Rolex Destro, The New GMT-Master II
Love it or loathe it?
The Swiss giant that is Rolex threw a curveball at Watches and Wonders this year. Although there is always much speculation about what the novelties from Rolex will be in the lead-up to the fair, the brand is known to have a conservative release strategy. On opening day of the watch fair in Geneva, Rolex showed off a new GMT-Master II—an icon in the Rolex repertoire, best known for its two-tone bezels (and the nicknames they inspire). What has everyone talking about this particular model with a green-and-black bezel is that the crown and date aperture are on the left—in watch parlance, this is “destro,” meaning the timepiece is designed for lefties—lest we discriminate, those who wear their watches on the right wrist.
This is the first time Rolex has done a full production run of a destro, and what seems like a straightforward change required a modification to the rigorous testing process carried out on all Rolex products. The watch maintains the key tenets of the GMT and is offered on both oyster and jubilee bracelets. There seems yet to be consensus on the nickname for this new model. I’m throwing Green Witch and Starbucks into the mix. Rolexicon gods, you choose.
