Rolex is the world’s single most famous luxury watch brand, and while hundreds of new models are unveiled each year at Watches and Wonders Geneva, none receive more attention than those from “The Crown.” The new Rolex models naturally receive the lion’s share of the attention, but equally important are the watches that get discontinued, as these can have a significant impact on both retail availability and secondary market prices. Beyond just dominating headlines, Rolex shapes the entire watch industry, and below are our Rolex predictions for Watches and Wonders 2026.
Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” Discontinued
For several years, rumors have been swirling that the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” is scheduled to be discontinued, but 2026 might just be the year that it actually happens. A red and blue split-color “Pepsi” bezel is emblematic of Rolex’s famous pilot’s watch, and it was the original colorway chosen for the GMT-Master when it first debuted way back in 1955. That said, Rolex has discontinued the “Pepsi” bezel before, and from 2007 until 2014, the iconic red and blue “Pepsi” bezel insert was notably absent from the GMT-Master II collection.
The reason why Rolex discontinued the “Pepsi” bezel in 2007 was because the brand initially deemed it too difficult to manufacture a split-color insert from a single piece of red and blue ceramic. Rolex managed to overcome this manufacturing obstacle in 2014 when it released the 18k white gold GMT-Master II ref. 116719BLRO with a ceramic “Pepsi” bezel, and the brand expanded this fan-favorite colorway to the stainless steel GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLRO in 2018. That said, Rolex never truly mastered the ceramic “Pepsi” bezel, and a fairly wide variety of different shades can be observed on examples of the brand’s red and blue split-color insert.
The truth of the matter is that Rolex has consistently struggled to produce ceramic “Pepsi” bezel inserts, and unofficial reports from authorized retailers have cited that they have received fewer examples of the red/blue “Pepsi” GMT-Master II compared to its black/blue “Batman” sibling (ref. 126710BLNR). However, the biggest detail in support of the theory that the “Pepsi” bezel is slated to be discontinued in 2026 is the simple fact that authorized retailers have stopped receiving deliveries of the “Pepsi” GMT-Master II, and the model no longer appears as an option on authorized retailer websites.
At the present time, both stainless steel and white gold versions of the GMT-Master II “Pepsi” still appear on Rolex’s own website. That said, given the numerous new references that have joined the GMT-Master II collection in recent years, it’s undeniable that the lineup is starting to feel slightly crowded. Consequently, I could see Rolex discontinuing the classic red/blue “Pepsi” insert, and replacing it with a ceramic version of the black/red “Coke” bezel that would be exclusively offered on a new white gold version of the GMT-Master II.
New Rolex Land-Dweller References
The Rolex Land-Dweller is arguably one of the most important new models to debut in recent years, and I would be shocked if Rolex didn’t expand the collection at Watches and Wonders 2026. When Rolex first introduced the Land-Dweller last year in 2025, the brand presented the model in a deliberately concise format that consisted of two sizes, three materials, and two bezel styles, with only one dial option available for each model. Given that Rolex selected the Land-Dweller to debut its groundbreaking Dynapulse escapement, it’s clear that the Swiss brand has big plans for the model, and it’s highly likely that the collection will expand at Watches and Wonders 2026.
The Rolex Land-Dweller launched in White Rolesor (stainless steel and white gold), 18k Everose gold, and 950 platinum; however, classic yellow gold is conspicuously absent from the current-production lineup. Not all Rolex models are produced in every alloy (for example, there has never been a platinum Submariner), although a full yellow gold Land-Dweller feels like a natural addition to the collection. With that in mind, I could just as easily see Rolex releasing a two-tone version in either Yellow Rolesor (stainless steel and yellow gold) or Everose Rolesor (stainless steel and Everose gold) to further expand the aesthetic diversity of the Land-Dweller collection.
Along with introducing yellow gold and two-tone versions of the Land-Dweller, Rolex could also expand the collection by simply offering more dial options for existing models. Aside from the “Land-Dweller” name, the dial of the model is arguably its single most controversial feature, and some collectors simply feel that its honeycomb motif and bold Arabic numerals don’t match the rest of the watch. Even if Rolex chooses to keep this design for the dial, I’d be surprised if additional colors weren’t added to the series, and I could also see Rolex opting for diamond hour markers to complement the diamond-set bezel that is available for the Everose gold and platinum Land-Dweller models.
Complications for the Rolex 1908 Collection
Launched in 2023 as a replacement for the discontinued Cellini collection, the Rolex 1908 is the Swiss brand’s dedicated lineup of dress watches. At the present time, Rolex offers the 1908 in either yellow gold (ref. 52508), white gold (ref. 52509), or platinum (ref. 52506), but the collection itself is still rather limited. The yellow gold and white gold models are available with either black or white dials, and buyers of the yellow gold version also have the option of pairing the 1908 with a matching solid gold Settimo bracelet. However, all Rolex 1908 watches are simple time-only models, and there’s a good chance that we might see some complications join the collection at Watches and Wonders 2026.
