Buying a Rolex – especially your first is an event and it is not something to be rushed into. The most common reason people buy Rolex watches is to celebrate a noteworthy occasion. It could be a graduation, a retirement, or a major business success. It might even just be to give as a gift; they can certainly make birthdays, Christmas, Father’s Day, or Mother’s Day very special indeed.
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Another common motivation is the desire for that one ‘good’ watch – the one which will last a lifetime and be passed down to future generations. This is where Rolex truly excels. The brand’s watches might rarely be used to accompany extreme dive trips or see the world from Everest’s summit these days as they have in the past, but as far as strength, longevity, and reliability are concerned, you will have a hard time finding anything that outperforms a Rolex.
Lately, an increasing number of Rolex watches are being purchased as investments, particularly vintage examples. Although this is not something we would recommend as your primary investment strategy, there is no escaping the fact that certain models have exploded in value in the last few years. However, betting on that is a risky business and one that requires an extremely deep understanding of the brand. Once you have plenty of knowledge under your belt, the kind it takes years to accumulate, you will be in a better position to start speculating, but it’s best not to worry too much about this aspect when navigating your first purchase.
The best advice we can give in regards to when you should buy your first Rolex is to make sure you are in a strong enough position financially. Even the least expensive models will still represent a significant outlay, and so it is important to go in clearheaded. While the old adage of, “If you can’t buy it twice, you can’t afford it” doesn’t quite apply here, you will still enjoy your watch a whole lot more if you’re not constantly worried about how much you spent on it.
What Style of Rolex Should You Buy?
As we said at the beginning, Rolex divides its current range into two categories: Professional and Classic. The Professional Collection contains all the various sport and tool models, while the Classic Collection models are generally seen as the more dressy options in the catalog.
However, it isn’t actually as straightforward as you might think. Versatility is a word you will encounter a lot as you research your ideal Rolex watch. Many of the models that are listed within the Professional side of the catalog look perfectly at home as more formal wear, while there are plenty of models from the Classic Collection that are the definition of casual, relaxed style and work perfectly as an everyday watch.
For decades, Rolex’s commitment has been to create models that seldom look out of place anywhere, and this certainly holds true for most of the watches it produces. For example, despite being originally designed to be a professional dive watch, the Submariner is such an elegant, adaptable design that it pairs just as well with a tuxedo as it does with jeans and a t-shirt, or even a wetsuit (just ask James Bond).
The only caveat to this would be for the truly top-drawer pieces. Something like a Day-Date ref. 228396TBR, the flagship of the entire range, cast in pure platinum and drenched in diamonds from head to toe, is obviously a watch worn only on very special occasions and not when changing the oil on the car. Even still, this ultra-luxurious Day-Date offers 100 meters of water resistance, making it far better suited for daily use than most other watches that occupy a similar price point.
One of the biggest questions to ask yourself before you buy is how many Rolex watches you intend to collect in the long run. If you think this will be the only one, then a style with the most flexibility is a good choice. But if this is destined to be the first of many, you can afford to be a little more niche with your first purchase. More than anything else, what is most important is to buy what you love. Luxury watches are an emotional purchase and whichever one you choose, it will always be your watch.