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For many watch collectors, the question isn’t simply “what Rolex watches should I buy?” It’s “what’s the best model to own?” Soaring into its second century of watch manufacturing, the Rolex brand has a lot to be proud of. Their innovative patented features make these watches investible timepieces for the future.
Buying the right wristwatch for you isn’t such a hard task since there are so many incredible models to choose from. So, what are the most popular Rolex watches men desire? In this exclusive article, we’ll touch on the best Rolex diver’s watch, the best dress watch, and the best travel watch.
We’ve considered prices, the value for money, and the size. Whether you’re looking for a sporty chronograph, like the modern Cosmograph Daytona, a legible three-handed Perpetual Date, or a bold GMT-Master II watch, you’re bound to know what the best Rolex watches on the market are after reading this guide. Here are our top 10 picks.
View The Best Rolex Watches Below
1. Rolex Submariner
The unique Rolesor case design of this ‘Date’ Rolex Submariner model is an innovative mix of stainless steel and yellow gold – the pillar to the Oyster collection since the 1930s. The reinforced strength and reliability of its case enables the Rolex Submariner to be a trusting underwater tool for ocean exploration.
Pros:
+ Unidirectional Cerachrom bezel
+ 40mm case made from steel with 300m water resistance
+ Legible blue dial with Chromalight luminescence
+ Oystersteel bracelet with Oysterlock safety clasp
+ Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring oscillator
Why we like it – This Rolex Submariner is sporty, robust, and functional, thanks to the Calibre 3135 with a 48h power reserve.
Looking for a cheaper option? We’ve also reviewed the cheapest Rolex watches.
2. Rolex Day-Date 40 President Watch
Worn by some of the most influential people in the world, the Rolex Day-Date watch is still loved. The innovative three-piece-link President bracelet takes its name from its role on the wrist of influential statesmen.
Pros:
+ 40mm 18ct yellow gold case with ceramic inserts
+ Rolex Calibre 3255 – 70-hour power reserve
+ President bracelet with crown clasp
+ Day arc at 12 o’clock / date window at 3 o’clock
+ Fixed fluted bezel
Why we like it – The Rolex Day-Date, or Rolex “President” model, is such a collectible timepiece that it makes our list of the best Rolex watches. The universally appealing design means it’s a go-to timepiece for all occasions.
3. Rolex Datejust II
The Rolex Datejust II model is equipped with a self-winding mechanical movement, displaying the date at 3 o’clock under a cyclops lens. Its rich blue baton index dial promotes simple timekeeping through a purist design, combined with an Oystersteel case for robustness and longevity.
Pros:
+ 41mm stainless steel case
+ Roman numeral dial
+ Date window at 3 o’clock
+ Powered by a chronometer-certified movement
+ A dress watch for all occasions
Why we like it – The Rolex Datejust II model consolidates all the major innovations Rolex was renowned for up until the year the first Datejust was introduced in 1945, albeit with improved chronometer-certified accuracy.
4. Rolex Yacht-Master
The Rolex Yacht-Master sports a bezel crafted from 950 platinum, standing out from its sandblasted dark rhodium dial. Celebrating the relationship that Rolex has forged with yachting, the spirit of sailing is evermore apparent in each new design from this iconic collection.
Pros:
+ Platinum and stainless steel case
+ Vivid blue dial with cyclops date lens
+ Scratch-resistant sapphire glass lens
+ 100-meter water resistance
+ 40mm case with screw-down crown
Why we like it – Combining its marine-inspired blue dial with an automatic movement that will never fail to keep perfect time, the Rolex Yacht-Master II model is the ideal timepiece to sail with, go on vacation with, or socialize in.
5. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
This Rolex Daytona combines an Oystersteel case with a classic black dial. Its movement is kitted out with a Parachrom hairspring for improved performance. Activated by push-pieces that screw down in a similar fashion to the crown, the Cosmograph Daytona watch guarantees a waterproofness of 100 meters.
