Your significant other has worked hard all year and earned a place on the nice list this Christmas. So, you start the search for a perfect gift. It’s no easy task, but there’s one thing that could earn a special place in their heart: a watch, or more specifically, a Rolex.
With a legacy of unrivaled excellence, precision, and luxury, Rolex has established itself as the pinnacle of watchmaking. However, choosing the perfect Rolex gift for your other half can be tricky. To make your gift selection easier, we’ve crafted a guide to some of Rolex’s standout watches, ensuring there’s an ideal choice for both him and her this holiday season. And if you’re considering a his-and-hers Rolex set, they’ll likely appreciate their watch even more if it matches yours!
- Rolex Submariner & Yacht-Master
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual
- Rolex Daytona
- Rolex Datejust
- Rolex Explorer & Air-King
1. The All-Timer: The Submariner
The Rolex Submariner is the epitome of luxury diving watches—and perhaps watches in general. Combining functionality with undeniable style, the recently updated Submariner collection now features a 41mm case with a refined, sleeker design. It maintains the collection’s rugged appeal, but without the bulkier 40mm design it replaced.
For men, the black bezel and dial version—available with or without the date—makes a bold yet versatile statement, whether in formal attire, casual settings, or out in nature. The stainless steel Submariner is always in high demand, so finding one new from an authorized dealer can be challenging, especially as Christmas approaches. As an alternative, a pre-owned Submariner can be found through reputable online platforms like Chrono24, but expect a premium over its retail price due to scarcity and high demand. The retail price for a stainless steel Submariner starts around 10,000 EUR and goes up to 11,400 EUR for the “Starbucks” ref. 126610LV, while pre-owned versions can reach 14,000 EUR or more.
Alternative for Her
While oversized watches are in vogue for women at the moment, the 37mm Rolex Yacht-Master is a wonderful alternative. Still on the larger side for most women, it offers a similar aesthetic to the Submariner but with a slightly smaller design and a hint of glamour thanks to its precious metal bezel, making it the perfect way to complete a his and hers Rolex set this Christmas where he wears a Submariner.
The two-tone model in 18kt Everose gold and stainless steel, priced at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of 15,750 EUR, brings warmth to the sporty design, perfect for the demands women place on their watches. A smaller 35mm variant was discontinued in the early 2010s and is only available on the secondary market, priced between 6,000 to 8,000 EUR depending on the specific model.
2. The Pragmatic: The Oyster Perpetual
As the foundation of every Rolex sports model, the Oyster Perpetual merges Rolex’s rugged Oyster case with its industry-defining automatic movement. Timeless, iconic, and robust, the Oyster Perpetual is a no-frills watch, confident in its simplicity.
For men, the model is currently available in 36mm and 41mm diameters, and just before its 2020 discontinuation, it was available in 36mm and 39mm. As such, the availability of the Oyster Perpetual boils down to which reference you want–the current generation (ref. 124XXX) or the previous generation (ref. 114XXX)–and which dial you prefer. Green, Tiffany blue, red, yellow, black, dark blue, silver, and the so-called Celebration dial have all either been in production or are currently in production – like the silver, dark blue, black, green, and Celebration. So if they tickle your fancy, try your luck at your AD.
The 39 mm or 36mm variants from the same generation are long gone, and the secondary market is your only option. Worn with utilitarian confidence, these watches are perfect for everyday wear and start relatively affordably, with a market value starting around the 6,250 EUR range and working its way up into the mid-teens.
Alternative for Her
Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual for women offers a wide range of sizes and colors, with current models in 28mm, 31mm, 34mm, and 36mm, including pink. With additional discontinued sizes (24mm, 26mm, and 32mm), there’s something for everyone, making it an ideal choice for a his-and-hers set.
3. The Daring: The Cosmograph Daytona
Inarguably iconic, the Rolex Daytona is the watchmaker’s most sought-after offering. With its rich history, timeless design, and useful complication, the Daytona has evolved from its relatively slow-selling roots to become Rolex’s best-selling and most in-demand collection. Thanks to its exceptional desirability, the Daytona makes just about every watch lover’s wish list, with the lengthy waiting lists in ADs across the globe proving that fact.
Most desirable in stainless steel with either a black or white dial, the Daytona will never be a wrong choice, but it will certainly hit your pockets hard. For example, the stainless steel Daytona’s market value starts at around the 25,000 EUR mark and works its way up to the 35,000 EUR range, depending on generation, dial color, set, etc.
