We can’t discuss the 2021 watch year without delving into the novelties launched by the two juggernauts of watchmaking, high quality fake Rolex and Patek Philippe. The big news with the Explorer I is that it has gone back to its original size, down from 39mm to 36mm, and it is absolutely perfect.

I love that the gold case copy Rolex Daytona watch now features a subtle but very useful enhanced Chromalight display and actually like the two-tone version of the watch as well. Do I think Rolex could have been a bit more daring when it came to the 50th anniversary of the Explorer II? Well, like a lot of fans, I would have loved to see a 1655-inspired new watch at 39mm or 40mm; instead, the change to this model was subtle.

It stayed at 42mm but with a subtly sleeker case now featuring the enhanced Chronergy escapement caliber 3285 inside it. But the bigger news for me was the stunning array of meteorite dial copy Rolex Daytona that included three of the most ravishing watches, each with a meteorite dial, in Everose and yellow gold with matching metal bracelets, and in white gold on an Oysterflex strap.

It perhaps says something that even on the limited budget of a watch journalist, if given the opportunity, I would find some way to own this watch. The other Daytona which I lusted after was the new Everose gold watch with a sundust dial set with baguette diamond indexes. This dial is a stunning dusty washed pink that is different from the matching Everose gold dial that appeared on this watch previously.