If you’re thinking about investing in a Rolex then it’s important to find the right model for you. You need a watch that matches your personality, your style, and your budget. It’s not always an easy decision to make, and first-time buyers especially will benefit from a little guidance when deciding which Rolex to buy.
At Blowers Jewellers, we’ve helped hundreds of our clients find the right luxury timepiece from our selection of carefully sourced pre-owned Rolex watches. We find that for many people, a good place to start is by taking a look at some of the most popular Rolex models.
So without further ado, here is our guide to ten of the most popular Rolex watches that have been delighting connoisseurs and horological enthusiasts across the world.
1. Rolex Submariner
The Rolex Submariner is the archetypal diver’s watch, a symbol of underwater discovery and conquest. First released in 1953, the original Submariner was waterproof to 330 feet – a record at its time. Thanks to its subtly redesigned Oyster case, more recent models are now waterproof up to 1,000 feet.
Recognisable for its distinctive dial, the large luminescent hour markers align it to underwater conditions. With its graduated rotatable Cerachrom bezel and Oyster bracelet, the Submariner boasts an iconic design, making it one the most recognisable and desirable Rolex models to this day.
2. Rolex Daytona
The highly-accurate Rolex Daytona is a chronograph designed to meet the precise demands of professional racing drivers. The Swiss chronograph enables drivers to measure average speeds up to 400 kilometres or miles per hour.
Released in 1963, the Rolex Daytona is intimately linked to the world of high-performance motorsport. It also shares strong associations with Hollywood star Paul Newman, a successful racer himself, who wore his Rolex Cosmograph Daytona every day for fifteen years. His personal watch collected some $17.8m at auction in 2017.
3. Rolex Datejust
The Rolex Datejust is a timeless classic watch whose design and function transcends changes in fashion. Released in 1945, the Datejust was the first wristwatch to feature an automatic changing date function, magnified by a distinctive bubble over the date display.
In style, function, and mechanics, the Rolex Datejust has been the benchmark and inspiration for many a timepiece. It is the Datejust itself, however, which remains the archetype, widely recognised and appreciated for its seminal role in horological history.
4. Rolex Oyster Perpetual
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual is based on the 1926 Rolex Oyster, the first waterproof watch in the world. The simplest and purest of all Rolex watches, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is designed for nothing less than the clear and precise display of time.
The Oyster Perpetual is defined by two features: its aesthetics, and its self-winding Perpetual movement. The perpetual motion mechanism, designed by Rolex in 1931, provides the watch with a constant source of energy, without the need for winding. Its timeless design sets it apart as a true classic – for all time.
5. Rolex Yacht-Master
The Rolex Yacht-Master and Rolex Yacht-Master II are inspired by Rolex’s close connection with the world of sailing and the open seas. First released in 1992, the Yacht-Master pays homage to Rolex’s sailing heritage which dates back to the 1950s. The original model was followed shortly with a women’s model in 1994.
Designed to meet the needs of professional sailors, the Rolex Yacht-Master II regatta chronograph features a programmable countdown with precise synchronisation, allowing for the perfect timing of a race. Its design beautifully mirrors nautical aesthetics with its bezel reminiscent of a yacht’s wheel, and its pushers which gesture towards racing yacht winches.
6. Rolex Air-King
The Rolex Air-King is a homage to aviation and the watch of choice for pilots.
After Rolex watches were adopted by many RAF pilots during the Second World War, Rolex created the Air-King to honour pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain.
A highly-functional and accurate chronograph, updated models retain the aesthetics of the earliest designs. Today, aviation companies often present the Rolex Air-King as a gift to retiring pilots.
7. Rolex Day-Date
First released in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date was the first watch to display the date and day of the week spelt out in a window on the dial. True to its noble reputation, the Rolex Day-Date is only available in 18ct gold and platinum. It is immediately recognisable from the semi-circular three-piece links on the bracelet.
Nicknamed the ‘President Watch’, the Day-Date has indeed been worn by many Presidents and leaders – most notably John F. Kennedy, who was famously gifted the watch by Marilyn Monroe. It remains known as the watch of choice for the powerful and influential.
8. Rolex Sea-Dweller
The Rolex Sea-Dweller is the ultra-resistant divers’ watch, designed for the conquest of the deep. The fruit of decades of collaboration with professional divers, the Sea-Dweller is waterproof to a depth of 4,000 feet, and the Rolex Deepsea is waterproof to an incredible 12,800 feet.
Chromalight hour markers and luminescent hands provide a clear blue glow for legibility in dark underwater conditions, making the Sea-Dweller the timepiece of choice for deep sea professionals and adventurers alike.
9. Rolex Explorer
The Rolex Explorer is the preferred timepiece of many an adventurer. Famously worn by the sherpa who guided Sir Edmund Hillary on the first ever ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, the Rolex Explorer is proven to offer precision, robustness, and reliability under the harshest conditions.
The Rolex Explorer II benefits from luminescent markings, Chromalight display, and a distinctive orange 24-hour hand enabling polar and underground explorers to differentiate between day and night. Made of highly-polishable Oystersteel, it maintains its beautiful appearance even in the most extreme conditions. The Rolex Explorer II is also known as the watch of choice for American film star Steve McQueen.
10. Rolex Milgauss
The Rolex Milgauss is designed to withstand the strength of magnetic fields that scientists are exposed to during the course of their work. While the accuracy and reliability of most watches are affected by a magnetic field of 50 to 100 gauss, the Milgauss, created by Rolex in 1956, is resistant up to 1000 gauss.
The Milguass is especially recognisable by the orange electricity bolt that forms its second hand. In 2007, Rolex released a scratchproof crystal of green sapphire, exclusive to the Milgauss, providing the crystal with a distinctive green tint.
Which Rolex to buy: Finding the right Rolex for you
Blowers Jewellers stock an extensive range of carefully sourced second-hand Rolex watches, which are available to view at our Kingston upon Hull Boutique, or by appointment at our office in Mayfair, London. We service all our watches to the highest standard, where necessary, and protect your purchase with a minimum one year warranty up to a 5-year guarantee.
All watches listed on our website are physically in stock. Can’t find what you are looking for? Please contact us. Our expert team will be pleased to help you source your desired Rolex model.