2022 Watch Wish List

2022 Watch Wish List

It’s not too early for articles about next year. My hope is that we all took time to rediscover our collective love for collecting watches as a hobby. I settled into a nice state of the collection with the late year acquisition of the Tudor Black Bay 58 in navy. I don’t wear colored dials often, but I always want at least one option that isn’t black or white dialed. Admittedly I tend towards choosing black dials most of the time, but the particular dark shade of blue used on the 58 suits my style well. 

So what do I want to see in 2022?


Photo by @tawatch.ch

1. More odd Datejust models: With the palm and fluted dial Datejust watches making their debuts at Watches and Wonders we saw Rolex showing off its wilder side on a conservative staple watch in their collection. Like many watches, when I saw the renderings I couldn’t conceive of wearing either one, but in real life these are more subdued and add a nice twist on a tried-and-true favorite.

Photo by @the_watch_vault

2. A new Milgauss: Many predicted that a new version of the lightning bolt Rolex would show up in 2021, but nothing happened. The Milgauss has remained one of the more radical designs from Rolex and it would be great to see a new color combination at least. In my experience, the Milgauss is a love it or hate it watch, but those who are devotees to its playful esthetic might enjoy a new look.

Photo by @ah_jewellers

3. More Jubilee bracelets on Rolex sport models: With the successful introduction of the Jubilee bracelet on the ceramic GMT Master-II models, Rolex has re-normalized the Jubilee as a bracelet fitting for its models that are meant to be used with more active pursuits away from the desk at work. I like the inherent comfort of having a series of small links on a bracelet, which is why I enjoyed the Beads of Rice bracelet on my DOXA Sub 300 so much. It’s not likely to happen, but seeing a Jubilee bracelet on a Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Explorer I or II would make me very happy. I do like the Oyster bracelet a lot, but after seeing the Jubilee on the GMT Master-II, I do think it works well with beefier watches too.

Photo by @specialdial

4. A return of the classic Air-King: While I do like that Rolex introduced its wacky take on the Air-King, if they were to reintroduce the classic 34mm plain-stated Air-King I think it would be a hit as a unisex, entry-level watch. A new Air-King in its smaller, understated format would be an excellent way to get more people into the brand. Well, only Rolex could produce enough watches to meet the demand of the ravenous marketplace.

Photo by @oyster.case

5. More unconventional designs from Tudor: I really appreciate that Tudor blazes its own trail in terms of design decisions. The fact that they did not just deliver a smaller Pelagos and instead gave us a fixed-lug, bi-directional Pelagos FXD shows that they are very interested in preserving the company's history. This shows that it’s not a brand that just wants to sell watches. By not catering to the whims of the people, Tudor has us wanting more from them. It’s a strategy that seems to work. When the company does hit us with a crowd pleaser like the 58, those turn into overwhelming commercial successes.

What would you like to see from Rolex and Tudor in 2022? Hit us up in the comments or on social media.

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