date. Perhaps the biggest competitor would be a full gold Datejust or Sky-Dweller, anyway. It’s a classic, an icon, and yes, a cult watch. Whether it’s the tanned senior residing in sunny Spain with a Day-Date 18038 or the hipster barista type of guy with a vintage Day-Date 1803, this watch basically goes with everything and anything. This new Day-Date ref. 228238 is no exception to that rule, of course. Although it would especially go perfectly with me.

The Day-Date is powered by the Rolex in-house caliber 3255. It’s a chronometer-certified movement with quick-set day and date complications, regulated to perform within ±2 seconds per day on average. It has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours.

See the chart below for all specifications of this Rolex Day-Date with the green lacquered dial. You can also visit Rolex online for more information and to configure this watch (differently). I can’t wait to go hands-on with this Rolex and report to you about it at a later stage.

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Rolex Yacht-Master 42

A new jewel shines on the surface of the sea: for the first time, the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is available in yellow gold – an inspired and original refinement to the emblematic sailing timepiece that in no way alters its course.
Rolex is presenting a new version of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42. From now on, the nautical watch is also available in 18 ct yellow gold, after having been offered uniquely in 18 ct white gold. The new version, which, like the original model, includes a bidirectional rotatable bezel and a Cerachrom insert with a raised graduation as well as the innovative Oysterflex bracelet, benefits from an optimized Chromalight display. The hour markers and hands are filled or coated with a new luminescent material, exclusive to Rolex, that guarantees a longer-lasting intense glow. In daylight, these display elements also have a brighter white hue.

The new version of the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with calibre 3235, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling it to display the hours, minutes, seconds and date.

Like all Rolex watches, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.
Launched in 1992, the Yacht-Master was designed specifically for navigators and skippers. Embodying the rich heritage that has bound Rolex and the world of sailing since the 1950s, this Professional-category watch provides a perfect blend of functionality and nautical style, making it equally at home on and off the water. An emblematic nautical timepiece, it is easily recognized by its bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel made entirely from precious metal or fitted with a Cerachrom insert in high-technology ceramic.
Rolex played a pioneering role in the development of special ceramics for creating monobloc bezels and bezel inserts. Not only are these materials virtually scratchproof, their colours are also of a rare intensity and are resistant to environmental effects. In addition, thanks to its chemical composition, the high-tech ceramic is inert and cannot corrode. Rolex has developed exclusive expertise and innovative manufacturing methods that grant it complete independence in the production of these ceramic components.

On the new version of the Rolex Yacht-Master 42, the bidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in matt black ceramic. Its raised graduations and numerals are first moulded into the ceramic and then polished. The first 15 minutes are graduated minute-by-minute to allow time intervals to be read with great precision. The bezel can also be turned with ease thanks to its knurled edge, which offers excellent grip.
A paragon of robustness and reliability, the 42 mm Oyster case of the new Yacht-Master 42 is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). Its middle case is crafted from a solid block of 18 ct yellow gold. The case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The Triplock winding crown, fitted with a triple waterproofness system and protected by an integral crown guard, screws down securely against the case. The crystal, which is fitted with a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date, is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and benefits from an anti-reflective coating. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimum protection for the watch’s movement.
The new version of the Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with calibre 3235, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2015 and has been fitted on this model since its launch in 2019. At the forefront of watchmaking technology, this self-winding mechanical movement led to the filing of several patents, and offers outstanding performance in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetic fields, convenience and reliability.

Calibre 3235 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic fields. The movement is fitted with an optimized blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy that makes it up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. The blue Parachrom hairspring is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is fitted on the Rolex-designed, patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance.

Calibre 3235 is equipped with a self-winding module via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3235 extends to approximately 70 hours.
The new 18 ct yellow gold Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet, which singularly combines the robustness and reliability of a metal bracelet with the flexibility, comfort and aesthetics of an elastomer strap. Developed by Rolex and patented, this innovative bracelet is made up of flexible, curved metal blades overmoulded with high-performance black elastomer, a material that is particularly resistant to environmental effects and very durable. For enhanced comfort, the inside of the Oysterflex bracelet is equipped with longitudinal cushions.

