Which Rolex Is the Best Choice for You?
A Rubric for Rolex Selection

Whether you’re buying your first Rolex or you’re an avid collector of Rolex timepieces, choosing a Rolex for purchase can be an overwhelming decision. As one of the most popular and historic watch brands in the world, Rolex has produced millions of timepieces since its founding in 1905. These millions of timepieces encompass thousands of variations of models, colour combinations, materials, and complications. With this in mind, where should you start when you’re choosing the best Rolex for you?

If you're planning to buy a Rolex and have a budget in mind, it's helpful to know the approximate prices of different models.
Click here to read our article on how much a Rolex costs.
In the guide, we explore the costs of various Rolex watches to help you make the best decision based on your budget and style preferences.

BQ Watches is here to help. With more than 30 years of experience in the pre-owned luxury watch industry, we know how to help you find the perfect Rolex for your style, budget, and preferences. With that in mind, we’ve created a detailed rubric for Rolex selection to help you narrow down your choices. Read on below, or get in touch with us for help picking out the perfect timepiece.

ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL

Daily Wear, Occasional Use, or Collection Piece?


One of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is how you plan on using your Rolex. Are you planning on wearing your Rolex every day? Do you plan on just wearing it for special occasions? Or maybe you’re looking for something exceedingly rare that won’t be leaving its case often. Many people even buy Rolex watches specifically as an investment.

These are important factors to consider. If you plan on wearing your Rolex every day and you have a physically demanding job, you’ll want something sturdy. But if you plan on wearing your Rolex every day and you’re mostly at your desk during the day, you could get something a little more intricate. If you’re just wearing it for special occasions, you may want something dressier. If you’re making an investment, you’ll want to choose a Rolex model that holds its value well. These are all things to think about when you’re making your decision.

New, Pre-owned, or Vintage?


The next question you’ll want to ask is if you’re wanting a new, pre-owned, or vintage Rolex. Sometimes this decision will be made for you. Some of the more popular new Rolex releases may require you to be on a waitlist for months. If you want to get the latest model of Rolex sooner rather than later, pre-owned may be your best option. Also, Rolex frequently takes certain models of its watches out of production. If you’re wanting a specific version of a Rolex that wasn’t released this year, you’ll often need to buy it pre-owned.

However, unlike many other purchases, pre-owned in the Rolex world doesn’t mean lesser quality. Rolex watches are impeccably made and often work as well as the day they were first produced. Many Rolex watches are a century old and still operate with precision.

With that in mind, you may be in the market for a vintage Rolex watch. Vintage Rolex can often be found for fantastic prices and can be great entry-level choices for those with a smaller budget. Of course, prices vary greatly when it comes to Rolex. You can find a Rolex for as little as £1,000 depending on the age, seller, and condition. Other Rolex can go for millions.

ROLEX DAYTONA
ROLEX DAY-DATE II

Sporting or Dress? The Rolex Collections


A good way to narrow down your selection is to decide what style of Rolex you’d prefer. Generally, Rolex watches can be split into two categories — sporting and dress. Sporting watches, also referred to as tool watches, tend to be more task-oriented, with features that add functionality to the watch. Dress watches tend to be more elegant and are made to be refined timekeeping accessories. They look great on the wrist and they tell the time — and sometimes the day and the date.

There’s no wrong answer when it comes to either choice. It all comes down to the watch that speaks to you. Just because you’re not a diver doesn’t mean you can’t get a diving watch. Rolex is known for making irresistible designs for all of its watch models, which explains why the brand has such a broad fan base of enthusiastic collectors. You should simply choose the Rolex that you love the most, regardless of its purpose or design.

With that in mind, let’s explore the collections you’ll have the pleasure of choosing from when you’re in the market for a Rolex timepiece.

The Professional Collection


Rolex makes some of the finest tool watches in the watchmaking industry. These timepieces were built with specific professional and sporting needs in mind. In Rolex’s Professional Collection, you can find watches made for diving, exploring, aviation, navigating, and racing. Some of Rolex’s most coveted models — such as the Daytona, GMT-Master, and Submariner — can be found in this collection.


Air-King           Daytona           Explorer          GMT-Master           Milgauss          Sea-Dweller           Submariner          Yacht-Master

ROLEX SEA-DWELLER DEEPSEA
ROLEX DATEJUST

The Classic Collection


Those looking for a more traditional timepiece may be interested in the Rolex Classic Collection. Rolex has been perfecting watch design since 1905, and this truly shows with its classic collection of Oyster Perpetuals, Datejusts, Day-Dates, and others.

When it comes to watchmaking perfection, it’s hard to compete with Rolex. As the first watchmaker to receive the chronometer certification in 1910, the inventor of the first water-resistant watch in 1926, and the first watch to implement a day and date dial display in 1956, Rolex has a long history of innovation and incredible craftsmanship. You can own a part of this history.

Cellini          Datejust            Day-Date           Oyster Perpetual           Sky-Dweller

Consider Your Preferred Watch Materials



One consideration that will greatly affect the look and price of your Rolex is the materials used in the watch design. Rolex has models in every material imaginable. You can find a more traditional, casual look with its stainless steel models. You can also find Rolex with a touch more luxury with rose gold, white gold, and yellow gold options. The brand also has its Rolesor options, which combine two tones of metal, such as stainless steel and gold, into one watch. The rare platinum is an option for those who appreciate its shine and vibrance. Rolex also uses materials such as gemstones, ceramic, mother of pearl, sapphire crystal, and Teflon. Some watches even incorporate meteorites.

As one can expect, Rolex never cuts corners on any of the materials it uses. For its stainless steel watches, Rolex created Oystersteel. Oystersteel is an alloy specific to the Rolex brand using 904L steel, which is highly resistant to corrosion.

For its gold watches, Rolex uses nothing less than 18ct gold. Rolex also uses Everose for its rose gold watches, which is a pink gold alloy exclusive to the Rolex brand. For its platinum watches, Rolex uses 950 platinum, an alloy consisting of 950‰ (thousandths) of platinum generally combined with ruthenium. You can count on Rolex to always use the best materials available to construct its watches.

Water resistance is a crucial feature in Rolex watches, underscoring the brand's commitment to durability and reliability. This attribute ensures that the watch can withstand exposure to water, whether from everyday activities such as hand washing and rain or more intense situations like swimming and diving. Rolex's patented Oyster case, introduced in 1926, was the world's first waterproof watch case, providing a secure seal that protects the movement from dust, moisture, and pressure. Click here to read our article on waterproof Rolex watches

ROLEX SKY-DWELLER
ROLEX GMT-MASTER II

Trust Your Instincts With Confidence


The most important consideration of all is to trust your own instincts. If you see a Rolex that you love, there’s no need to second guess your decision. Every Rolex is exceptionally crafted, designed for a lifetime of luxury, and exemplary of refined style. Rolex crates each of its watches with the utmost care and precision. No matter what you choose, it’s sure to look great on you.

The choice of a Rolex watch doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Sometimes your instinctive feeling is all you need to find a watch that you’ll treasure for life.

Find Something Perfect


When you’re ready to find your perfect Rolex, BQ Watches can help. We have a fantastic inventory of used Rolex watches available online and at our showroom in London. If you’re looking for the right timepiece for your wrist, our team is happy to help. We can also source a Rolex if you’re looking for something specific.

Whenever you’re searching for a Rolex, don’t hesitate to reach out to BQ Watches.

For further reading, click here to read our article on how to choose a watch.

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