A Guide to Rolex Watches
The brand's enduring appeal lies in its historic association with achievement, adventure, and style
04/11/2025
Rolex is one of the most famous names in the world of luxury watches. Renowned for precision, durability, and timeless design, the brand has become synonymous with success, prestige, and adventure.
Rolex was founded in 1905 and is famed for technological innovations, such as the Oyster case (1926), which was the world's first waterproof and dustproof wristwatch, and the Perpetual rotor in 1931, an automatic winding mechanism. Rolex watches can endure extreme temperatures, high altitudes, and zero-gravity conditions - as such, they are trusted by polar explorers, mountaineers, and deep-sea divers alike.
A Rolex Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 - Double Red - Reference: 1665 from 1968
The brand’s portfolio boasts several legendary collections, each with a unique character and history. Among the most celebrated is the Submariner, launched in 1953 and the first watch water-resistant to 100 meters, becoming the standard for divers. Now water-resistant to 300 metres, its robust build and classic design have made it a cult classic, sported by none other than the ultimate adventurer and action man, James Bond.
The Daytona collection (1963) was named after the famous American racetrack and is aimed at professional car racers, allowing drivers to measure average speeds up to 400 kilometres per hour. Paul Newman's Daytona became so famous that some models now bear his name, while the actor's own 1968 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona fetched an astonishing $15.5 million hammer price at Phillips in New York in 2017.
The Datejust was the world's first self-winding wristwatch to display the date in a window on the dial. Although this became an industry standard, its elegant yet versatile design, with its Cyclops lens, has kept it a classic staple in the Rolex portfolio for decades.
A 1972 Rolex GMT Master 'Pepsi' ref. 1675
Other collections of note include the GMT-Master, developed in 1955 for Pan Am pilots to track multiple time zones, making it the ultimate companion for aviators. And we cannot omit mention of the Explorer range, inspired by the successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay wore Rolex Oysters to change the course of adventure.
The brand's enduring appeal lies in its historic association with achievement, adventure, and style, which continues to the present day with icons such as Brad Pitt, David Beckham and Barack Obama among the many celebrities who wear Rolex watches.
It is not surprising that the pre-owned market for Rolex watches is booming, driven by the brand's reputation for durability and timelessness. Many watches retain or appreciate value, indicating investment potential, although factors influencing price include model rarity, condition, and provenance.
Rolex Daytona Cosmograph – APH Dial Reference: 116520
Dawsons Auctioneers has many years of experience selling fine watches, providing sellers with accurate valuations and bespoke marketing to a global audience of over 10 million potential buyers. This international reach can drive prices well above initial estimates and, if your Rolex is valued at over £1000, Dawsons charge zero sellers' fee, meaning the hammer price (auction sale price) is the amount you will receive if your watch is successfully sold.
Recent successes at Dawsons’ include a rare Rolex Daytona Cosmograph gentleman's wristwatch with an APH dial, which sold for £11,000 (October 2025).
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