Updated on July 18, 2025
Luxury watchmaker Rolex was founded in 1905. Its illustrious models have been objects of desire around the world ever since. The Oyster models, in particular, have grown a stainless reputation and an aura that reach far beyond their function. The Daytona, the Datejust, the Submariner, the Master… These watches are the kind of luxury creations known by collectors and dwellers alike. Thanks to the Swiss firm's legendary designs and good taste, these exceptional wristwatches symbolise excellent craftsmanship and impeccable design. Let's look back at ten of the brand's most iconic models featured in the collections of those who know only a Rolex has the power to befit their wrist, and to stand the test of time, and an evolving market.
Rolex Oyster
The first waterproof and dustproof wristwatch
Price: from €5,500 to €6,350
The original Rolex Oyster, created by founder Hans Wilsdorf in 1926 and still manufactured today, was the first waterproof and dustproof watch in history. In lieu of promotion, Rolex chose to showcase it in an aquarium display – complete with a living, lovely goldfish.
Embodying the classic Rolex shape that still inspires both fashion and the world of sport, the Oyster remains a design reference and one of the most popular choices among vintage watch collectors.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual
The undefeated Oyster’s successor
The first Oyster models required that the crown be unscrewed and opened in order to wind the mechanism. The manoeuvre, performed every day, meant that the model’s waterproof quality could potentially decrease over time. In 1931, Hans Wilsdorf broke new grounds with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, the world's first self-winding wristwatch, yet another revolution in watchmaking. Its mechanism, triggered by the wearer’s wrist movements, contributed to the company's spectacular reputation for innovation and quality. Considered the Rolex watch par excellence, with its host of variations, dials, bracelets, and its timeless design, in stainless steel or yellow gold, the Oyster Perpetual, with its flawless movement and precision, remain iconic, and a collection must-have.
Rolex Tiffany, the creative love child of two iconic houses
The "Rolex Tiffany" was originally released in the late 1950’s as an exclusive and revered collaboration between the famous New York jeweller and Rolex, who agreed to add both logos directly on the Oyster Perpetual dial. Note: contrary to popular belief, this model is no longer connected to the jewellery house. Some limited-edition Oyster Perpetuals now come in "Tiffany blue" and are some of the most sought-after Rolex watches to this day by buyers and luxury watches connoisseurs alike.
Rolex Datejust
Date of creation: 1945
Precise and timeless, a new Rolex wristwatch for a new era
Price: from €8,800 to €12,100 & from €6,850 to €35,150 (or upon request)
Knowing the time without having to wind one’s watch mechanism was an innovative feat. At the end of the war, in 1945 Rolex wowed the world once again, displaying the date directly on the dial of its Rolex Datejust (aka the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust). The Datejust Rolex, beyond its impeccable movement, also served as an introduction to the famous Jubilee bracelet and its five-piece metal links rows. Classic, timeless, iconic, and prized by collectors.
Rolex Lady-Datejust
Date of creation: 1957
The legendary Rolex for confident women
Price: from €6,850 to €35,150
The history of Rolex has always been closely linked to women's watches. Initially, the brand manufactured gala watches for women of great taste and grace. In 1927, when Mercedes Gleitze became the first British woman to swim across the English Channel, two stars were born: the fearless champion, and the Rolex wristwatch she wore during her extraordinary achievement. In 1957, the Swiss brand adapted one of its flagship models to create the Rolex Lady-Datejust in both gold and steel versions, with bracelet variations. The Lady-Datejust watches are hailed as some of the most famous Rolex timepieces.
Rolex Day Date
Date of creation: 1956
The Rolex wristwatch for the powerful
Price: from €37,600 to €41,100 (or on request)
In 1956, the internal mechanics of Rolex watches evolved again, this time with the day of the week displayed on the Rolex Day Date’s dial, next to the date. This technological innovation came with a new precious-metal three-piece link bracelet: the Rolex President. The Rolex Day Date, available in yellow gold and white gold, worn by heads of states such as Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Donald Trump and even the Dalai Lama, lived up to its name and won over American and world leaders, becoming one of the most prestigious Rolex watches of the brand.
Rolex Daytona
Date of creation: 1963
The Rolex symbol of speed, savoir-faire and performance
Price: from €14,950 to €32,500 (or on request)
With its graphic face on the dial, and a bezel displaying the units per hour, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona boasts a clean, sporty design, honoring motorsport and the famous racetrack. Associated with actor Paul Newman, known to own at least one matching his steel blue eyes, and designed for racing drivers the Rolex Daytona – as those in the know call this legendary watch, is without a doubt built for performance and reliability.
Rolex Rainbow
The Rolex Rainbow model – the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow for purists – is a more vibrant version of the original iconic racing watch. The tachymeter bezel has been replaced by rainbow-coloured gemstones. Dazzling!
Rolex Explorer
Date of creation: 1953
The Rolex that defies gravity
Price: from €7,150 to €11,650
If we know the exact time Man reached the summit of Mount Everest (11.30 am), we have the Rolex Explorer to thank. On 29 May 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay each wore this model, built for the most extreme conditions. Among the many designs and creations crafted by the Swiss manufacturer, this legendary timepiece has defeated the sky, the sea, and the summits, while acquiring a status of its own, sustained in its ascension to the top of the market by the Rolex Explorer II, another great mountain climber and high-sky lover favourite.
