The Standout of Rolex’s 2026 Collection is the Multicolored Lacquer Jubilee Motif Dial

Guests couldn’t get enough of the watches during the recent Philippine preview of the 2026 Rolex novelties, with collectors gathering around the new Datejusts, Yacht-Master II, and the brand’s commemorative releases marking the centenary of the Oyster.

The most photographed watches in the room, however, weren't the complicated pieces or the precious-metal statement models. They were two simple Oyster Perpetuals, the new 36mm and 41mm models featuring the striking Jubilee motif dials, which draws on the brand’s aesthetic heritage.

If social media has become an unofficial barometer of collector enthusiasm, these were undoubtedly the stars of the evening.

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Rolex's 2026 collection is anchored around one historic milestone: the 100th anniversary of the Oyster, which was introduced in 1926 as the world's first waterproof wristwatch. Rolex spread the tribute across several novelties, from anniversary Oyster Perpetual models to new Datejusts and the revival of the Yacht-Master II. The approach reflects the brand's philosophy of evolution rather than revolution, refining familiar icons while quietly introducing future classics.

But among all the releases, it was the Jubilee motif dial that perhaps drew the most attention. Playful at first glance, the dial reveals an intricate mosaic composed of the word "Rolex," repeated across the surface in 10 different colors. The execution is far more complex than it initially appears. According to Rolex, each color is individually applied in successive stages, making the dial one of the brand's most technically demanding lacquer creations in recent years. The motif itself revisits the “Jubilee” graphic that was first introduced in the late 1970s, reimagined with contemporary color and precision.

The result is something Rolex rarely attempts: a watch that is unapologetically expressive.

Naturally, comparisons have been drawn to the now-famous Celebration dial introduced in 2023. That earlier design scattered colorful bubbles across a turquoise background as a tribute to the vibrant lacquer Oyster Perpetual collection unveiled in 2020. It quickly became one of the brand's most polarizing and ultimately one of the most collectible modern references after its relatively short production run.

The new Jubilee motif dial feels like its spiritual successor, but with greater maturity.

Where the Celebration dial relied on whimsical and visual surprise, the Jubilee motif dial tells a story rooted in Rolex's own design history. It’s colorful and artistic without sacrificing the clean identity of the Oyster Perpetual. It’s also bold enough to spark conversation while remaining unmistakably Rolex.

During the preview, guests picked up the Jubilee for wrist shots, close-ups, and videos. Journalists and collectors found themselves photographing the dial repeatedly, trying to capture the way the colors shifted under changing light.

The Jubilee motif dial wasn't the only Oyster drawing interest.

Perhaps the sleeper hit of the 2026 collection is the Oyster Perpetual 41 in a yellow Rolesor version. At first glance, it looks restrained, a slate dial paired with an Oystersteel bracelet, accented only by a yellow-gold bezel and winding crown. But it is filled with commemorative details that even serious collectors may not immediately notice.

The winding crown is embossed with the number “100,” while the traditional “Swiss Made” inscription gives way to “100 Years” at six o'clock. Green five-minute markers and a matching green Rolex signature subtly reference the brand's signature color, while the unusual execution of Rolesor reserved only for the bezel and crown rather than the bracelet's center links echoes some of the earliest Oyster watches from the 1920s.

These details may ultimately make it one of the most important modern Oyster Perpetuals.

Rolex rarely produces explicit anniversary references, particularly within its most accessible collection. And history has shown that commemorative Rolex models tied to meaningful milestones often enjoy enduring collector interest, not because they are flashy, but because they represent moments that cannot be repeated.

Ironically, the future collectible of the 2026 lineup may not be the colorful watch dominating Instagram feeds.

It may instead be the understated two-tone Oyster Perpetual that commemorates the watch that arguably started everything. While one celebrates creativity, the other celebrates history.

Together, they remind us that even after a century, Rolex still knows exactly how to keep the world looking at the humble Oyster Perpetual in entirely new ways.