The rumour mill has started with predictions for 2023 and some of them are really getting the watch community excited about. Sure, every year collectors discuss what will be the next ‘hot’ release of the year. Some of the ideas are probable, some of them maybe a bit too out there for the watch industry. Either way, it is exciting to predict what will be released by each brand and the direction they plan on going. There are some milestones coming up for some of our favourite brands, like Rolex, so this year certain has been a lively run up to Watches and Wonders. We will take a look at the predictions for the year from who sources that nicely summarized what was spinning around the watch community.

Fratello made a few predictions this year, some of which really are getting the community chatting. First, a blue Tudor Pelagos 39 in blue. Blue has been a very popular colour with collectors. So too is the 39mm size of the Pelagos. It wears perfectly on many collectors wrists, the blue gives sufficient ‘pop’ to please anyone’s eye, so it might just be the perfect combination.

The likelihood of this release? It certain is possible. The 39mm case size has gone over very well with collectors so why not diversify the line to add additional colour options. Fratello also predicted a Rolex Milgauss 126400GV - a reference they gave the watch, and basically predicts a revamp of the Milgauss - a 40mm case, crown guards and the caliber 3230. They think it will have a white dial and black one with green sapphire crystal.

Zenith was another brand Fratello touched on, maybe a bit more with a wish than a prediction. They are hoping for a modern Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Rainbow Flyback - a modern reinterpretation of the 1997 reference. They did make a slight modification to the design though. Instead of having a colourful ceramic bezel, they went with a smooth bezel mainly because colourful bezel’s really are hit or miss for most brands.

Again, maybe more wishful thinking than anything with this pick. But, brands are remastering a lot of their models from the past and this is one that Zenith has not touched as of now. Who knows what is to come.

One of the favourite, and probably more likely predictions to happen this year comes out of Vacheron Constantin. Last year, Vacheron Constantin released their Historiques 222, a rebirth of their famous 1977 reference 222 model. Their release last year was in solid yellow gold, and this year, the prediction is for this watch to be released in steel, and in steel and gold (two-tone). The original reference 222 came in these case metals, so it is likely they will pull from what they di d in the past and release what could be one of the most desired releases this year.

Likelihood of this release? It is fairly high, given the fact that this is a new line for the brand and they likely want to continue to interest they have received on the new reference. Maybe they will release just one of the case metal options, but there certainly is some likelihood of this release.

It would be difficult to not talk about Rolex when making predictions for Watches and Wonders. Monochrome nicely summarized some the predictions we’ll go over. So this year is a huge year of many anniversaries of the watches for Rolex. Rolex is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Rolex and so why not come out with a Titanium Submariner with a full-blue scheme. Commemorative releases are not common for Rolex, but because of how iconic the Submariner is as model, it is hard not to think they may come out with one.

The brand has played around with titanium so there is a possibility they will continue to experiment, but a steel version of this watch is easily as likely.. The brand celebrated the Submariner’s 50th anniversary with the 16610LV ‘Kermit’ which used green, so why not throw in a different colour?

Next up from Monochrome was a fully green, white gold Daytona reference 116509LV to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Daytona which was released in 1963. Rolex has used green in some of their other anniversary models (like the Kermit that was mentioned previously), so it could happen for this anniversary. The brand has used green dials on some of their Daytona’s, like the reference 116508 in yellow gold, so it would not be unprecedented. A lot of collectors look to precedent to determine the new releases for Rolex because they stick to their classic design fairly closely.

Likelihood? Well there will be some celebration for the anniversary of the Daytona, but what form that will come in will be known in just a few weeks.

Check out Fratello and Monochrome’s articles for more predictions that have been circling the watch community before the big releases in Geneva at the end of March. Watches and Wonders 2023 is taking place on on March 27 to April 2 at the Palexpo Convention Centre so if you are around the Geneva area or want to travel in, be sure to book your trip soon.

Enjoy!