44 New watches this week

Rolex Watches

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf, Rolex has become the most famous and coveted of all luxury watchmakers. It simply doesn’t get bigger than Rolex, a name synonymous with status and prestige.

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History And Popular Rolex Watches

The Swiss watchmaking giant boasts an impressive list of fan-favorite models including the classic Datejust and Day-Date President, the sporty Daytona and Explorer, the dive-capable Submariner and Sea-Dweller, and the travel-ready GMT-Master II and Sky-Dweller.

However, Rolex’s success stretches back to the introduction of the Oyster Perpetual watch in 1931, which combines two of the brand’s signature features: a water-resistant case (Oyster) and a self-winding movement (Perpetual). The majority of modern Rolex watches retain these two design traits.

Rolex introduced the Datejust in 1945 as the world’s first self-winding chronometer-rated wristwatch to indicate the date via a window on the dial. Today, the Datejust, available in a vast assortment of metals, sizes, and dial and bracelet designs, remains one of the most popular choices for those who want to buy Rolex watches.

Defined by its oversized 3, 6, and 9 numerals on the dial, the Explorer was released in 1953 to commemorate the first ascent of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

To accommodate the then-nascent sport of SCUBA diving, Rolex released the Submariner in 1953, the first purpose-built dive watch water-resistant to 100 meters deep. The Submariner remains at the top of the list for shoppers who buy Rolex watches.

Designed as a tool for commercial pilots, the GMT-Master arrived in 1955, complete with four hands on the dial and a 24-hour rotating bezel to allow wearers to read two time zones simultaneously. The GMT-Master II, permitting the tracking of three time zones, landed in 1983.

The Day-Date, better known as the Rolex President, debuted in 1956 as the first automatic watch to indicate the date and day of the week (written in full) through two apertures. Exclusively made in precious metals, the Rolex Day-Date President is positioned as one of the most prestigious Rolex watches for sale.

Rolex unveiled the Daytona in 1963, first as a manual-winding chronograph. However, the collection eventually evolved, and the automatic Daytona models were launched in 1988. Rolex Daytona watches are now recognized as the ultimate luxury chronograph.

The Crown continued to expand its catalog throughout the decades releasing other beloved models such as the Sea-Dweller (1967), Explorer II (1971), Yacht-Master (1992), Yacht-Master II (2007), Deepsea (2008, Sky-Dweller (2012), and Deepsea Challenge (2022). In short, there is a wide range of Rolex watches for sale.

Rolex Craftsmanship

As expected from a luxury powerhouse, Rolex watches are expertly engineered and crafted with fine materials. For instance, steel Rolex watches are made from 904L stainless steel, which not only offers improved corrosion resistance over the industry-standard 316L steel alloy but also boasts a distinct lighter color and finer polish.

Furthermore, Rolex uses 18k gold (including a proprietary rose gold alloy called Everose that promises to never fade) and 950 platinum for its precious metal timepieces. Rolex watches that combine steel and gold are called Rolesor, which are available in white gold, yellow gold, or Everose gold.

Rolex watches with ceramic bezels, including modern Daytona, GMT-Master II, Submariner, and others, use a scratch- and fade-resistant proprietary alloy the brand calls Cerachrom, available in various colors.

Finally, modern Rolex watches come furnished with scratch-resistant sapphire crystals shielding their dials, many topped with a Cyclops lens to magnify the date window.

From superbly manufactured in-house movements that are robust and precise to appealing designs that are instantly recognizable the world over, Rolex timepieces are must-haves in the watch collections of collectors, enthusiasts, and celebrities alike. Buying a Rolex is investing in a piece made by the most famous watch brand of our time.