If you’re looking for the cheapest Rolex watch, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual is your best option. Coming in at around $4,800. However, if you plan on becoming a collector of this famous brand, the following five are likely the first to be added to your collection.
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5. Rolex Datejust II, $9,900+
The Rolex Datejust II is a perfect watch from Rolex, suited for both formal and informal occasions:
Introduced in 2009, the Rolex Datejust II comes with a 41mm diameter and Rolex 904L stainless steel Oyster case. The watch also has a fluted bezel design and a self-winding caliber 3136 movement that features a Chronometer, which was tested by the Swiss Official Chronometer Institute:
The parachrom balance spring, paraflex shock absorbers, and the cyclops lens placed above the date that magnifies the date by 2.5 times are other high-end components and features of this watch. You can find a used Rolex Datejust II for $9,900. The watch was replaced by the Datejust 41 in 2016.
4. Rolex Submariner, $8,500+
With prices beginning at $8,500, the Rolex Submariner is one of the most desired watches going and arguably the best Rolex below $10,000:
However, to pick up the cheapest option, you’ll need to find the non-date version. Manufactured in 1953, this was the first waterproof watch of Rolex to a depth of 300 meters. The non-date model is the entry watch of the Submariner series. The original models of the watch also came without a date.
The watch is called ‘the dive watch archetype’ by Rolex and has a 904L stainless steel oyster case that is waterproof. There is a blue chromalight display that is protected by a sapphire crystal.
The triplock crown and the rotatable 60-minute bezel are scratch-proof and the cerachrom ceramic insert lets divers time their dives. The triangular bezel’s zero markers glow chromalight blue when underwater, making it easier for divers to see the time.
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3. Rolex Milgauss, $7,900+
Manufactured in 1956, especially for technicians and engineers, the Rolex Milgauss is for those who are exposed to strong magnetic fields in their daily place of work:
Strong magnetic fields can affect mechanical watches, which Rolex resolved by developing a magnetic shield for the movement of the watch that lets the watch withstand magnetic fields of up to 1000 gauss.
This model of Rolex is especially popular with the scientists working at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva.
The watch has the first line of defense in the magnetic shield built into the case. An invention that was patented by Rolex. The second line of defense protects the critical components of the watch and is made from non-magnetic materials.
The escape wheel of the Milgauss is made from an anti-magnetic nickel-phosphorus alloy. To ensure the comfort of the wearer, the Milgauss has the Oyster bracelet that is fitted with Rolex’s patented Easylink system that lets you extend the bracelet length by up to 5 mm.
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2. Rolex Explorer, $6,150+
The Rolex Explorer is a famously affordable model from Rolex. Perhaps the biggest fame associated with this watch is that the watch accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay when they reached the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953.
The Explorer was relaunched in 2010, with the latest 2021 collection showcasing a 36-mm version that is available in two-tone or steel. The watch has a twin lock crown and the signature Explorer dial as well:
The bracelet of the watch comes with the Rolex patented oysterlock clasp. The Rolex Explorer is priced at $6,150.
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1. Rolex Oyster Perpetual, $4,800+
As per the 2023 listing price, the cheapest Rolex watch available on the market is the Oyster Perpetual. Beginning from $4,800, this watch is a time-only model from Rolex:
You do have the choice of selecting from a wide range of dial colors as per your liking. The Oyster Perpetual also comes with many advancements as found on more expensive models.
For example, the 36-mm or 41-mm 904L stainless steel case is water-resistant up to 100 meters (330 feet). The crown of the watch uses the patented twinlock system that protects it from the elements, and the sapphire crystal is scratch-proof.
Plus, the blue parachrom hairspring of the watch is patented and offers great protection from magnetic fields, shocks, and even temperature variations.
The watch is commonly referred to as the quintessential Oyster and is the entry point for all Rolex watches.