Few brands build a legacy so profound that they go on to become a paragon for an entire industry. Indeed, luxury watches and Rolex are synonymous in common parlance.
Whether you’re a watch connoisseur, a horology novice, or just someone who appreciates pretty things, you’ve definitely eyed Rolex watches. It exudes charisma, style, and discernment – all markers of a commanding status symbol.
Moreover, Rolex pioneered the hardy wristwatch, pushed boundaries in design, and cemented Swiss superiority in watchmaking. The brand’s rich history has emboldened the watches’ value tremendously. Beyond style and sensibilities, there’s a lot to be reaped from a Rolex.
Read on to find out the best Rolex investments.
Rolex Daytona
The Daytona collection, of Hollywood fame, is one of Rolex’s most exclusive watches. The Daytona initially received a lukewarm response, leading to limited production runs. However, its artistry came to be appreciated much later and is now an incredibly hard model to come by. When one does stumble upon a Daytona, it comes at a steep price.
The most prominent model is the Daytona 6239, the watch Hollywood prodigy Paul Newman owned. Today, many watch enthusiasts are of the belief that this is “the greatest watch on the planet.” This Daytona, among a select few, features incredibly rare four-digit manual-winding references.
This Daytona also stands out due to its unique dial, with its Art-Deco calligraphy and tri-colour sub-dials with broad markers. Its simplistic steel facade belies the intricate detail of the watch.
Paul Newman’s Daytona sold for $17.8 million within 12 minutes at New York’s Winning Icons auction. Other vintage Daytonas that are equipped with the same features as Newman’s Daytona are references 6239, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, and 6265. According to experts, Daytona yields at least a 40% premium in the current market.
Rolex Submariner
The Rolex Submariner was launched in 1953 as the ideal diver’s watch. It was a pioneering engineering feat, waterproof to 100 metres (the latest versions are waterproof to 300 metres).
A truly functional divers’ watch, the Submariner has a unidirectional rotatable bezel with chiselled edges, affording excellent grip underwater. Additionally, the large hands, luminescent display, and corrosion-resistant ceramic facade make it the perfect water companion. With an in-built 60-minute graduation, divers can monitor time spent underwater. So perfect was the original Rolex Submariner that it is used as a prototype for waterproof watches to this day.
The most sought-after Submariner models are references 16610, 14060, and 16613. As per a Morgan Stanley report, a Submariner can earn a hefty return on investment of 24.2%.
Rolex GMT-Master II
The perfect watch for a globally-versed individual, the Rolex GMT-Master II is defined by its dual-time zone feature.
It was launched in 1955, a time when long-haul flights, mass immigration, and globalisation created a seismic shift in the fundamental fabric of the world – it was markedly shrinking, bringing everyone across the seas closer. The GMT-Master II, by affording a quick glimpse into another part of the world, celebrated this transformation.
The GMT-Master II also features the iconic duo-toned 24-hour graduated rotatable bezel, as well as a 24-hour hand. The model is corrosion-resistant and waterproof, rendering it an unmatched global-trotting companion. As a symbol of the progress of aviation technology, the GMT-Master II was the watch of choice for elite flight crews.
According to Morgan Stanley, the GMT-Master II collection is one of Rolex's most promising ranges, with potential yields of 48.2% over the standard retail price.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual
Elegance and sophistication personified, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is renowned for its peppy colours and lusty oystersteel material.
Oystersteel, typically used in aerospace and chemical industries, is highly resilient, corrosion-resistant, and staggeringly lustrous in all milieus. Needless to say, brawn is the defining characteristic of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The model is waterproof to a depth of 100 metres, boasting a double-waterproof Twinlock winding crown.
Oyster Perpetual watches feature multi-coloured dials, accompanied by the celestial silver sheen of their steel body. References 124300, 126000, 114300, and 116000 are the most favourable investment choices, with an estimated premium potential of 32.4%.
Rolex Datejust
Created in 1945, the Rolex Datejust was the first ever self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch. This watch forever altered the course of modern watchmaking.
In 1953, a Cyclops lens was added to the date window, making Datejust the avant-garde functional watch of the decade. It set the benchmark for the subsequent watches to come. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, called it “the pinnacle of watchmaking science, encapsulating every discovery made to date.” The model reached its peak popularity in the 1980s, recognisable in an instant and teasing the envy of watch enthusiasts all over the world. As a style statement, the Datejust certainly holds value to this day.
The Datejust is made with oystersteel and comes in white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold with diamonds, exemplifying elevated functionality. The best Datejusts to invest in are references 1601, 16013, 16233, and 116233. According to Morgan Stanley, this elegant beauty trades at 15.4% over the retail price.
Rolex Explorer and Explorer II
Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Explorer and Oyster Perpetual Explorer II are outcomes of the brand’s intimate involvement in exploration, passion for innovation, and futuristic vision. These models, built to withstand nature’s fury, reflect the brand’s unabashed engineering ambition.
Since the brand’s early days in the 1930s, Rolex has tested its products’ durability by sending them to nature's abysses and peaks with mountaineers, submariners, and polar expeditors. As a tool watch, the Explorer can thrive in any circumstances, from bone-shattering frigidity to sweltering heat.
Inspired by the first human ascent of Mount Everest in May 1953, the first Explorer was crafted to deliver style and precision in daunting conditions. The following year, mountaineers were sent to scale the world’s highest peak with the Explorer on their wrist. With a classic black dial and gilt inscriptions, the Explorer flourished at a soaring height of 8,848 metres.
Two decades later, the Explorer was improved upon with the release of the Explorer II, outfitted with a chromalight display, a 24-hour graduated bezel, a date window, and a bright orange hand to help distinguish between day and night. The Explorer II is a peerless choice for those traversing the poles or treading the bowels of the earth.
References 14270, 214270, 16570, and 216570 are great Explorer models worth investing in. An Explorer can trade at 43% above market value. According to some experts, Explorers can yield more than 50% profit.
A Rolex, be it a simple timepiece or an extravagant collectible, radiates panache, affluence, and discernment. With its trappings of opulent wealth and gilded history, it’s certainly a bold statement piece; the return on investment undeniably transcends monetary gain. It’s time to make a momentous luxury investment with a new Rolex.
