13 Rolex Watches to Consider: A Practical Buying Guide

There is no Rolex everyone should buy. A useful shortlist makes differences visible: time-only or date, compact or substantial, restrained or colourful. This guide revisits thirteen choices from the original 2020 selection. Some are older references; their inclusion is not a statement of current production or stock.

Start with your wrist, the functions you want and the amount you can comfortably spend in RM. A brand name cannot make an unsuitable watch comfortable or turn a purchase into a guaranteed investment.

Thirteen choices with different roles

1. Submariner, 2020 generation. Consider the time-only version if you prefer a balanced dial without a date window. Rolex’s 2020 redesign brought the 41 mm case and calibre 3230.^[42]
2. Oyster Perpetual 36. A straightforward option when you want hours, minutes and seconds rather than extra displays. Choose the actual dial colour in natural light; pictures can change its apparent tone.
3. GMT-Master II ‘Pepsi’. The red-and-blue nickname is not a complete reference. Confirm the case material, generation and bracelet before comparing listings. Treat the travel display as a feature to learn, not just an appearance.
4. Explorer 1016. This vintage option belongs in a different buying conversation from a recent watch. Prioritise originality, condition evidence and specialist assessment over a neat sales photograph.
5. Sky-Dweller. For someone who wants two time zones and an annual calendar, it offers more information than the simpler choices here.^[5] Ask for a setting demonstration and decide whether you want that complexity.
6. Submariner Date 116610LN. Compare this older black-bezel reference directly with later Submariner Date examples. Do not transfer a newer case or movement specification into its listing.
7. Oyster Perpetual 39, reference 114300. An alternative size within the earlier generation. Try it next to a 36 or 41 rather than assuming the number alone predicts fit.
8. Daytona 116500LN. An earlier ceramic-bezel chronograph choice. Rolex’s 2023 Daytona introduced calibre 4131, so identify which generation you are actually considering.^[2]
9. Submariner Date 116610LV, ‘Hulk’. Confirm the exact reference and dial configuration rather than purchasing on a nickname. Ask specifically about replacement dial and bezel parts.
10. Day-Date 40, reference 228235. A choice for someone who wants a precious-metal watch and a prominent calendar display. Bracelet fit and case condition should receive as much attention as the dial.
11. Datejust 36, reference 126200. A more restrained starting point. Bezel, dial and bracelet choices can change the character considerably; compare the whole configuration.
12. Yacht-Master 42, reference 226659. Evaluate the strap length and clasp fit on the individual example. It is not interchangeable with the later RLX-titanium Yacht-Master, which was announced in 2023.^[4]
13. Air-King 116900. Consider it if you enjoy a more distinctive dial layout. Read the dial at normal wrist distance before choosing it over a simpler display.

Shortlist, then inspect

Pick two or three, not thirteen. Ask for the current RM price, photographs of wear, service evidence and a list of included accessories. Compare like-for-like condition rather than the cheapest headline price.

For vintage references, budget for a specialist review before payment. For any pre-owned watch, confirm the written terms and remaining warranty rather than assuming them. The strongest choice is one whose fit, history and ownership costs make sense to you, even if another reference receives more attention online.

Compare watches and ask questions

Browse the Rolex collection for current listings. If an existing watch is part of your decision, read about trade-in options and request an individual assessment. Availability, condition and included accessories vary by watch.

For a reference-specific enquiry, WhatsApp +60 10 330 3333 or call +60 10 330 3333. Ask for the current RM quote and confirm the viewing arrangements before travelling.

Related guides

• Your First Luxury Watch: Four Practical Choices
• Rolex Authentication: Seven Checks Before Buying

Sources

1. Rolex 2023 Cosmograph Daytona (archived 2026-07-11)
2. Rolex 2023 Yacht-Master 42 (archived 2026-07-10)
3. Rolex 2023 Sky-Dweller (archived 2025-09-09)
4. Rolex 2020 Submariner generation (official search excerpt)