The Oysterflex bracelet on this new version of the Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with the Rolex-designed, patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp in 18 ct yellow gold, which prevents accidental opening. It also features the Rolex Glidelock extension system, which was designed by the brand and patented. This particularly inventive mechanism comprises a rack located under the clasp cover and a toothed sliding link that locks into the chosen notch. The Rolex Glidelock on the Oysterflex bracelet has six notches of approximately 2.5 mm, allowing the length of the bracelet to be adjusted easily, and without tools, up to some 15 mm.
Like all Rolex watches, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The in-house certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by COSC for official certification of the movement alone.

The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

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Rolex GMT-Master II Stainless Steel Replica

Watches and Wonders 2022 is in full swing, and as is the case each year, the lead-up to the event has been rife with enthusiast speculation about the expected novelties from Rolex. While this year’s speculation came in a wide variety of flavors, one of the boldest and most persistent rumors among the luxury watch community was that the Swiss giant was preparing to release a left-handed version of its coveted Rolex GMT-Master II. Given the brand’s conservative release strategy in the past few years, this was dismissed by many enthusiasts as idle chatter, but with the event under way these rumors have proven true. With a new green and black colorway (dubbed “Sprite” by the Rolex community in reference to previous “Pepsi” and “Coke” GMT-Master II bezel color combinations) and a striking 9 o’clock crown design, the new Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126720VTNR offers an eye-catching change of pace for the series that’s sure to excite fans of the brand.
Although the 40mm Oystersteel case of the new Rolex GMT-Master II “Sprite” should be familiar to both casual and dedicated enthusiasts, Rolex introduces a host of changes to this signature design. The broad athletic lugs, polished case sides, and bidirectional coin edge bezel are all present and accounted for, but for this new model, the familiar elements are all rotated 180 degrees. Possibly as a tribute to Rolex’s left-handed CEO Jean Frédéric Dufour, the screw-down crown, bold squared-off crown guards, and the GMT-Master II’s “cyclops” date window magnifier have all been moved to the 9 o’clock position instead of the usual 3 o’clock. It’s a change that should lead to double-takes on the wrist from across a room and gives one of the most familiar shapes in luxury watchmaking a fresh new energy in images. The two-tone engraved ceramic bezel insert is also new for this model, combining the familiar black ceramic of models such and the BLNR with a rich, verdant forest green. This looks to be a warmer, more vibrant green hue than used for the ceramic bezel in 2020’s “Kermit” green-bezel Submariner design, which may point to difficulties smoothly transitioning between two colors on the bezel as seen in previous GMT-Master II designs. Like previous iterations of the watch, the GMT-Master II “Sprite” offers a solid 100 meters of water resistance.
Like the case, the dial of the new Rolex GMT-Master II “Sprite” keeps the familiar gloss black dial layout of previous GMT-Master II models intact while reframing them with new elements. The arrow-tipped GMT hand is now rendered in a classic Rolex green, while the familiar date window moves to 9 o’clock alongside the crown. It’s enough to make the classic layout feel fresh and inspire second glances in images, but the design still comes across as unmistakably Rolex.
Rolex powers the GMT-Master II “Sprite” with its in-house 3285 automatic GMT movement. The 3285 has been the standard Rolex GMT movement since 2018, and the design still offers excellent modern performance including a 70-hour power reserve and a 28,800 bph beat rate thanks to high-tech components such as a shock-resistant Parachrom hairspring, a high-tech Chronergy escapement, and high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers. Interestingly, the altered crown position of this new model affects the Superlative Chronometer testing all Rolex movements are subjected to, but the brand still claims the watch meets all Superlative Chronometer standards and rates the movement for an excellent -2/+2 seconds per day. The stainless steel Oyster bracelet is as much of a Rolex icon as the GMT-Master II itself, and the brand’s use of its most famous bracelet for this new model keeps the design readily familiar and sporting at a glance. The GMT-Master II can also be optioned with the more complex and dressier Jubilee bracelet in stainless steel, as well.
With a desirable new colorway and an eye-catching “destro” layout, the new Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR “Sprite” brings a fresh energy and a bold (by modern Rolex standards) perspective to one of the world’s most famous sports watches. The Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR is available now through authorized dealers.