Pros:
+ 40mm Oystersteel case
+ Chronograph measuring 1/8th of a second
+ 4130 movement – 72-hour power reserve
+ Monobloc Cerachrom bezel with tachymetric scale
+ Anti-glare sapphire crystal glass lens
Why we like it – This sporty Rolex Daytona watch combines practical features for recording personal bests with, yet looks classic enough to pair with formal attire in the evening.
6. Rolex Sky-Dweller
The Rolex Sky-Dweller features two-time zone displays simultaneously. It’s the perfect companion for traveling in style. Local time is represented via the conventional central hand, and the home time is depicted in the smaller sub-scale. You can adjust the hour hand independently in one-hour increments without having to stop the watch.
Pros:
+ Second-time zone counter
+ Oyster bracelet with Easylink rapid extension system
+ Powered by the 9001 movement – -2/+2 sec/day
+ Fluted, bidirectional rotatable
+ 42mm Oystersteel case with Twinlock double waterproof crown
Why we like it – Powered by one of the most complex movements ever created by Rolex, the Sky-Dweller fuses unbeatable accuracy with a comfortable Oystersteel bracelet and Easylink rapid extension system.
7. Rolex Explorer Oystersteel
The Rolex Oyster bracelet and patented Easylink comfort extension link equipped to this Rolex Explorer Oystersteel watch nods to the company’s passion for creating robust yet highly comfortable designs.
Powered by the 3132 movements, it promises a deviation of just -2/+2 sec/day. Combined with a highly legible Chromalight-adorned three-handed display in classic black, it’s a tool for daring adventure and extreme limit-pushing.
Pros:
+ Screw-down crown with Twinlock double waterproofness system
+ 39mm rugged Oystersteel case
+ Anti-glare sapphire glass lens
+ Legible yet classic black dial
+ Impressive 48-hour power reserve
Why we like it – This Rolex Explorer Oystersteel watch combines constant accuracy with the archetypal Oystersteel case design and a classic black display for easy time reading.
8. Rolex GMT-Master II
Whilst some GMT watches feature a Pepsi bezel, this Rolex GMT-Master II is crafted from high-tech ceramic. It features a bidirectional rotating bezel with a Cerachrom insert and a 24 hour second-time zone. The scratchproof and anti-corrosive casing provides the perfect environment for a reliable movement
Pros:
+ Screw-down, triplock triple waterproofness system
+ 24-hour track on the unidirectional bezel
+ Anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass lens
+ Stainless steel case with a ceramic bezel
+ Date window at 3 o’clock
Why we like it – Thanks to its legible dial, the Rolex GMT-Master II watch is the ultimate tool for conquering the skies. Its hour hand can be set independently.
9. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II
The famous Rolex Oyster Explorer II is developed for extreme resistance to harsh weather conditions and challenging environments. An Oystersteel case, Oyster bracelet, and classic black dial define this collection of rugged watches – occupied of course, by the 3187 movements, fitted with a Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers.
Pros:
+ Cyclops date lens at 3 o’clock
+ Durable Oystersteel case
+ 24-hour track on bezel
+ 42mm 300 feet water-resistant case
+ 48-hour power reserve
Why we like it – Thanks to its 24-hour time zone, this watch is good for travel and adventure-seeking. The second timezone is highlighted by a zesty orange arrow-tipped hand.
10. Rolex Cellini Time
The Rolex Cellini Time watch is a dressy watch to add to your favorite work suit. It pairs well with smart attire thanks to its 18ct white gold case and slenderly carved sword-shaped hands that parade the dial with a sense of effortlessness.
Pros:
+ Unimposing 39mm case diameter
+ Authentic black leather strap
+ Anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass
+ Domed and fluted bezel
+ Solid case back and screw-down crown
Why we like it – Looking elegant and stylish has never been so easy than with Rolex Cellini Time watches. Lustrous precious metals and discreet index markers create simplicity at its finest.
Rolex Watches Buyer’s Guide
Rolex models for taking to the seas with
If you’re into your diving, there’s no doubt you should be looking at the Rolex Submariner watch collection to fulfill your needs underwater. The Rolex Submariner was the first of the diver-friendly Rolex watches to offer an impressive 100-meter water resistance when the model first launched.
