Sep
The World of Rolex
Discover the Icons Behind the Crown
Rolex models are known around the world, but each one has its own story, purpose and personality. From the Submariner and Daytona to the GMT-Master II, Datejust and Day-Date, every collection represents a different side of Rolex.
Some were created for professional divers, pilots, racing drivers and explorers. Others became symbols of elegance, travel and success. What makes Rolex interesting is that these watches were not simply designed to look good — many were originally created to solve a real need.
At The Art Watches, we take a closer look at some of the most iconic Rolex watches: why they were created, what they are made from, what makes them different and the famous names connected to their history.
Rolex Submariner
The Rolex Submariner was introduced in 1953 as a professional diving watch.
Rolex wanted to create a watch that divers could take underwater while still being able to read the time clearly. Its rotating bezel allowed divers to keep track of their dive time, while the Oyster case provided the water resistance needed for life beneath the surface.
Today, the Submariner is still a serious dive watch, but it has also become one of the most recognisable luxury watches in the world.
Modern versions are available in Oystersteel, yellow gold and a combination of Oystersteel and yellow gold. Depending on the reference, you will find black, blue or green Cerachrom ceramic bezels.
The Submariner also has a famous connection to cinema. Sean Connery wore a Rolex Submariner as James Bond in early Bond films, including Dr. No.
The watch may have started beneath the water, but today it looks just as natural with a suit as it does by the sea.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was introduced in 1963 with motor racing in mind.
Its chronograph allows the wearer to measure elapsed time, while the tachymeter scale on the bezel can be used to calculate average speed over a known distance.
The Daytona is available in several materials, including Oystersteel, yellow gold, white gold, Everose gold and platinum. Certain precious-metal versions are also paired with Rolex’s sporty Oysterflex bracelet.
But it is almost impossible to talk about the Daytona without mentioning Paul Newman.
The actor and racing driver famously wore a Rolex Daytona given to him by his wife, Joanne Woodward. His connection to the watch became so important that collectors began using the name “Paul Newman Daytona” for certain vintage dial configurations.
In 2017, Newman’s personal Daytona sold at auction for more than $17 million.
A watch created for the racetrack had become one of the most collectible watches in the world.
Rolex GMT-Master II
The story of the Rolex GMT-Master begins during the golden age of international air travel.
As pilots began flying longer distances and crossing different time zones, they needed an easy way to keep track of both local time and the time back home.
Rolex developed the original GMT-Master in the 1950s in connection with Pan American World Airways, better known as Pan Am.
Its additional hand and 24-hour bezel allowed pilots to read another time zone.
Modern GMT-Master II watches are available in materials including Oystersteel, yellow gold, Everose gold and Rolesor combinations, depending on the reference.
And then there are the bezels.
The red and blue “Pepsi”, black and blue “Batman”, and brown and black “Root Beer” have become some of the most recognisable combinations in the Rolex collection.
The GMT-Master may have started in the cockpit, but today it is one of the most desirable Rolex models for travellers and collectors alike.
Rolex Datejust
The Rolex Datejust was introduced in 1945 and has since become one of the most timeless watches in the collection.
One of its defining features was the date displayed through a window on the dial, automatically changing as the new day began.
Later came another detail that would become instantly associated with Rolex: the Cyclops lens, which magnifies the date for easier reading.
Part of the Datejust’s appeal is the amount of choice it offers. Depending on the model, you can find it in Oystersteel and different Rolesor combinations, with a wide variety of dial colours, bezels and bracelets.
A fluted bezel with a Jubilee bracelet gives you that unmistakable classic Rolex look. Choose a smooth bezel and Oyster bracelet, and the watch can suddenly feel much more modern.
Unlike the Submariner or Daytona, the Datejust was not created for one particular sport or profession. It was made to be an elegant and practical everyday watch.
And decades later, that idea still works.
Rolex Day-Date
The Rolex Day-Date was introduced in 1956.
It became famous for displaying both the date and the day of the week written in full on the dial.
But there is another important detail that separates the Day-Date from many other Rolex watches: it is made exclusively in precious metals.
Depending on the reference, you can find the Day-Date in yellow gold, white gold, Everose gold and platinum.
The model is also closely associated with the famous President bracelet, which is why many people simply refer to it as the “Rolex President”.
Over the years, the Day-Date has appeared on the wrists of presidents, business leaders and influential figures. Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, famously wore one.
