Buying Guide: What model to Buy for Your First Rolex

Many people know they want a Rolex as the first watch in their collection. But where do you start? There’s tons of information, strong opinions about every detail and it can be a little overwhelming. 

While everyone knows Rolex has built a reputation for its quality and classic style, that doesn’t make choosing the right Rolex easy. Buying a timepiece is a big purchase so it makes sense to do your research but don’t go overboard. It’s easy to get stuck in a hole endlessly reading online. If you prefer that route go for it, but for now let’s start with the basics. 

Questions to ask yourself

Do you plan to wear it every day or just on special occasions? 

How will it fit your lifestyle? Is this an accessory to wear primarily with a suit or do you plan to pair it with casual attire?  

What do you want the watch to communicate about you?

The answers to these questions can help guide you to the best watch for you. As your first Rolex we recommend going with something classic and versatile. After all, the more you wear it the lower the cost per wear. Remember though, this is something you are buying for you. What you like the look of and want to wear is most important.

Factors to consider when buying

• Stainless steel is the most sought after  for a first time buyer which is fitting due to the sporty character that the brand is famous for. 
• Pay attention to width. It’s important to find something proportional to your wrist. For men we recommend 38mm to 41 mm wide for the average wrist size. 
• Buying a brand new Rolex is a special experience and it adds to your peace of mind. 
• Pre-owned watches don’t see the same depreciation as buying brand new. The pre-owned market is typically the most cost effective though it is more geared towards collectors who know what they are looking for. 
• Make sure you are buying from a reputable source to steer clear of counterfeit watches or counterfeit parts. 
• If you are interested in a Rolex mainly for investment reasons, price increases are more likely for rare and niche models. Vintage can have extremely high prices based on rarity.

It helps to understand the basic differences between the Rolex watch models as you first start out. By design, Rolex watches models don’t change widely in look and feel. So if you are buying a new Rolex it will have similar characteristics to its earlier  model 20 to 30 years old, or even older. We will go more in depth in future articles but for now let’s focus on an overview. Rolex models can be broken down into 3 categories: sport watches, office/formal watches and showy/decorative watches. 

Sport watches are often worn with casual clothes and are great for everyday wear. They are durable and versatile.  

Office or formal watches are durable, a little less versatile and best accompany a suit and tie. 

Decorative rolex watches are adorned with precious metals and stones and are best worn for special occasions. There are an array of enhancements and variations. It’s important to verify these are fully made by rolex and not aftermarket additions. We will focus on sport and formal watches since these embellished watches are less common for a first Rolex. 

Submariner – The Submariner is arguably the most popular watch in the world. Introduced in 1953 – the first watch waterproof to 100m depth. Diego Maradona, Steve McQueen, Al Pacino and Sean Connery’s James Bond have all been known to wear the Submariner. Bold, very recognizable, steel case, works with any outfit. (40mm)

Air King – 1930s, an Aviation watch with a reputation for being a solid entry-level luxury watch, looks great with formal attire. (40mm)

Oyster perpetual – (time only) The name comes from the company’s major innovations; the waterproof Oyster case and the self-winding Perpetual movement. Minimalistic, smooth lines, sophisticated (28mm, 31mm, 34mm, 36mm, 41mm)

Datejust & Datejust II– Date with cyclops date magnification. Sophisticated, clean and also intricate, no numerical markings, comes in various metals, bezels, dials, bracelets and hour marker styles, often with a fluted bezel. (26mm, 31mm, 36mm, 41mm)

Day-Date – More showy, higher end, not offered in steel, time, day and date. (36mm, 40mm)

For those wanting to wear a piece every day, we recommend a popular model like the Submariner or Datejust in stainless steel. These look good with most outfits, will be timeless in their appearance and will likely retain value. There’s no wrong answer though. If you keep coming back to the same watch over and over in your research, then that’s probably the watch you should get. If you love the watch you can’t go wrong.

To check out our current Rolex selection CLICK HERE and check back often we have new arrivals all the time!