One other Friday, one other High 5! This week, we proceed our sequence of lists impressed by Watches and Wonders 2025 and check out a few of our favourite Rolex watches with stone dials. However as we wished to make it a bit extra particular, we determined to checklist 5 Rolex sports activities fashions with them. For many of us, a Rolex sports activities watch with an everyday dial is the way in which to go. However after creating this checklist, you is perhaps stunned by the brilliance of a few of these sporty watches with their unique dials.
The inspiration for this checklist got here from the brand new stone-dial variants of the totally different Rolex sports activities watches launched throughout Watches and Wonders 2025. In a 12 months when the model’s Land-Dweller was the focus, most of the new dial variants had been a lot much less talked about. However, we had been impressed by a few of these dials, particularly the brand new “tiger iron” one within the GMT-Grasp II. This set us on a little bit quest to seek out different Rolex sports activities fashions with equally spectacular stone dials. Because it seems, discovering loads of choices is simple, however choosing 5 favorites is way tougher as a result of there are a lot of to select from. In the long run, we settled on this checklist of 5 good examples. Let’s discover out what they’re.
Picture: Sotheby’s
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 16516 with a turquoise dial
I reported on Rolex’s new Daytona dial variations throughout Watches and Wonders. Absolutely the standout for me was the yellow gold model with its turquoise-blue lacquered dial. One thing about that watch simply makes me smile. Whereas I’d have most well-liked a model with a gold bezel and bracelet, the distinction between the black ceramic bezel and the black Oysterflex bracelet creates rather more visible drama. Because it seems, it’s not the primary time that Rolex outfitted its Daytona with a dial in that colour.
Picture: Sotheby’s
Within the late Nineteen Nineties, former Rolex CEO Patrick Heiniger had 5 platinum Daytonas created. Whereas the platinum Daytona is a standout in at present’s assortment, the 5 watches Heiniger ordered had been the primary 5 platinum variations of the “Zenith Daytona.” The story goes that Heiniger saved one in every of them for himself and gifted the remaining 4 to priceless enterprise companions who had change into private pals. All 5 fashions characteristic particular stone or shell dials and comprise a sequence of 5 distinctive watches, three of which had been auctioned just a few years again. We all know the dial supplies used for 4 of them — darkish mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli, coral, and the particular turquoise pictured above.
Picture: Sotheby’s
What gave the impression to be a blue lacquer dial…
For the longest time, it was thought this was a blue lacquer “Stella” dial. Upon nearer inspection, a staff at Sotheby’s found a small distinction in texture and colour between the principle dial and the sub-dials. Because it turned out, the dial was crafted from a correct turquoise mineral stone. This was concluded after the dial was faraway from the case, and its bottom revealed the pure stone materials. The utilized lacquer on the entrance of the dial makes this tougher to detect because it hides the grain usually present in a pure turquoise stone.
Picture: Sotheby’s
That makes this platinum Daytona way more particular than anticipated. I really like the vivid blue colour of pure turquoise as a result of it contrasts properly with the case and bracelet supplies we often see. The blue turquoise dial was mixed with a 40mm platinum case that housed the Rolex caliber 4030, a motion based mostly on the Zenith El Primero caliber 400. However the story of this watch is all concerning the dial. Whereas we favor the usual dial configuration with common markers over this one with Arabic numerals, it’s nonetheless an absolute stunner which may have even impressed the brand new Daytona with an precise lacquered dial.
Rolex Submariner ref. 116618 with a lapis lazuli dial
You might need seen this particular model of the gold Rolex Submariner earlier than right here on Fratello. Robert-Jan reviewed this good variation of the Submariner with its lapis lazuli dial in 2023. Moreover, I featured it in final 12 months’s High 5 checklist of Rolex stone dials. However for this event, I’m bringing it again. The sheer brilliance and influence of this particular gold Submariner left an enduring impression on most of us right here at Fratello. Seeing a vivid blue lapis lazuli dial in a gold Sub is simply one thing else!
From a distance, it seems like an everyday blue dial. However after you have the watch in your hand, you understand that is one thing particular. The vigorous blue colour has plenty of depth and texture. As you’ll be able to see, the model we had within the workplace has some superb speckles that convey it to life. This makes a watch that’s already good in gold and blue even higher.
The luxurious model of the well-known Submariner
The Submariner ref. 16618 debuted in 1986 and stayed in manufacturing till 2008. This gold mannequin had fairly the manufacturing run earlier than a contemporary model of the Sub changed it. The usual variants of this luxurious model of Rolex’s iconic diver in yellow gold had been obtainable with both a black or blue dial and matching bezel. Contained in the 18K yellow gold case, Rolex outfitted the watch with its famend caliber 3135. The watches got here fitted with a yellow gold Oyster bracelet that provides tremendously to their visible presence.
A model with a typical blue sunburst dial — Picture: Bulang & Sons
Over this watch’s 22-year manufacturing run, Rolex produced simply over 20,000 items of this reference, equaling a median of roughly 1,000 per 12 months. That isn’t a big quantity.
