Rolex predictions and speculation are a hot topic in the watch industry.

Considering Rolex is famous for making incremental changes each year, you might think there’s not much to discuss, and you’d be partially right. However, these minor changes often significantly impact Rolex sales — and strongly influence the watch industry at large.

Here are our Rolex and Tudor predictions for 2025:

First, though it’s unclear how important the Milgauss is to Rolex sales, the (Ref. 116400GV) was discontinued in 2023, and most notably was powered by the outdated caliber 3131 (from the 31 series of movements). With marginal effort, the modern 32 series caliber (with a far longer 70-hour power reserve) could be used in an updated Milgauss, a move that would be textbook Rolex. The unique lightning bolt shaped center seconds hand and green tinted glass could be brought back, or they could offer all new color variations. Either way, if sales were good on this model in the past, I imagine this is coming back sooner than later.

Rolex’s GMT-Master II is a hot commodity, and they gave us the awesome understated black and gray bezel “Bruce Wayne GMT” last year, however, this collection is popular enough it could likely use a few more bezel options and we still think a black and red Coke bezel (like we predicted last year for Tudor Pelagos), and that arrived in Black Bay 58 GMT form, may be in the works for the GMT-Master II. Moreover, the demand for the GMT-Master II is so high, that making another variant would presumably allow Rolex to notch up sales, without flooding the market with one particular bezel combination. An all-blue bezel GMT-Master II would be cool too, although it seems likely that if we see that color, it might be limited to a precious metal model like the Submariner. Adding fuel to this speculation, is the fact that 2025 is considered by Rolex to be the 70th anniversary of the GMT-Master, because they state on their website that it came out in 1955 (even though it was 1954).

Speaking of GMTs, Tudor seemingly received good sales and feedback for the vintage-esque Coke Black Bay 58 GMT model they debuted in 2024. So we fully expect them to extend that line, especially considering the latest Morgan Stanley Report suggests Tudor sales dropped significantly in 2024. If true, Tudor is likely scrambling to boost sales and that usually means pulling out all stops.

Another collection that we may hear about in 2025, whether at Watches and Wonders, or later in the year, is the Black Bay Chronograph, which is due for a refresh. Tudor has the Black Bay Chronograph and Pelagos FXD Chronograph, however, a Montecarlo (in the vintage style) would be incredible, or a Big Block Chronograph remake could appear this year. As we pointed out last year, the postponed Only Watch 2023 auction was expected to see a remake of Tudor’s Big Block. And while Tudor ended up pulling that from auction when it was finally rescheduled in 2024, however, they still have that watch as a prototype, which strongly hints that we could see a version of that this year.

We would love to see a Rolex Submariner with an RLX titanium case, and Rolex certainly has data on how well the larger Yachtmaster has sold in Rolex titanium. However, 904L stainless steel and its beneficial non-corrosive properties are practically a calling card for the Submariner. Rolex will likely need a (very) strong impetus to add titanium to its venerable Submariner. However, based on Rolex’s modus operandi, the closest we might get to a titanium Submariner in 2025, might be a RLX Titanium Sea-Dweller. Like in 2024, we still think we could see a white dial Submariner (CGI mock-up pictured above), or another new color variation this year.

Lastly, Rolex’s most coveted, hardest to get model — worth far more than retail the moment it leaves the store — the Daytona, seems ready for something new, without needing to fix what’s not broken. Like with the similarly coveted GMT-Master II, adding a new variation could allow Rolex to grow sales, without cannibalizing existing sales. Maybe we’ll see the titanium Daytona we predicted last year (CGI mock-up pictured at the top). Titanium would allow Rolex to charge a noticeable premium, say $20,000, for a RLX Daytona, while keeping their best-selling 904L stainless steel Daytonas at $15,500.

 

Designs by Muhammad Shahrukh for Professional Watches.