There are plenty of luxury and tool watch brands on the market today, however, none of them come close to the precision and expert craftsmanship of a Rolex watch. From the early beginning Rolex watchmakers pushed the boundaries of horology to create incredible timepieces that would eventually earn the company the nickname of the "King" of watches.
Rolex Datejust
These two watches are, by far, the two most popular models that Rolex has made. DateJust is a unique watch that was first produced in 1945. What separates the Datejust watch from all the rest is its unique movement with date function. The date window is covered with a patented Cyclops-eye magnifying lens and should switch seamlessly right at midnight. Datejust is available in: 18kt yellow gold, 18kt white gold, Rolesor (a combination of stainless steel and gold), and stainless steel. Ladies versions of this watch come in platinum and rose gold. Out of all the metal alloys that Datejust is available in, the stainless steel and the Rolesor versions are by far the most popular choice.
Datejust watches come with a variety of bezels as well. Datejust 15053, for example comes with a classic fluted bezel, Datejust 116200 has a smooth, polished bezel. Datejust is also available with a diamond bezel, however, that style is more prevalent in ladies’ models. The choice of bezels largely depends on the personal preference of the owner. Ermitage Jewelers carries Rolex Datejust in all of the metal and bezel variations so you can be sure that you will find exactly what you need.
Rolex Day Date
Much like Rolex Datejust, Rolex Daydate is one of the more popular Rolex models. Daydate officially launched in 1956 and featured a day of the week function at 12 o’clock in addition to the date function at 3 o'clock. Daydate and Datejust have almost identical movement mechanics except for the addition of the day window with more than 20 different language variations. Rolex Daydate also comes in a variety of metals: white, yellow, rose gold or platinum. The Daydate is considered a “luxury” Rolex line and does not have a stainless steel option. Rolex Daydate or as it is commonly known, the President, stands out from the rest of the Rolex collection not only due to its unique day and date function but also because of its stunning and distinctive domed bezel. Although the domed bezel is a neat and stunning feature, Rolex offers a variety of bezels to match personal taste and aesthetic of any owner. For instance, Rolex Daydate President 18038 features a fluted bezel and a diamond adorned champagne dial. Neat presentation and unexpected detail, like the Roman numerals above the diamond hour markers,make this timepiece an incredible demonstration of Rolex’s ability to surprise and entice. If you are looking for a more toned down version of this stunning watch, President 18238 delivers the impact while removing some of the flashier components. The white dial with gold applied index markers and small Roman numerals above them sits in a yellow gold case and secures with a yellow gold bracelet for a clean, sophisticated, and unmistakably classic look.
Rolex Daytona
Rolex has always celebrated achievement rather than the status symbol. Many presidents, generals, philanthropists, and other distinguished public figures received a watch as a special gift of appreciation. Rolex, however, did not draw the line at public figures. What better way to celebrate achievement than to support various sports and sporting events! Rolex has associated with many golfers, supported yachting events, and of course motorsports.
Rolex is a contributor to the Rolex 24 Daytona, a race where drivers and their race crews endure a challenging, 24 hour race at the infamous Daytona International Raceway.
Rolex Daytona Cosmograph has become synonymous with this event. This particular Rolex is designed with the spirit of a streamline racer in mind. One of the most iconic watches out of the Cosmograph line is a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman” 6241. This beautiful example of Swiss watchmaking features a rare dual color dial with red markings making this watch a true vintage classic.
Ironically, there is no such things as a Paul Newman Daytona. The watch earned its nickname due to the fact that a famous actor, race car driver, and a philanthropist Paul Newman prefered Rolex Daytona to any other watch and owned a number of them throughout his lifetime. According to some experts, auction houses all over the country began to label their vintage Daytona models as a “Paul Newman” in an attempt to mislead collectors into believing that the watch they are buying belong to Paul Newman. The nickname stuck to most of the vintage models.
If you prefer a more modern watch, however, Daytona has recently experienced a resurgence. As evident with Daytona 16520 the watch went through a few changes since the 1960’s. This particular watch features a slightly larger stainless steel bezel and a traditional dual color dial with a thin white outline on the subdials. This makes the watch appear slightly larger and produce a less cluttered look. Daytonas a currently available in a variety of metal alloys.
Rolex Submariner
The development of the Submariner highlights Rolex's hands on approach to the development of new watch technology. Rene-Paul Jeanerrete, the director of Rolex, and Jacques -Yves Cousteau, the father of modern oceanography, came together in 1954 to test the advanced Submariner prototype. Legend has it that Rolex took a lot of input from Cousteau when they were designing one of the very first commercially available tool watches. As the advancements in deep sea diving continued, Submariner went through another evolution with the help of yet another famous diving company COMEX. With valued input from COMEX divers, Rolex added a helium escape valve to their Submariner to prevent the watch from losing its crystal during depressurization. This modification and its incredible popularity created an entire new line of watches called the Sea-Dweller.
Submariner and the Spy
Submariner's popularity did not stop with the diving community. Ian Fleming, the creator of the infamous 007, wrote the series of books that eventually grew into one of the most successful movie franchises in the world. However, it wasn't until Sean Connery appeared as James Bond wearing a Submariner 6538 that the Submariner obsession began with the non specialized community. Although there was never an official affiliation between Rolex and the 007 franchise, Rolex played into the ever growing popularity of a mysterious, strong, spy who wears a Rolex.
Today Rolex Submariner is available in various metal alloys although Rolesor (two-toned) remains to be the most popular. Rolex Submariner 16613 is a an example of a two-toned Rolex with a dial reminiscent of the deep blue waters of the ocean.
Ermitage Jewelers has a variety of Daytona, Submariner, Datejust, and Daydate President watches available for you to choose from. All of our watches have gone through our trademark quality assurance process and are authentic. We believe in the quality of our watches which is why we do not sell replicas. Our master watchmaker will personally walk you through the process of purchasing an incredible watch that you will cherish for years to come. We want you to feel comfortable with your purchase which is why we offer 10 day money back guarantee as well as 1 year limited warranty on all your watch. Come by our store or shop online for your very own Rolex timepiece.