Rolex is undoubtedly the world’s most famous watch brand. The Genevan manufacturer’s timepieces are equally highly coveted. Classic models tend to sell out almost as soon as they’re put up for sale. Iconic watches like the GMT-Master, Submariner, and Daytona are nearly impossible to find in brick-and-mortar stores. However, instead of spending years on a waiting list, you may be able to find the exact watch you’re looking for among the over 70,000 Rolex listings on Chrono24.
That said, you should expect to pay a significant premium if you want to get your hands on a popular watch sooner. For example, a stainless steel Submariner Date ref. 116610LN costs about 12,500 USD on Chrono24 – that’s more than 2,300 USD above its official list price. You’ll have to dig much deeper in your pockets for a Daytona ref. 116500LN or stainless steel GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLRO. At 26,000 and 19,000 USD respectively, they cost nearly double the manufacturer’s recommended retail price.
There are also more affordable options. Prices for vintage models from the 1930s and 40s, such as the Oyster Sport Aqua ref. 3136 or the women’s Precision Super Balance ref. 4211, start under 1,200 USD.
Model | Price (approx.) | Feature(s) |
Daytona Rainbow, ref. 116595RBOW | 315,000 USD | Everose gold, bezel with 36 colorful sapphires, diamond-studded case |
Submariner, ref. 6538 | 137,000 USD | Bond watch, big crown, no crown guard, caliber 1030 |
Day-Date, ref. 228238 | 36,000 USD | Yellow gold case, date, day, caliber 3255 |
Daytona, ref. 116500LN | 26,000 USD | Chronograph, stainless steel case, black ceramic bezel, caliber 4130 |
Cellini Date, ref. 50515 | 17,500 USD | Pointer date, rose gold case, caliber 3165 |
Sea-Dweller, ref. 126600 | 15,500 USD | Water-resistant to 1,220 m (4,000 ft), date, stainless steel case, caliber 3235 |
GMT-Master II “Batman,” ref. 116710BLNR | 16,500 USD | Second time zone, date, stainless steel case, blue and black GMT bezel, caliber 3186 |
Submariner Date, ref. 116610LN | 12,500 USD | Water-resistant to 300 m (984 ft), date, stainless steel case, black diving bezel, caliber 3135 |
Submariner No Date, ref. 114060 | 11,000 USD | Water-resistant to 300 m (984 ft), stainless steel case, black diving bezel, caliber 3130 |
Milgauss, ref. 116400GV | 9,300 USD | Anti-magnetic to 1,000 gauss, stainless steel case, caliber 3131 |
Datejust, ref. 126300 | 9,800 USD | Date, stainless steel case, caliber 3235 |
Air-King, ref. 116900 | 7,800 USD | Stainless steel case, caliber 3131 |
Explorer, ref. 214270 | 8,500 USD | Stainless steel case, caliber 3132 |
Oyster Perpetual 39, ref. 114300 | 6,500 USD | Stainless steel case, caliber 3132 |
Rolex watches are so much more than a statement of power, prestige, and luxury – most also make fantastic investments. If you ever decide to sell your Rolex, you can generally assume you will at least get your money back. In fact, watches in good condition often sell for a profit. This applies to both current models and rare vintage timepieces. The latter often achieve five, six, or even seven-figure prices at auction.