The Datejust is one of Rolex’s most storied watches. Created to commemorate the brand’s 40th anniversary in 1945, it is arguably one of the most recognizable Rolex watches in the market, thanks to its iconic fluted bezel (although the Oystersteel model features a plain steel bezel). Thanks to the bezel and the cyclops lens (its other design trademark) the Datejust manages to look more distinct than a simple Oyster Perpetual. It is available in a very wide array of shapes and sizes, starting from a 28mm Lady Datejust and going all the way to 41mm. It also features a mix of white and yellow gold, along with variants that have diamond-studded dials and bezels – but those cost a fair bit more.
Price: Rs 7.10 lakh
3. Rolex Oyster Perpetual
The most affordable Rolex is the basic, three-hand Oyster Perpetual. It’s not a chronograph, it doesn’t feature a rotating bezel, and it doesn’t even come with a date window. What you are paying for is Rolex’s patented automatic movement, its precision and its reliability. This is the consecrated essence of what a Rolex is all about: iconic, recognisable, clean, and elegant. Featuring a sunray or lacquered dial and available in a variety of sizes ranging from 31mm to 41mm, it’s made of the corrosion-resistant proprietary version of stainless steel that Rolex calls “Oystersteel”.
Price: Rs 5.57 lakh
4. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer
In many ways, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer is similar to the entry-level Oyster Perpetual. It features no date window, no other major complication in sight. Instead, it gets a distinctive black dial with 3,6 and 9 numerals featuring a Chromalight display that has a distinct blue glow when shrouded in the dark. But despite its similarities, the Explorer name commands a slight premium over the standard Oyster Perpetual because it was the watch worn by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay when they scaled Everest in 1953. More accurately, it was the pre-Explorer version, with the commercial model being introduced around the 80s.
Price: Rs 6.65 lakh
