Rolex Models: The Complete Guide

Every Rolex Model, At a Glance

Rolex divides its catalog into two lines. Professional models are the tool watches, each designed for a specific activity, and Classic models are made for everyday elegance. The table lists every model in this guide in alphabetical order, so you can compare them quickly. Each model has its own section further down.

Rolex Professional Models

Professional models are Rolex's tool watches. Each one was built for a specific job, such as diving, exploring, flying or racing, and many of them are among the most recognizable watches in the world.

Submariner

The Submariner is the watch most people picture when they hear the name Rolex. Launched in 1953 as a dive watch, it combines a rotating bezel, a highly legible dial and a case built to go deep. Decades later it is just as often worn to the office as to the beach, which says a lot about how well the design works.

Sea-Dweller

If the Submariner is the dive watch for everyone, the Sea-Dweller is the one for people who go much deeper. Introduced in 1967, it was developed for saturation divers, who spend days living in pressurized chambers, and it can handle far more pressure than most owners will ever put it under. The Deepsea models take that even further.

Daytona

The Cosmograph Daytona is Rolex's racing chronograph, built for timing laps and measuring speed. Introduced in 1963 and named after the Daytona racetrack in Florida, it has become one of the most sought-after Rolex watches on the secondary market, and its design has stayed recognizable for decades.

GMT-Master II

The GMT-Master II was designed for travelers. Rolex created the original GMT-Master in 1955 with Pan Am so its pilots could keep track of home time while flying across time zones. Today's GMT-Master II keeps that idea with a second time zone hand and a rotating 24-hour bezel, and its two-color bezels are some of the most recognizable in watchmaking.

Explorer

The Explorer is the simplest of Rolex's tool watches, and many collectors feel that is its charm. Launched in 1953, the year Mount Everest was first climbed, it was designed to be easy to read in harsh conditions, with bold numerals at 3, 6 and 9. Today it sits comfortably between sporty and understated.

Yacht-Master

The Yacht-Master brings Rolex's sports watch know-how to the sea, with a look that is a little more refined than the dive watches. Launched in 1992, it pairs a polished bezel and a clear dial with a relaxed feel, and it comes in a wider mix of materials and sizes than most other Rolex sports watches.

Air-King

The Air-King is a tribute to aviation, and its bold, no-nonsense dial shows it. Rolex has used the name since the 1940s, and the current version is a 40mm steel watch that looks as if it belongs in a cockpit. It is also one of the more attainable Professional models.

Rolex Classic Models

Classic models are Rolex's watches for everyday wear, from the understated to the extravagant. They tend to be dressier than the Professional line, though they share the same build quality and water resistance.

Datejust

The Datejust is the all-rounder of the Rolex catalog. Introduced in 1945 for Rolex's 40th anniversary, it was the first self-winding wristwatch to show the date in a window on the dial, and the Cyclops lens over the date was added in 1953 to make it easier to read. It works with a suit, a T-shirt or anything in between, which is why it is such a common first Rolex.

Day-Date

The Day-Date is Rolex's flagship dress watch, and it has long been the choice of people who want the best Rolex has to offer. Launched in 1956, it was the first wristwatch to spell out the day of the week in full, in a window at 12 o'clock, alongside the date. It is made only in precious metals, never in steel.

Oyster Perpetual

The Oyster Perpetual is where the Rolex story starts. The Oyster case, introduced in 1926, was the first waterproof wristwatch case, and the Perpetual rotor added in 1931 made the watch self-winding. Today's Oyster Perpetual keeps things simple, with a time-only dial in a range of sizes and colors, and it is the most accessible way into the brand.

Sky-Dweller

The Sky-Dweller is one of Rolex's most advanced watches. Launched in 2012, it shows a second time zone and an annual calendar, which means it knows which months have 30 days and which have 31. Everything is set with the crown and the Ring Command bezel, so it is far easier to use than it looks.

Pearlmaster

The Pearlmaster is Rolex at its most jeweled. Made only in precious metals and often set with diamonds, sapphires or rubies, it is the collection where watchmaking and high jewelry meet. It is not a watch for flying under the radar, and that is exactly the point.

Land-Dweller

The Land-Dweller is Rolex's newest collection, launched in 2025. Its design looks back to the slim, bracelet-led watches of the 1970s, with a flat Jubilee bracelet, a fluted bezel and a honeycomb-textured dial, while the movement inside is brand new.

Discontinued Rolex Models

Rolex retires models from time to time, and a few have become collector favorites. If you come across one pre-owned, you are looking at a watch that is no longer made, which is a big part of the appeal.

Cellini

The Cellini was Rolex's dress watch, made for formal occasions rather than the sports and adventure the brand is best known for. Named after the Renaissance goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini, it came in precious metals with slim cases, classic dials and leather straps, and it is a good pick for anyone who wants a Rolex that slips under a shirt cuff.

Milgauss

The Milgauss was built for scientists. Its name comes from the French word for a thousand, "mille", and the gauss, the unit used to measure magnetic fields, and the watch was designed to keep accurate time near the strong fields found in labs and power stations. Its lightning bolt seconds hand is one of the most playful details on any Rolex.

How Much Do Rolex Models Cost?

Rolex prices vary a lot from one model to the next, and within each model by size, materials and condition. Entry-level models start under $10,000, while precious metal models can run well past $100,000. The table shows where each group of models usually sits, so you can see which ones fit your budget before you look at exact prices.

A certified pre-owned Rolex is often a way to get the same model for less than its new price, and you can also browse Rolex watches under $10,000 to see what is available at the entry point. For a model-by-model breakdown, see our complete Rolex price guide.

Buying a Rolex Means Buying More Than a Watch

A Rolex is more than something that tells the time. You are buying a watch built to be worn for decades, made largely in-house and tested before it leaves the factory, so it keeps doing its job long after most watches would have been replaced.

You are also buying a piece of history. Every model in this guide has a story behind it, from the Submariner's diving heritage to the Explorer's Everest roots, and wearing one means wearing a design that has been refined over generations. On top of that, you are buying into a market with strong demand, which is part of why a Rolex tends to hold its value better than most watches.

Finally, there is the personal side. A Rolex is often bought to mark a moment, such as a graduation, a promotion or a milestone birthday, and it can be passed on to the next generation. To see exactly where the price goes, read our guide on why Rolex watches are so expensive.

What to Know Before Buying Your First Rolex

Buying your first Rolex is exciting, and a little preparation makes it easier. Start with how you plan to wear it. A watch you wear every day has different needs from one you save for special occasions, and each model in this guide suits a different lifestyle. Then set a budget, decide whether you want new or pre-owned, and check the reference, the condition and whether the box and papers are included.

If you are not sure where to begin, this table matches common needs to the models that usually fit them.

For a full checklist, read our guide on what you should know before buying a Rolex watch.

How to Take Care of Your Rolex

There is no reason to be nervous about owning a Rolex. These watches are built to last for decades, and they are made to be worn, not babied. A few simple habits will help yours stay in great shape for even longer.

Find Your Rolex at First Class Timepieces

Ready to find yours? Browse our full Rolex collection, with every watch thoroughly inspected and 100% authentic. Use the filters in the menu to narrow your search by model, price, gender and more, and we ship nationwide and internationally. If you would rather see a Rolex in person, visit our boutique at 26 West 47th Street in New York City, by appointment.

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