There are only a few people around the globe still unfamiliar with the name Rolex, and we’ll bring you the list of the 11 most expensive Rolex watches in the world. Rolex isn’t just a luxury brand, but relatively affordable one as well – at least compared to some other watchmaker brands. Take Patek Philippe for example. The Geneva-based company sells timepieces with stickers soaring high in six digits, and all that in serial production. By the way, here’s our list of 7 most expensive Patek Philippe watches to prove our point. Rolex isn’t as expensive as Patek Philippe and its timepieces usually come with five-digit price tags. Of course, they too might cost much more. Most expensive Rolex watch to date, 1942 Chronograph, has been sold for more than $1.16 million at a Christie’s auction. On the other hand, six-digit Rolexes are either celebrity or limited edition diamond-adorned models which are, naturally, unavailable in Rolex catalogs at the moment. With this in mind, we won’t consider any of currently unavailable or outdated models, and only those timepieces that are currently listed on Rolex’s website will be considered.
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Let’s take some time to get familiar with the Rolex brand now, shall we? The company was established in 1905 in London under the name Wilsdorf and Davis, by its founders Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. It didn’t take long after the Great War for former of the two to relocate to Geneva in order to avoid heavy war taxes imposed by the British government. Together with the relocation came the new name which adorns many a gentleman’s wrists to the present day. What distances Rolex from other luxury watchmakers is its output. The company produces more than 2,000 timepieces on a daily basis which adds up to more than 750,000 units a year, leaving Omega far behind at second place. For comparison, Omega produces slightly more than half a million pieces per year.
As for our sources and methodology – we have decided to keep things as simple as possible. As mentioned above; only current models will be considered. Furthermore, we’ll rate any watch by its retail price, even if similar models with different design pattern make the list altogether. Our retail price sources are many, including Luxury Bazaar, LSM Watch, Swiss Luxury, Gemnation, Jomashop, Alan Furman & Co, etc. It’s not always easy to find the price and they tend to differ with different sources. That’s why we have used the average retail price where available. This is pretty much all there is to it, so let us start with the list of 11 most expensive Rolex watches in the world.
11. Pearlmaster 29, white gold and diamonds (diamond bracelet)
Average retail price: $70,850
Just to clarify – there are a few available ladies Pearlmasters with similar price tags, but the most expensive currently offered is one that goes under the reference number of 80299. It has a bezel and bracelet made of white gold, adorned with diamonds. You might find a few outdated models with the same retail price out there, but current one features pink dial with diamonds. For comparison, let’s say that similar Pearlmaster made of yellow gold costs $2,400 less while one with rose gold bezel and bracelet costs $13,850 less.
10. Day-Date 36, platinum and diamonds (president bracelet)
Average retail price: $74,200
The article under reference number of 118346 is stylish, elegant and simple. And expensive, of course. This 36mm men’s watch has a platinum bracelet and bezel set with diamonds. Silver dial with diamonds perfectly matches the rest of the watch, making it inconspicuous, yet extravagant. Like most of Rolex timepieces and all of them from the list – Day-Date 36 is powered by complex and precise perpetual mechanical movement.
9. Pearlmaster 39, gold and sapphires (pearlmaster bracelet)
Average retail price: $74,650
This stylish timepiece will definitely stick out, no matter what kind of suit combination you choose. Golden pearlmaster bracelet and bezel are further enriched by a set of 48 baguette-cut sapphires in the color gradient stretching from yellow to dark orange. Cognac-brown-golden dial with diamonds fits the set in the best possible way. If you’re interested in this exquisite wristwatch, you can find it under the reference combination 86348SAJOR.
8. Cosmograph Daytona 40, platinum (oyster bracelet)
Average retail price: $75,000
Before you ask – yes, this will be the only Daytona on our list of 11 most expensive Rolex watches in the world. While Daytona’s are much praised and sought after for their sporty look, only this 50-year anniversary platinum model is expensive enough to break the monotony of elegant and simple mechanical timepieces. Apart from the chronograph, this 40mm piece features platinum oyster bracelet with flat three-piece links and chestnut brown monobloc cerachrom with engraved numerals and graduations. Dial is ice blue, but chronograph margins can either match the bezel monobloc’s color or the dial itself. The watch can be found under the reference number 116506.
