The long-awaited Watches and Wonders event is finally here, and with it comes the unveiling of Rolex's latest watch collection for 2023. As we eagerly anticipate the new additions, it's also important to note the discontinuation of certain models from the brand's catalog, which can significantly affect the secondary market. So, without further ado, we present the complete list of new and discontinued Rolex watches for 2023.

2023 Rolex Releases-

• Rolex Daytona – New Generation: Rolex honored the 60th anniversary of Daytona by launching a fresh generation of their renowned chronograph collection. This new collection boasts minor modifications to its cases, dials, and bezels, accompanied by new movements. Though the 2023 Rolex Daytona watches may appear identical to their forerunners at first glance, featuring 40mm cases, tri-compax dials, and tachymeter bezels, Rolex has made subtle improvements to the design, remaining true to their signature style. Notably, the cases feature wider and more tapered lugs, reflecting elegant lines of light along the redesigned middle case, as per the brand. Additionally, Cerachrom ceramic bezel variants now display a thin metal frame made of the same material as the case. The dial upgrades include slightly longer and thinner hour markers, slimmer subdial rings, and enhanced contrast between the solid subdials and their base dial color. The most significant update to the 2023 Daytona collection is the new-generation Caliber 4131 automatic chronograph movement, which is an evolved version of the Caliber 4130 that has been in use since 2000. While the Caliber 4131 offers similar performance to its predecessor, including a 72-hour power reserve and -2/+2 seconds per day precision rating, it also includes enhancements such as Rolex's patented Chronergy escapement, a skeletonized oscillating weight, and Rolex Côtes de Genève decoration on the bridges, improving its aesthetic appeal. The new platinum Daytona is particularly noteworthy as it is the first modern Rolex watch to have a display caseback, enabling a clear view of the 18k gold oscillating weight.

• Yacht-Master 42 – Now in Titanium: Following the announcement of Rolex's first titanium watch, the Deepsea Challenge, many anticipated the release of more wearable titanium watches, and they were correct! In 2023, Rolex introduced the Yacht-Master 42 in RLX titanium, featuring a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel and an Oyster bracelet. The RLX titanium, a grade 5 titanium alloy, is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and strong, with several finishes, including a satin finish on the middle case sides, bracelet link edges, and clasp cover sides. The chamfered top edges of the lugs have a high-sheen finish, while the crown guards are polished. The watch features a black dial with Chromalight lume-filled hour markers and Mercedes-style hands, including a date window magnified with a Cyclops lens on the sapphire crystal. The Oyster bracelet includes the Oysterlock folding safety clasp and Easylink comfort extension link, while the watch is powered by the Caliber 3235 automatic movement, similar to several other Yacht-Master watches.

• GMT-Master II – Return of Yellow Gold: In 2023, Rolex introduced two new versions of the GMT-Master II collection, including a full yellow gold model and a two-tone yellow gold and steel model. Yellow gold GMT-Master watches were previously dropped from the catalog in 2018, but now they are back! Both models feature the customary GMT-Master II 40mm case, with a new grey and black bidirectional Cerachrom ceramic bezel with gold numerals. The watches also come with black dials, gold Mercedes-style hands, and gold arrow-tipped 24-hour hands. Rolex has exclusively paired the yellow gold and two-tone yellow-gold/steel GMT-Master II watches with Jubilee bracelets, including Oysterlock folding safety clasps and Easy Link extensions. These golden variants run on the Caliber 3285 automatic movement, identical to all current-production GMT-Master II watches.

• Explorer – New 40mm Size: For years, the Explorer has been Rolex's simplest sports watch model, with only a few variations available. However, in 2023, Rolex is expanding the collection with a larger 40mm Explorer watch in steel to accompany the classic 36mm versions. Despite its larger case, the Explorer 40 retains all the signature design details that make this collection one of Rolex's most cherished. These include the black lacquered dial with oversized Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9, along with the Mercedes-style hands coated in Chromalight luminescence. Additionally, the watch features the customary Oyster bracelet with an Oysterlock folding safety clasp and Easylink extension link. Finally, the watch is powered by the same Caliber 3230 automatic movement that drives the time-only functionality of all current-production Explorer watches.

• Sky-Dweller – New Dial Colors, Movement, and Metal: The entire Sky-Dweller collection from Rolex has been revamped with the new Caliber 9002 automatic annual calendar movement, featuring the patented Chronergy escapement, an improvement of the previous Caliber 9001. Along with improved mechanics, the 2023 Sky-Dweller collection features new dials in blue-green and mint green. The blue-green dial is found in the full rose gold Sky-Dweller, while the mint green dial, which was previously exclusive to the Datejust collection, is available in the steel Sky-Dweller with a white fluted bezel. The white gold Sky-Dweller has also made a return to the collection, and it is paired with a black Oysterflex bracelet, joining the other yellow gold and Everose gold Sky-Dwellers with Oysterflex bracelets.

