5 Current Rolexes You Can Get at Retail Prices Right Now
Rolex
We are always scouring the web for the most amazing watches currently available, and each Friday we share five standout pieces with you.
A current model Rolex at retail pricing right now? If you’re struck with disbelief, you’re not alone. Rolex expert Eric Wind told Robb Report earlier this week that, “People don’t realize they can suddenly go buy a modern Rolex for less than it would cost at retail. There was all this hysteria, and so that surprises people.”
The past few years have seen unprecedented demand around Rolex watches, pushing secondary market pricing to all-time highs. We reported on Monday that prices have been coming back toward buyers in recent months for various reasons, however, and there are a surprising number of current Rolex references on the pre-owned market available at, or within shouting distance of, their retail price (plus tax, in most cases). This “buyers market” opens the door to discovering Rolex’s current collection without the long waiting list blues.
This week, we’ve curated a selection of these modern references that represent the very best of the Crown’s deep history. Whether it’s the over-engineered exploits of the Sea-Dweller, or the quirky nature of the modern Air-King, these are five watches on the market right now that are only a few clicks away from your wrist.
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Rolex Datejust 36 Reference 126234 | $10,295
The Datejust is the quintessential Rolex for many, and the collection’s vast breadth has shown the watch to be remarkably adept at re-inventing itself. The Datejust can be configured many ways, but it’s the jubilee bracelet and fluted bezel which bring the look together in a unique manner that have made the watch a perennial favorite. While it may seem like a simple watch, it was actually the first to bring a date to an automatic chronometer-rated movement when it was introduced in 1945 in celebration of the brand’s 40th anniversary. It gets its name from the date switching “just before” midnight, or, some believe, because the date was always “just.” Today, it is Rolex’s most prolific reference.
The Datejust has been offered in sizes ranging from 28 mm to 41 mm throughout its history, but the 36 mm case strikes a perfect balance and hits the trend toward smaller watches.
This example we’ve curated here sits at 36 mm on a jubilee bracelet with a fluted bezel framing its silver dial with a subtle sunburst texture. This dial color doesn’t compete with the big textures happening on the bezel and the bracelet, while the size keeps everything in manageable proportions, resulting in a watch that feels confident, but not boastful. This example is listed as a full kit in excellent condition, and is priced at $10,295, not far from its MSRP of $9,050. You might even bargain a bit!
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Rolex Sea-Dweller Reference 126600 | $12,895
The Rolex Sea-Dweller is the dive watch that cemented the brand’s place in history, with legendary exploits from its inception during the U.S. Navy’s SEALAB project, to its descent to the Mariana Trench strapped to the exterior of the Deepsea Challenger. The Sea-Dweller enjoys a fascinating history, and while it’s technically and physically more robust than a Submariner, it’s surprisingly wearable in its modern guise, the steel reference 126600.
The 126600 was a surprising release from Rolex 2017 for a few reasons. First, this watch marked the first time that a cyclops (the magnifier above the date) would appear on a Sea-Dweller. Second, the reference added a line of red text to the bottom of the dial in a nod to the watch’s history (early prototype Sea-Dwellers had a single red line of text, while the first production references 1665 got two lines of red text, known as a “double red”).
The MSRP of the Sea-Dweller 126600 is $13,250, and excellent examples can be found right around that price in the secondary market now. This specific watch is listed just below, at $12,895 and is listed as a full kit in very good condition. This reference gets the modern 3235 movement, a superlative chronometer meaning it will run within +/- 2 seconds per day. We love this reference for the history it represents, and for how surprisingly comfortable it is on the wrist, despite its 43 mm diameter.
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Rolex Air-King Refernce 126900 | $8,350
The Rolex Air-King is a peculiar watch today, but it represents an important part of the brand’s history. Released alongside the Datejust in 1945, the Air-King was an ‘entry-level’ watch, a distillation of everything Rolex represented in its most basic form. The line would truly find its footing in the late ‘50s with the reference 5500, which would remain in production for nearly 40 years. The collection had some difficulty in transitioning to its modern identity, but would eventually do so with the reference 116900 in 2016.
This 116900, built in the chassis of a Milgauss, featured a distinct dial based on the design of the dashboard speedometer the Bloodhound SSC, a rocket propelled ‘car’ that Rolex was involved with at the time. Everything about this watch was polarizing, and many wondered what would become of it in the long haul. The answer would come in 2022 with the reference 126900.
The 126900 would retain the same distinctive dial…
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2024-06-21 16:00:28