The lapis lazuli model is way rarer and thus has change into a correct favourite amongst collectors. It has made this good Submariner a grail watch for a lot of Rolex followers, and it’s straightforward to know why. The Submariner ref. 16618 is the right proof {that a} Rolex sports activities watch and a stone dial generally is a match made in heaven.
Rolex GMT-Grasp II ref. 126719BLRO with a meteorite dial
A listing like this isn’t full and not using a meteorite dial. As most of you’ll know, there are a number of choices obtainable. The obvious are the a number of Daytona fashions with meteorite dials. For Watches and Wonders, Rolex launched the meteorite dials for its current-generation Daytona. Extra particularly, now you can get every of the three gold Daytona fashions with a black rubber Oysterflex bracelet, a black ceramic bezel, and a meteorite dial. I favor the earlier era’s full-white-gold ref. 116509 with a meteorite dial as a result of it has an attractive monochromatic presence.
However we determined to focus on a special meteorite dial from Rolex. A collective Fratello favourite is the present GMT-Grasp II ref. 126719BLRO in white gold with a “Pepsi” bezel and a meteorite dial. Ask Lex any day for his high three Rolex fashions, and this watch will make his checklist each time. The 126719BLRO remains to be half of the present Rolex assortment and retails for €49,350. The mixture of white gold and this meteorite dial works extremely properly.
Add the blue and crimson Cerachrom Pepsi bezel, and also you get a watch that appears just like the traditional Pepsi GMT with a lightweight dial from afar. Up shut, nevertheless, you rapidly discover out there’s rather more to the story. As Lex vividly defined in his article about meteorite-dial watches, this GMT-Grasp will take you on a psychological journey throughout the universe each time you have a look at it, however the acquainted seems of the GMT-Grasp will make sure you all the time land safely again on Earth. Consequently, it has landed the third spot on this checklist.
Rolex Yacht-Grasp 42 ref. 226659 with a falcon’s eye dial
In 2022, Rolex nearly silently launched a particular dial variant of the Yacht-Grasp 42 in white gold. The massive Yacht-Grasp information of that 12 months was the 42mm yellow gold model. Nonetheless, subsequent to it, Rolex additionally launched a dial in falcon’s eye for the white gold mannequin. Falcon’s eye is a variation of tiger’s eye, distinguished by darker hues. When taking a look at it from a distance, you may suppose reflections are hitting an everyday black dial to create a blueish tone. However there was much more to the story.
I say “was” as a result of the falcon’s eye dial is not an choice on the Rolex web site. Because it may simply have been mistaken for the common black dial, which may clarify its discontinuation. That stated, at the least in correct lighting, there was fairly a major distinction in colour and sample. Some examples on-line even present gentle blue or white stripes throughout the widely very darkish dial. Truthfully, although, these are those I’d not take into account if I had my sights set on shopping for a Yacht-Grasp with a falcon’s eye dial.
The press photos are moderately totally different and offer you a good suggestion of how properly the dial matches the general look of the Yacht-Grasp. There’s something tremendous good concerning the colours and the feel that livens up the watch completely. Whereas this falcon’s eye dial might need had a brief run within the Rolex assortment, it won’t shock me if this Yacht-Grasp variant turns into a sought-after mannequin. Quick manufacturing runs and uncommon dials are vital components to Rolex collectors, and I’d anticipate no totally different with this particular Yacht-Grasp 42.
Rolex GMT-Grasp II ref. 126715CHNR with a tiger iron dial
Our final choose is the much-debated GMT-Grasp II with the brand new tiger iron dial. Rolex offered this dial variant as an choice for the Everose model of the GMT-Grasp II with the black and brown Cerachrom bezel insert. Nonetheless, because it seems, you may as well select the dial for the yellow gold GMT-Grasp II ref. 126718GRNR with the black and grey bezel insert on the Jubilee bracelet.
We at Fratello mentioned which of the 2 is the higher match for this new dial. The reply to that query closely is dependent upon the particular dial you may get your fingers on. If the general tone of the dial is redder, the Everose GMT-Grasp II looks as if the higher choice. But when the dial exhibits much more yellow, the yellow gold model of the watch may very well be an amazing choice.
Our intestine feeling is that almost all tiger iron dials will go well with the Everose mannequin higher. There shall be numerous colour variations, although, as a result of tiger iron is a mix of tiger’s eye, crimson jasper, and hematite stones.
The Everose mannequin with the tiger iron dial was one in every of my absolute highlights from Rolex throughout Watches and Wonders in 2025. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how lengthy this new dial variation shall be obtainable, however first reactions from followers and media alike had been predominantly optimistic. We’re additionally a part of that group, so hopefully, it will likely be obtainable for a while.
Ultimate ideas on Rolex sports activities watches with stone dials
There you’ve it — our 5 present favourite Rolex sports activities watches with stone dials. As you possible know, there are a lot extra on the market to select from. Tell us within the feedback part what your favourite is from this checklist or if we missed your high choose. Or perhaps there are particular stone dials that you just wish to see Rolex make. We might love to listen to your recommendations, so drop them down within the feedback part, and we’ll see you again right here with one other checklist subsequent Friday.
