The best Rolex watches
Every current Rolex uses an in-house movement certified to −2/+2 seconds a day, most with a 70-hour reserve, so the choice is about style and size. Rolex cases also wear smaller than their diameter suggests, with short lugs.
Prices below are Rolex's US retail. Popular steel models are hard to buy at retail and trade above it on the secondary market.
Our picks
- RolexOyster Perpetual 36$6,750
The Oyster Perpetual 36: the simplest, least expensive Rolex, at 43.1 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 43.1 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6"–7.25" wrists
- Specs
- 36 mm case · 11.7 mm thick · automatic, 70 h reserve · 100 m
- RolexExplorer 36$7,900
The Explorer 36, a pure everyday tool watch.
- Lug-to-lug
- 43 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6"–7.25" wrists
- Specs
- 36 mm case · 11.5 mm thick · automatic, 70 h reserve · 100 m
- RolexDatejust 41$8,950
The Datejust 41 in steel, the most versatile Rolex, from office to weekend.
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.5 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
- Specs
- 41 mm case · 11.9 mm thick · automatic, 70 h reserve · 100 m
- RolexSubmariner$10,050
The no-date Submariner: the archetypal dive watch, at 47.6 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.6 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
- Specs
- 41 mm case · 12.5 mm thick · automatic, 70 h reserve · 300 m
- RolexGMT-Master II$12,000
The GMT-Master II for travellers, with a second time zone and two-tone bezel.
- Lug-to-lug
- 48 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
- Specs
- 40 mm case · 12.2 mm thick · automatic, 70 h reserve · 100 m
- RolexAir-King$8,150
The Air-King, Rolex's pilot watch, with a 48 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 48 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
- Specs
- 40 mm case · 11.6 mm thick · automatic, 70 h reserve · 100 m
- RolexCosmograph Daytona$16,900
The Daytona chronograph, the most sought-after steel Rolex.
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.8 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
- Specs
- 40 mm case · 11.9 mm thick · automatic, 72 h reserve · 100 m
Everything else that qualifies
| Watch | Case | Lug-to-lug | Thick | Fits | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolex Oyster Perpetual 28 | 28 mm | — | 9.5 mm | — | $6,200 |
| Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34 | 34 mm | 40 mm | 10.8 mm | 5.75"–6.75" | $6,400 |
| Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 | 41 mm | 47.3 mm | 11.8 mm | 6.75"–8" | $7,050 |
| Rolex Datejust 31 | 31 mm | — | — | — | $7,900 |
| Rolex Explorer 40 | 40 mm | 46.5 mm | 11.6 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | $8,350 |
| Rolex Datejust 36 | 36 mm | 43.3 mm | 12 mm | 6.25"–7.25" | $10,100 |
| Rolex Explorer II | 42 mm | 50 mm | 12.5 mm | 7"–8.25" | $10,600 |
| Rolex Submariner Date | 41 mm | 47.6 mm | 12.5 mm | 6.75"–8" | $11,350 |
| Rolex Datejust 41 | 41 mm | 47.6 mm | 11.7 mm | 6.75"–8" | $11,850 |
| Rolex Submariner Date | 41 mm | 47.6 mm | 12.5 mm | 6.75"–8" | $11,900 |
| Rolex GMT-Master II | 40 mm | 48 mm | 12 mm | 6.75"–8" | $12,300 |
| Rolex Yacht-Master 40 | 40 mm | 47 mm | 11.7 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | $13,200 |
| Rolex Sea-Dweller | 43 mm | 51 mm | 15 mm | 7"–8.5" | $14,550 |
| Rolex Deepsea | 44 mm | 51.5 mm | 17.7 mm | 7.25"–8.5" | $15,550 |
| Rolex Land-Dweller 40 | 40 mm | 46.5 mm | 9.7 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | $16,450 |
| Rolex Datejust 41 | 41 mm | 47.6 mm | 11.6 mm | 6.75"–8" | $16,900 |
| Rolex Sky-Dweller | 42 mm | 50 mm | 14.1 mm | 7"–8.25" | $17,750 |
| Rolex Yacht-Master 42 | 42 mm | 50 mm | 11.8 mm | 7"–8.25" | $40,000 |
| Rolex Day-Date 36 | 36 mm | — | — | — | $49,100 |
| Rolex Day-Date 40 | 40 mm | 47 mm | 12 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | $50,400 |
| Rolex Oyster Perpetual 31 | 31 mm | — | 11.5 mm | — | — |
| Rolex Lady-Datejust 28 | 28 mm | 34.5 mm | 10.5 mm | 5.5"–5.75" | — |
How we picked
We considered every current Rolex in the almanac, picking one model per collection that suits the most wrists and uses. “Fits” is the range of wrist sizes where the watch grades as an ideal fit on our lug-to-lug model. Prices are US retail and change often.