7. Datejust 36, everose gold and diamonds (oyster bracelet)
Average retail price: $75,500
This lady’s 36mm timepiece comes with oyster bracelet even though most of its counterparts offer leather bracelet. That’s why it warrants slightly higher price tag, after all. The bracelet itself is made of rose gold while the bezel features a diamond set. 116285BBR, which is its reference code, has an engraved pink dial with diamonds which seamlessly melts with the rest of the timepiece. Needless to say, almost every woman would have been dazzled by such a luxurious and elegant gift. Just saying.
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6. Pearlmaster 39, gold and sapphires (pearlmaster bracelet)
Average retail price: $77,250
We are slowly, but steadily entering the pearlmaster watches domination area. One with reference code 86348SABLV is mostly green, unlike its cognac counterpart. Apart from the olive green set with diamonds, it features 48 baguette-cut sapphires in blue to green gradient. Rest of it is basically the same as with number 9 on our list. That said, this 39mm piece has 18-carat yellow gold pearlmaster bracelet with rounded five-piece links and similar bezel. Movement is the perpetual mechanic, of course, and crystal is made out of scratch-resistant sapphire.
5. Pearlmaster 34, gold and diamonds (diamond bracelet)
Average retail price: $77,950
It’s only fair to mix both men’s and women’s watches on our list of 11 most expensive Rolex watches in the world, and manufacturer itself has been quite helpful. It shows how they balance their pieces to offer premium luxury to both genders, regardless of size differences (which usually have an impact on the final price). 34mm pearlmaster has a golden bracelet and bezel – both adorned with diamonds. While bezel has a dual set of diamonds, bracelet exhibits arabesque diamond pattern which can be found on the dial as well. Speaking of which, dial itself comes in champagne-gold color which doesn’t differ from bracelet and bezel at all. This timepiece can be found under the reference number 81338.
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4. Pearlmaster 34, white gold and diamonds (diamond bracelet)
Average retail price: $80,250
Another lady’s pearlmaster, 81339 is quite similar to its counterpart from the previous position. The main difference is material from which it’s made. Unlike the yellow gold in 81338, 34mm 81339 features bracelet and bezel made out of white gold. Diamonds are still here, however, and so are all of the specifics that grace the previous watch. Of course, dial too is of a different color, and rhodium set with diamonds couldn’t have fit white gold any better than it has.
3. Pearlmaster 34, everose gold and diamonds (diamond bracelet)
Average retail price: $82,300
Last of the lady pearlmaster 34’s has the rose gold bracelet and bezel. However, bracelet and dial don’t have the arabesque pattern. Pearlmaster bracelet has rounded five-piece links and couple of parallel diamond stripes while dial can be either pink or diamond-paved. Needless to say, both dial sets fit the overall styling of the timepiece and warrant slightly larger price tag for the 81285.
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2. Pearlmaster 39, white gold and sapphires (pearlmaster bracelet)
Average retail price: $87,250
Like it is the case with the previous model from our list, this too is the last of the pearlmasters. This time, however, we’re talking about men’s model with 39mm diameter. 86349SAFUBL has a bracelet and bezel made out of white gold, but dial and sapphires are contrasting, to say the least. Red grape dial with diamonds, however, combines quite well with 48 baguette-cut sapphires in blue to a fuchsia pink gradient. Like most of Rolexes, this 39mm pearlmaster comes with concealed folding crownclasp and movement which we have already mentioned a couple of times.
1. Day-Date 40, platinum and diamonds (president bracelet)
Average retail price: $115,550
This 40mm men’s timepiece is more than 36mm version that sits at position number 10. Apart from being larger, it has a different dial and more refined diamonds cut inside the bezel. Unlike women’s pieces, however, it doesn’t come with an extravagant diamond-furbished bracelet but exhibits a simple platinum president bracelet with semi-circular three-piece links. Ice blue dial set with diamonds goes well with platinum – that much we have found out already, but day display between eleventh and first-hour mark is what distinguishes this Day-Date watch from others (apart from the price tag). If your interest is piqued, look for it under the reference code 228396TBR.
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Hopefully, our list of 11 most expensive Rolex watches in the world has been helpful. Know that you’ll probably find a few Rolexes with bigger stickers out there, but this list is composed of currently cataloged models – not of outdated, unique, old timer or special models. You’ll also notice that all of the listed watches belong to Rolex’s famous Oyster Perpetual Collection. These modern mechanical movement timepieces have been watchmaker’s backbone for a few decades now and represent the blend of finest materials and ultimate Swiss precision. Cellini collection, on the other hand, emphasizes on more conservative, yet elegant styling, but neither of these models manages to match the prices of those that have made the list.