Before Rolex discontinued the Cellini, the final generation was offered in time-only, date-displaying, dual-time, and moonphase configurations. Each model offered a refined expression of its respective complication, and the sub-dial on the Rolex 1908 could easily be adapted to a date indicator or dual-time display in a similar manner to what can be observed on the discontinued Cellini models. Given that the Cellini Moonphase wasn’t a commercial success for Rolex while it remained in production, I don’t foresee a moonphase-equipped version joining the 1908 collection, but calendar complications or a dual-time display would be a natural addition to Rolex’s modern dress watch.
Rolex Daytona with Jubilee Bracelet
The Rolex Daytona is one of the Swiss brand’s most diverse sports models, and it is almost surprising that the Jubilee bracelet is not already an option within the current collection. The classic three-link Oyster bracelet has historically been the go-to pairing for the Daytona, but Rolex previously offered the Daytona with a Jubilee, and you will sometimes find vintage Daytona models that are fitted with Rolex’s signature five-link bracelet. Additionally, some collectors even source genuine Jubilee bracelets to attach to their modern Daytona watches, so there is clearly ample demand for a Jubilee-equipped version of Rolex’s iconic chronograph.
At the present time, the GMT-Master II is the only Rolex sports watch that is available with the option of a Jubilee bracelet; however, some rumors claim that Rolex will be unveiling Jubilee-equipped Daytona models among its new releases at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026. With that in mind, if Rolex does decide to add the Jubilee bracelet to the Daytona collection, you can virtually guarantee that it will not be available for every model from the series, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Rolex reserved the Jubilee for select Daytona models that are crafted from solid gold.
Alternatively, Rolex could add the Jubilee bracelet to the Daytona collection, but only pair it with the two-tone model as a way to increase public interest in this frequently overlooked configuration. Within the current Rolex Cosmograph Daytona lineup, the Yellow Rolesor (aka two-tone) version is consistently regarded as the least desirable, and it’s possible that Rolex will use the Jubilee bracelet to reinvigorate the two-tone Daytona in much the same way that the brand used this popular bracelet style to increase interest in the Rolesor versions of the Sky-Dweller.
White Dial for the Rolex Explorer
Originally launched in 1953, the Rolex Explorer holds the distinction of being the Swiss brand’s very first sports watch, and for the entirety of its history, the Explorer has pretty much only been fitted with a black dial. Other than a small handful of mega-rare Explorer ref. 6610 watches that were equipped with white dials, Rolex’s classic three-handed sports model has exclusively been paired with a black dial, and one of the most common Rolex predictions from the last several years has been a white-dial version of the time-only Explorer.
The Rolex Explorer II has been available with a white dial since the mid-1980s, and other models like the stainless steel Daytona are exclusively fitted with either black or white dials. Additionally, even Rolex’s sibling company Tudor now offers a version of the Ranger that is fitted with a “Dune White” (aka cream-colored) dial as an alternative to the standard black-dial model. With that in mind, Rolex has yet to release a “Polar” version of the standard time-only Explorer, and many collectors have been predicting that the brand will unveil a white-dial Explorer at Watches and Wonders 2026.
At the time of writing, Rolex offers the Explorer in both 36mm and 40mm formats, and the standard 36mm model is available in either stainless steel or Yellow Rolesor (two-tone) configurations. However, regardless of case size or materials, all Rolex Explorer watches are fitted with black dials, and this has remained true since the late 1950s. Should Rolex decide to create a “Polar” version of the time-only Explorer, there’s a good chance that it will have black-finished hands (similar to what can be observed on the “Polar” Explorer II), and this simple change in dial color would immediately push the Explorer to the top of many collectors’ wish lists.
Rolex Yacht-Master 40 in RLX Titanium
One of the most unexpected Rolex sports models to debut in recent years is the titanium Yacht-Master 42 (ref. 226627) that launched in 2023. While many brands have been using titanium for multiple decades (including Rolex’s sibling company Tudor), the lightweight alloy is a fairly new addition to Rolex’s catalog. At the present time, only two Rolex models are crafted from RLX Titanium (aka grade 5 titanium), which include the Yacht-Master 42 and the Deepsea Challenge that debuted in 2022 as the Swiss brand’s very first titanium watch. The titanium Yacht-Master 42 has proved to be a highly popular model, but it is objectively rather large, and I could easily see Rolex expanding the concept to create a smaller version based on the Yacht-Master 40.
A titanium Submariner or Daytona would likely cause riots at Rolex’s local retailers due to the overwhelming number of people that would be lining up to add their names to the waiting list. However, the Yacht-Master has always been somewhat overlooked compared to other Rolex sports models, and the titanium Yacht-Master 42 brought a lot of new attention to the collection, as it offers a highly utilitarian appearance and is the only Yacht-Master model that does not feature precious metal components. That said, the 42mm version of the Yacht-Master is simply too large for many people’s wrists, and a titanium Rolex Yacht-Master 40 would be the ideal alternative for everyone who can’t comfortably wear a 42mm sports watch.
At the end of the day, only Rolex knows for certain what models will be released and discontinued at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026, and even the most logical and plausible Rolex predictions often end up not coming to fruition. That said, while some predictions are simply based on pure rumors, others are rooted in factual details, and given that the red/blue “Pepsi” GMT-Master II has already been removed from the online portals for Rolex’s authorized retailers, there is a very good chance that this fan-favorite colorway will be discontinued next month when Rolex unveiled its new releases at Watches and Wonders 2026.