Read also: The Top 5 Best-Selling Rolex Daytona References on Chrono24
Beyond the steel variants, the Daytona offers a range of precious metals, including yellow, rose, and white gold, platinum, and two-tone options. Its exceptional array of dial options ensures there’s something for every collector’s taste.
Alternative for Her
While the Daytona might not be the most feminine watch in Rolex’s catalog, the model has actually begun to garner a lot of interest from women over the last few years as they become more accustomed to wearing larger watches than they historically wore.
As such, just about any Daytona can be worn by a woman, and with its array of diamond-set dials, like the diamond-set mother-of-pearl dial offered in the two-tone variant, there are plenty of more feminine styles of Daytona out there. It’s also worth noting that the new Daytona generation launched in 2023 measures 39.88mm when measured with calipers, while the previous generation it replaced measured 38.88mm.
So, while Rolex claims both are 40mm, the older model is slightly smaller, making it a natural choice for a more petite wrist.
4. The Pairing: The Datejust
If you’re looking for a Rolex that exemplifies versatility, classic elegance, and Rolex’s signature aesthetic, then the Datejust is the perfect choice. Introduced in 1945, the Datejust has evolved over the years while maintaining the iconic design built upon its fluted bezel, Jubilee bracelet, and elegant proportions.
Today, the Datejust is available in a variety of materials, including stainless steel, two-tone rose, and yellow gold, and offers a vast selection of dial colors, styles, and gem settings to suit any taste or budget, no matter how big or small. With its large production runs over the years, a Datejust can range anywhere from EUR 2,000 to upwards of 50,000 EUR.
Available in sizes ranging from 28mm to 41mm, it makes a natural his-and-hers Rolex watch set. Or, if you’re looking for the perfect watch to gift your significant other, the Datejust offers such variety that it would make any other Rolex collection jealous. No other collection features the same level of customizability as the Datejust, making it the perfect Rolex gift for him or her.
5. The Rugged: The Explorer
Last but not least, the final collection we’ll look at is the Rolex Explorer. Launched in 1953 following Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s successful ascent of Mount Everest, the Explorer, as its name suggests, is a rugged watch built to tackle anything thrown at it. Originally a 36mm watch, it was upsized to 39mm in 2010 with the ref. 214270, before Rolex discontinued it in 2021 and reintroduced the 36mm model.
In 2023, Rolex followed up with a 40mm Explorer variant, so the Explorer now includes 36mm, 39mm, and 40mm options, covering nearly every wrist size at a relatively affordable price within Rolex’s catalog, with the Explorer’s retail price at 7,600 EUR for the 36mm variant and 8,050 EUR for the 40mm.
Alternative for Her
With its iconic 3-6-9 dial layout, the Explorer offers a truly timeless design; however, even 36mm might be a bit large for some women. For those who prefer a smaller watch, neo-vintage 34mm Rolex Air-King variants like the ref. 14010 or ref. 114200 (albeit the ref. 114200 is a bit larger due to its modern construction) could be great alternatives.
These models offer similar 3-6-9 dials to the Explorer, making them ideal for the woman in your life who values a watch suited to an active lifestyle without the larger 36mm Explorer frame.
Since both models are discontinued, the only way to find one as a Rolex Air-King this Christmas is on the secondary market. Though the modern 36mm and 40mm Explorers are currently in production, obtaining one on short notice may require a bit of a Christmas miracle. Priced at around 3,500 EUR, the ref. 14010 is a relative bargain, while the ref. 114200 is on the pricier side at a market value of around 4,500 EUR.
Final Thoughts
Gifting a Rolex watch requires careful consideration. Balancing the recipient’s lifestyle, aesthetic, and interests into a single timepiece is no easy task. However, the depth and breadth of Rolex’s catalog makes this easier, given the wide range of models and variants available over the decades.
One last piece of advice—consider it my Christmas gift to you—is to make sure above all else that the person receiving the watch will truly enjoy it. There’s no better predictor of wrist time than how much someone simply likes the look of a watch. So, try not to get bogged down in matching the watch to every aspect of their life if they aren’t inclined to wear it. Avoid an awkward Christmas morning by gauging their interest in various models before you make a decision, and happy hunting!