Rolex GMT Master
Date of creation: 1954
The Rolex that changed air travel forever
Price: from €10,550 to €40,200
The sky is no limit for the Rolex GMT Master, created in particular for air travel. GMT refers to “Greenwich Mean Time”. Displaying time in two time zones was no easy feat at the time. An additional hand and a bezel engraved with 24 hours (instead of the traditional 12) were used to keep track of time and stay on track, both on the continent of departure and the continent of arrival. Pilots and other flight crews took the GMT under their… wings. Available with black, blue, or two-tone bezels, and known as the frequent flyer’s best companion, the Rolex GMT Master is popular amongst collectors, explorers and dwellers alike. Reach for the sky.
Rolex GMT Master II
Date of creation: 1980
The wristwatch owned by the air experts themselves
Price: from €10,801 to €42,500
Reissued in a new format in 1980 as the Rolex GMT Master II, it remains faithful to its predecessor, though a number of luxurious variations have been implemented over the years, making it a symbol of precision, travel and luxury that belongs to the brand’s professional range, for educated buyers and dwellers alike, on their way to the top of the world.
Rolex Pepsi
Due to its original blue and red bezel, the classic version of the GMT Master II is now referred to as the "Pepsi"Rolex, though it was originally based on the colours of Pan Am who initially commissioned the GMT Master.
Rolex Sprite
A recent and colourful GMT Master II has been nicknamed "Sprite" because of its bright green colour, reminiscent of the famous lime soda, which adorns the bottom of its bezel and creates striking contrast with its steel bracelet.
Rolex Submariner
Date of creation: 1953
The fearless deep-diving Rolex
Price: from €9,050 to €38,600
The Rolex Submariner is the most famous diving watch ever introduced by Rolex, and a favourite of divers and true explorers. Introduced in 1953 – with features ahead of its time and the ability to withstand a depth of 100 metres – the Submariner came equipped with a graduated rotatable bezel and luminescent hands. Today, a triple watertight system, waterproofness to a depth of 300 metres (!) and a Chromalight display complete the highly technical features of this iconic model. Whether descending in oceanic depths or sported on a yacht’s deck, the Rolex Submariner is a class in itself.
Rolex Hulk
From 2010 to 2020, Rolex produced a Submariner Date with a green dial and bezel, which aficionados quickly nicknamed "Hulk", in homage to the Marvel superhero! Like the Air-King, the Hulk has since become a standout model.
Fun facts and Rolex history
The Most Expensive Rolex Sold at Auction
One wonders which Rolex is the most expensive watch ever sold at auction… In 2017, at Phillips auction house in New York, the highest bid for the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona 6263 reached $17.8 million in 12 minutes, setting the record for the highest price paid for a wristwatch. The bid, reached in 12 minutes by an anonymous buyer over the phone, befits the legend forged by the brand since its origins.
Extreme Feats and Waterproof Proof
Amongst its acclaimed achievements, Rolex is known as the only brand capable of giving its wearers the exact time on Earth’s highest point, and at the deepest level reached in the ocean: while exploring the Mariana Trench at a depth of more than 12 kilometres, James Cameron pushed the Rolex Deepsea Challenge water resistance capacities to their limits by attaching it to one of his submarine’s centre boards... The watch victoriously withstood the test.
Prestigious Ambassadors Through the Decades
Sport, cinema, adventure, exploration – Rolex watches have always been chosen for their unparalleled qualities by those who seek the kind of excellence that only the most exclusive, exceptional and always handmade wristwatches can offer: from Martin Luther King to a number of American presidents, from Marlon Brando, Maria Callas and Andy Warhol to contemporary figures such as tennis champion Roger Federer, opera singer Cecilia Bartoli and singer-songwriter Michael Bublé, Rolex embodies the highest standards and the authentic nature of the most celebrated and respected Swiss watchmaking house.
How to spot a real or fake Rolex
Examine the Physical Details
Are you a new collector or buyer looking to distinguish an authentic Rolex from a counterfeit? The devil is the details: comparison reveals subtle differences. Firstly, use an official dial and strap, either on the Internet or via someone who owns an authentic watch, to check that the font of the inscriptions are perfectly clear and that the spacing is proportionate...
Analyze Movement and Weight
The fluidity in movement of the watch’s second hand, its weight (even solid counterfeits are lighter) and its water-resistance (more fallible in fake models) are other telltale signs to examine closely.
Consult a Professional
If and when in doubt, hold your horses – or your collection. Check the serial number and visit a professional watchmaker!
You might also like…
Easter egg hunts: chocolate treasures to share with the family
Embrace the return of milder spring days, where every ray of sunshine promises moments of pure happiness as a family. A day where the sweet thrill of chocolate meets the excitement of shared laughter, with children and adults alike enjoying an adventure that’s full of surprises. From playful egg hunts to gourmet lunches, our hotels invite you to create a host of precious memories with your children.
AI and tourism: a new invitation to travel
Discover how artificial intelligence is reinventing the art of travel: more seamless, more personal, more vibrant. Welcome to the era of augmented tourism.
Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the holy ground
Learn the history of one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments of the ATP tour, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. It takes place every spring on the clay courts of Monaco.