• Perpetual 1908 – Brand New Model: In 2023, Rolex introduced a new collection to its catalog called the Perpetual 1908, which is named after the year founder Hans Wilsdorf named his company "Rolex." This new vintage-style Rolex dress watch is not a Cellini but a brand new model. The Perpetual 1908 watches have 39mm cases made of yellow or white gold, partly domed and partly fluted bezels, and slim winding crowns. The back of the watches includes exhibition casebacks, revealing the new Caliber 7140 automatic movement that powers the center hour and minute hands, along with the small seconds subdial on the dials. It has a skeletonized gold rotor and Côtes de Genève decoration on the bridges, with approximately 66 hours of power reserve. The dials, available in white or black, feature a distinctive circle-tipped hour hand and a two-edged sword minute hand, with Arabic numerals at 3, 9, and 12, and faceted indexes for the remaining hours. These elegant gold Rolex dress watches are paired with alligator leather straps, which come with a double folding clasp called Dualclasp. Rolex Perpetual 1908 watches are water-resistant up to 50 meters.

• Oyster Perpetual – New “Celebration” Dials: It appears that 2023 is the year of unconventional Rolex dials, and the new "Celebration" dials are a perfect example. These dials are now available on Oyster Perpetual 31, 36, and 41 watches and feature a bubbles-motif design that brings together the five colors introduced to the Oyster Perpetual collection in 2020: candy pink, turquoise blue, yellow, coral red, and green. The cluster of bubbles, outlined in black, is arranged on a turquoise dial. Interestingly, the models with Celebration dials are priced the same as other Oyster Perpetual watches.

• Diamond Day-Date 36 – New Stone Dials: The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 collection now includes three new versions, each with a decorative stone dial and diamond embellishments. The first features an Everose gold case paired with a green aventurine dial (ref. 128345RBR-0068) that has a finely crystallized surface. The second version is made of yellow gold and has an orange carnelian dial with layers that replicate a sunset. The third and final model is a white gold variant with a textured turquoise dial that has natural veining. All three dials have diamond-set hour markers, and the watches come with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds set into the bezel. The retail prices of these diamond Day-Date 36 watches with stone dials are only available upon request, indicating that they are extremely expensive.

• Day-Date 36 – Inspirational Words and Emoji Dials: Rolex, the renowned Swiss watchmaker, has announced the most unconventional release we've ever seen - three Day-Date 36 watches in yellow, white, and Everose gold. These watches are not just furnished with jigsaw-puzzle decorated dials but also feature day wheels with inspirational words like Happy, Eternity, Gratitude, Peace, Faith, Love, and Hope. Additionally, the date wheel has 31 emojis, making it a unique and fun addition to the watch.

Rolex Watches Discontinued in 2023-

• Rolex Daytona Watches: The previous generation Daytona watches with references 116xxx have been discontinued and replaced with the new Daytona 126xx series. Though Rolex has updated several Daytona variations with new references, some models have been discontinued without any replacements. As of 2023, the following popular Rolex Daytona watches are no longer available in the current catalog: Yellow Gold Daytona with green dial “John Mayer (ref. 116508), white gold Daytona with blue dial (ref. 116509), Everose Daytona with brown dial (ref. 116505), and all Daytona watches with meteorite dials (ref. 116518LN, 116519LN, 116515LN, 116508, 116509, 116505). As a result, it's likely that the demand for these discontinued Daytona models, particularly the "John Mayer" Daytona, will increase in the secondary market.

• Rolex Sky-Dweller Watches: In a similar vein, the previous Sky-Dweller models with references 326xxx have been replaced with the new 336xxx series featuring the advanced 9002 movement. It seems that Rolex has updated most, if not all, of the previous Sky-Dweller configurations with new replacements.

• Rolex Milgauss: Rolex has bid farewell to the Milgauss collection, which featured antimagnetic watches with lightning-bolt seconds hands. Despite rumors of an update, the brand has chosen to discontinue the collection entirely. The last two Milgauss watches that are no longer available in the current catalog are the Milgauss 116400GV with a Z-Blue dial and the Milgauss 116400GV with a black dial.

• Cellini: It comes as no shock that Rolex has discontinued the Cellini collection in 2023. The Moonphase ref. 50535 was the only model left in the collection, and it too has now been discontinued. As a replacement for the Cellini, the Rolex Perpetual 1908 has taken over as the brand's dress watch collection featuring leather straps.