Today, the Submariner is a Rolex watch men still adore. Its 300-meter water resistance, anti-corrosive Cerachrom bezel, Chromalight dial, and date display at 3 o’clock nestled under a Cyclops lens are its defining features. Simply put, the Rolex Submariner is one of the best Rolex watches out there!
Rolex Yacht-Master watches offer impressive waterproofness and robust qualities, making them an indispensable tool for you if you’re a water sports enthusiast or an expert sailor. This nautical watch is available in 3 sizes. It features a bidirectional 60 minute graduated bezel in silvery-white platinum. If you’re looking for a timepiece that communicates an unmistakable sense of luxury, as well as promising a rugged, long-lasting case design, the Rolex Yacht-Master watch is certainly for you.
Rolex models for exploration
The Rolex Explorer Oystersteel watch is more than capable of facing any outdoor challenge, any extreme sport, or any level of mountain climbing – you name it! And that’s all thanks to its innovative case crafted from 904L stainless steel. Despite its resistant composition, once polished, it looks incredibly sophisticated.
Its distinctive hand-assembled black dial is the face of Rolex. Luminescent materials emit a long-lasting blue-colored glow. The bracelets that accompany these watches are equipped with an Easylink comfort extension link. They extend the length of the bracelet in 5mm increments for wearing atop climbing gear, sportswear, and ski suits, to name a few examples.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II watch is perfect for doubling up as a sophisticated tool for outdoors as well as a classic companion for a professional suit. You can distinguish from the hours of the day and the night easily – perfect for tackling conditions where darkness is a challenge. The pop of vibrant color stands out against the stealth-like back dial of this trusty Rolex Explorer watch, whilst the signature date window at 3 o’clock and luminous hour markers keep to their familiar design.
Classic Rolex dress watches
If you like your Rolex watch to have a classic and timeless look about it, you’ll fall in love with the purist look of the Rolex Cellini Time watch. This watch embodies a strong sense of simplicity. The 39mm 18ct white gold case is integrated with a double bezel – one of which is smooth and domed, the other which is fluted.
The hands, elegantly shaped into swords, count off each second, while the automatic Calibre 3132 chronometer movement lies at the heart of this elegant timepiece, providing an impressive 48-hour power reserve.
Since this Rolex Cellini watch is only water-resistant to 50 meters, it’s not the type of wristwatch to go snorkeling in. But, since its elegant gold case and the classic leather band would suggest, this wristwatch is certainly for looking sophisticated every day of the week.
The Rolex Day-Date watch is another dress watch. Clothed in 18ct yellow gold (or platinum to be precise), these wristwatches were worn by the likes of John. F. Kennedy. They’re valued for their beautifully crafted, chronometer-certified 3255 movements.
The Day-Date will provide you with a 70-hour power reserve, so if you plan to take it off after a business event on Friday and come back to it first thing on Monday, the precision timing is guaranteed to be on point. For men, Rolex watches are the ultimate statement piece, and so watches like the Day-Date and the Rolex Daytona are ideal for expressing a wearer’s personality.
Rolex models for travel
The Rolex Sky-Dweller will look as stylish strapped to the wrist on a long-haul flight as it will in the office. Its slick appearance is courtesy of the Oystersteel case, with a monobloc middle section, and a screw-down case and a winding crown. This 42mm watch features a 24 hour time zone in a large sub-scale, located at the south of the dial, enabling you to keep track of local and home time effortlessly and simultaneously.
You don’t even have to stop the watch to adjust the hour hand. The 9001 movements will provide you with an instantaneous annual calendar, a 72-hour power reserve, and an accuracy of -2/+2 sec per day. Designed with simplicity at its core, the Rolex Sky-Dweller is the key to an organized and sophisticated lifestyle.
Expert Tip
Rolex men watches make for great investments. You can rest assured that a watch you buy today and wear for 20 years is most likely going to fetch the same price when you come to sell it – if you ever decide to!
Did you know?
Every single Rolex watch is pressure tested before leaving the company’s Genevan-based manufacturing facilities. Rolex also uses the most expensive stainless steel in the world. 904L stainless steel is the strongest and most corrosion-resistant for use in high tech industries.