If the Datejust represents everyday elegance, the Day-Date takes things one step further. It is a Rolex designed to have presence.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual shows Rolex in one of its purest forms.
Even its name tells an important part of the brand’s story. “Oyster” refers to Rolex’s waterproof case concept, while “Perpetual” refers to its self-winding movement.
There is no date, chronograph or second time zone. The design is clean and uncomplicated.
Modern Oyster Perpetual watches are made in Oystersteel and are available in different sizes and dial colours.
Unlike some other Rolex models, it was not created around one particular profession or sport.
It is simply a Rolex designed to be worn every day.
And sometimes, simple is exactly what you want.
Rolex Explorer
The Rolex Explorer has always been connected with adventure.
In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Rolex watches were connected to the expedition, and the brand’s experience with watches used in extreme environments helped shape the story of the Explorer.
Its design is intentionally simple, strong and easy to read.
The black dial and distinctive 3, 6 and 9 numerals have become signatures of the collection.
Explorer models have been offered in Oystersteel, as well as a combination of Oystersteel and yellow gold.
The Explorer does not demand attention in the way a gold Daytona or Day-Date might.
It was never supposed to.
For many collectors, that understated character is exactly the attraction.
Rolex Explorer II
The Rolex Explorer II arrived in 1971.
It was designed with explorers in mind, particularly those working in environments such as caves where it could be difficult to distinguish between day and night.
That explains its distinctive fixed 24-hour bezel and additional hand.
The modern Explorer II is made in Oystersteel and is available with either a black or white dial.
The white-dial version has become particularly popular among collectors and is commonly known as the “Polar” Explorer II.
Larger and more rugged than the classic Explorer, it remains one of the more tool-focused watches in the Rolex collection.
Rolex Yacht-Master
Rolex already had the Submariner for going under the water. The Yacht-Master approached the sea from a different direction.
Introduced in 1992, it was created around the world of sailing and yachting.
The Yacht-Master combines the sporty character of a professional Rolex with more luxurious materials and finishing.
Depending on the reference, it has been produced in combinations including Oystersteel and platinum, Everose gold, yellow gold and Rolesor.
Certain models also feature Rolex’s Oysterflex bracelet, giving the watch a sportier and more contemporary character.
The Yacht-Master feels more relaxed than a Day-Date and more luxurious than a traditional tool watch.
Think Monaco, Dubai or Saint-Tropez — this is Rolex by the water.
Rolex Sky-Dweller
Compared with many other Rolex models, the Sky-Dweller is relatively young.
Introduced in 2012, it was created for people who regularly travel around the world.
The watch displays two time zones and features an annual calendar, making it one of the more complicated watches in the modern Rolex collection.
Depending on the reference, the Sky-Dweller is available in precious metals and Rolesor combinations, with different bracelet options.
It is bold, modern and technically impressive.
If the GMT-Master II represents the golden age of international aviation, the Sky-Dweller feels like a Rolex created for today’s global traveller.
Rolex Sea-Dweller
The Rolex Sea-Dweller was created for professional divers who needed to go deeper.
Developed during the 1960s with professional saturation diving in mind, one of its most important features became the helium escape valve. This was designed to allow built-up gases to escape from the watch during decompression.
Modern Sea-Dweller watches have been produced in Oystersteel and yellow Rolesor.
At first glance, you may see some Submariner DNA, but the Sea-Dweller has always been the more specialised professional diving instrument.
For someone who loves the Submariner but wants something larger, more technical and a little less expected, the Sea-Dweller is worth discovering.
Which Rolex Models Are Right for You?
This is what makes the world of Rolex so interesting.
The Submariner began with divers. The Daytona came from motor racing. The GMT-Master was developed for international pilots. The Explorer was shaped by adventure, while the Sea-Dweller was created to go even deeper underwater.
Then there is the timeless elegance of the Datejust, the prestige of the Day-Date and the modern travel complications of the Sky-Dweller.
They all carry the same crown on the dial, but they were never created to tell the same story.
Choosing between Rolex models should not simply be about finding the most popular watch. The right choice may come down to its history, design, purpose or simply the feeling you get when you put it on your wrist.
At The Art Watches, we buy, sell and trade luxury watches in Dubai, including a selection of Rolex watches. We can also help clients source particular Rolex models and references.
If you are looking to buy, sell or trade a Rolex in Dubai, visit The Art Watches at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi or contact our team on WhatsApp to discover our available pieces.
For more information about the collections and the brand’s history, you can also visit the official Rolex website.
