When searching for the best Rolex watches there are several considerations to keep in mind. Every Rolex watch brings with it a level of status and prestige. Most Rolex luxury brand watches will hold their value incredibly well, regardless of the materials used, simply because they display the Rolex logo on their dials. So, it comes as no surprise that many collectors, both novice and experienced, seek out the most popular Rolex models when investing. This style guide will give you a quick overview of the top 5 Rolex watches for men as well as why you should consider each of these best-looking Rolex models.
Rolex Submariner
The Rolex Submariner is easily one of the most recognizable watches when examining the brand’s catalog, having appeared in numerous James Bond movies during the early years of its production. Today, the iconic diver is a fixture of the luxury watch industry and remains the go-to timepiece for many collectors. With over 65 years of production under its belt, the Rolex Submariner watch collection is also incredibly varied, offering several dial and bezel colors as well as a number of different metal options.
From a practical tool watch to a more formal reference in precious metal, there is a Rolex Submariner model to suit nearly any lifestyle. When shopping for one of these versitle references you may want to compare the Rolex Starbucks watch to the Rolex Kermit. Some other good options include the Rolex Hulk, and Cookie Monster. The Rolex Submariner is often compared to the Sea-Dweller, as they are both great dive watch options, but the Submariner is the more versatile and iconic of the two.
Why buy? The Submariner boasts an incredible depth rating of up to 300 meters/1,000 feet. Whether you’re using the watch on land or in the sea, the tough Rolex Oyster case has what it takes to protect the precision movement within from whatever adverse conditions you might encounter. The Submariner’s robust build quality and classic design are what draw so many collectors to the model, which has proven over the years to be far more than just a professional luxury diver’s watch.
Rolex Daytona
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch is another pillar of the Rolex catalog that became famous for its close association with the world of professional racing. Some of the most notable names in motorsports were known to wear the Daytona on their wrists, including Paul Newman and Jackie Stewart. Today, these iconic Rolex brand watches remain a fixture of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the race that started along the sands of Daytona Beach in the 1950s and has since become one of the most famous races in the world. Decades after coming to market, the core design of the Rolex Daytona remains the same with a slim tachymeter bezel, chronograph pushers on the side of its case, and a dial featuring three registers.
Why buy? The Daytona is one of the only chronographs in the Rolex collection. It boasts a straightforward and timeless design that will appeal to collectors of all levels. If you’re new to watch collecting and want to make a statement on the wrist, the Rolex Daytona is an attractive option to consider.
Rolex Day-Date President
Also known as the “President’s Watch” among collectors, the Day-Date is, perhaps, one of Rolex’s most luxurious and powerful statement pieces. These iconic Rolex watches are only ever produced in precious metals and are often fitted with the model’s signature President bracelet that boasts supple, semi-circular links and a hidden Crownclasp. The Rolex Day-Date watch holds the honor of being the very first watch to display both a date of the month and the day of the week spelled out in full through apertures in the surface of the dial. Like all Rolex watches that are part of the Rolex brand’s Oyster Perpetual collection, the President also offers a self-winding mechanical movement and a standard water-resistance rating of up to 100 meters. The Rolex Day-Date is a bold statement piece for work or leisure that continues to enjoy much success on the market, even more than sixty years after its initial release.
Why buy? Depending on the reference, the Day-Date can often be an excellent opportunity to invest in a Rolex. While newer models require a pretty hefty investment, there are options on the secondary market that can be had for roughly $10k. Gold tends to hold its value well, as do Rolex watches, making the Day-Date President a smart choice for many collectors.
Rolex GMT-Master II
The Rolex GMT-Master II is one of the most iconic and recognizable pilot’s watches on the market. Its history began in the 1950s with the introduction of the original Rolex GMT-Master watch and continued into the 1980s with the release of the GMT-Master II, which featured independently adjustable hour hands that allowed for the simultaneous display of three different time zones. Several decades later, the model remains one of Rolex’s most successful professional watches, and the current model has been sold out at dealers worldwide ever since it was first announced at Baselworld. Like several other contemporary Rolex watches, the GMT-Master II is available in a range of different metal options, and newer models also feature high-tech Cerachrom bezels.
Why buy? The Rolex GMT-Master II is truly timeless, with stainless steel models typically being among the most desirable. It also offers an incredibly practical set of features and makes for a very convenient travel watch as it allows users to quickly reference multiple time zones as they travel around the globe.
Rolex Datejust
The Datejust holds the title of being Rolex’s best-selling watch of all time, and it is one of the oldest and most recognizable models in the brand’s entire catalog. The Datejust made its debut in 1945 and is responsible for introducing the first automatically changing calendar mechanism, forever setting the standard for how a date complication on a watch should function. The Rolex Datejust watch collection is also among the most versatile with models that range from modest, all-steel wristwatches to more luxurious precious metal options that are set with diamonds. The collection also boasts an automatic winding movement and 100 meters of water resistance, allowing the Datejust to be a watch that can effortlessly be worn with everything and survive whatever you throw at it.
Why buy? The Rolex Datejust will never go out of style and it will likely always hold its value well, making it a sensible investment for any collector. Due to the many options that might be considered one of the best Rolex for men who want a lot of choices. It’s also widely available on the secondary market, which means that it is easy to find an affordable Datejust to suit your wrist.
The Best Rolex Watches: Final Thoughts
When it comes to iconic luxury watches that combine performance and prestige, Rolex timepieces stand in a class of their own. From Rolex’s early 20th-century origins up to the present day, the brand has demonstrated masterful innovation in watchmaking paired with impeccable style.
Evolving from early wristwatch designs intended for rugged explorers to prestigious status symbols befitting global elites, certain Rolex models have proven themselves to be pinnacle achievements. The Submariner dive watch carries on the spirit of adventure with a depth rating of 300 meters, uni-directional rotating bezel, and luminous hands and markers. The cosmopolitan Datejust introduces the now ubiquitous date display on a watch with elegance, enhancing its wearability from the boardroom to the ballroom.
While other luxury watchmakers have come and gone, Rolex continues to refine these and other classic watches without compromising the core elements that made them famous in the first place. Attainable only for those with means, owning an iconic Rolex watch confers both practical excellence in timekeeping as well as a stamp of individual accomplishment and taste. For these reasons and more, when selection the very best of luxury watches, Rolex remains the brand above all others to celebrate and aspire to. Its hard-won prominence at the peak of watchmaking is likely to continue indefinitely.
