Which Rolex Watch Should I Gift My Husband? When it comes to the subtle art of gift giving, husbands have a much easier time than wives. Men have a vastly more diverse range of options to choose from when it’s time to present the special woman in his life with that certain something that will make her eyes light up, and earn himself a few Brownie points into the bargain. Between bags, shoes, makeup and jewelry, men don’t really have an excuse for getting it wrong. For women, the process takes a whole lot more careful consideration. Husbands can be tricky creatures.
However, a fine timepiece is one gift that is practically guaranteed a great reception.
Giving watches as gifts has been a tradition for almost as long as watches have existed. They are the go-to present to celebrate specific events, such as graduations or retirements. But the gifting of beautiful watches between loved ones has always been particularly meaningful. As something that will delight your significant other for a lifetime, and be passed down to future generations, a luxury watch is very hard to beat and the gift of a Rolex is perhaps the best of all.
Why Rolex?
As a brand,
Rolex have transcended their status as mere watchmakers and are now one of the most recognizable names on the planet. Even if the husband in question is not a watch fanatic, a Rolex watch signifies the ultimate expression of prestige and success. Of course, if he is a fanatic, you will be presenting him with the type of watch that many collectors aspire to, a piece of horology history that is also useful, ultra-reliable and intensely personal. More than possibly any other brand, Rolex also has the most comprehensive variety of watch styles, suited to the broadest range of applications. From the sports models that cover everything from aviation to motor racing and exploration both above ground and underwater, to the elegance of the dress watch collection, there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ Rolex watch; there’s only the one that fits in best with its intended wearer’s lifestyle.
Which Rolex Should I Give?
It would be tempting to say there is no wrong choice when deciding which Rolex watch to give as a gift but, in reality, selecting exactly the right model for your husband can be a complex affair. Rolexes have been called ‘engagement rings for men’, meaning they place the same importance on their watch as women do on their diamonds. As watches are generally the only significant pieces of jewelry men wear, it’s vital to know his particular tastes and favorite styles before you buy. Below, we’ve laid out several different possibilities and our reasons for choosing them. Hopefully it’ll help make your decision a little easier.
The Submariner
When you hear the name Rolex, the Submariner is the Rolex watch that immediately comes to mind. Its design has inspired countless homages and its popularity has bred a million counterfeits. A timeless classic, it has barely changed, outwardly at least, in its more than sixty years in production. Today, it remains the watch that all other dive watches are measured against. Waterproof to 300m, its minimalist styling and understated ruggedness give it a go-anywhere appeal that looks as at home worn with a wetsuit as it does peeking from beneath the sleeve of a tuxedo. As a Rolex to wear every day, no matter the situation, the Submariner is in a league of its own. If buying pre-owned, expect to spend anywhere from $6000 and up for a Submariner. Here is our
Submariner Collection.
The Datejust
Tracing its history back even further than the Submariner, the Datejust was released in 1945 to celebrate Rolex’s 40th anniversary. Now available in a bewildering number of different configurations of dial, metal, case size and finish, there is a Datejust out there to suit everyone’s taste. Depending on your audience, you can go for the masculine discreetness of a steel 36mm with a white dial sitting on an Oyster bracelet, all the way through to the eye-catching extravagance of a yellow gold 41mm, Datejust II, bedecked with diamond hour markers and bezel. The introduction of the 28mm Lady Datejust range has seen the series become a particular favorite as a wedding or engagement present, as bride and groom sport matching timepieces on their big day. You can expect to spend anywhere from $3000 and up for a Datejust model, depending on the model. Check out our
Datejust Collection.
The Milgauss
The Milgauss has always reveled in its role as Rolex’s dark horse. Officially a sports watch, it was actually designed to be worn by engineers and scientists. Its movement is housed inside a soft Faraday cage, making it impervious to the effects of strong magnetic fields—the name comes from the French for 1000 Gauss, with Gauss being the measure of magnetic flux density. The watch has a quirky nature that sets it apart from the ubiquitous Submariners and GMT-Masters, but in recent years, it has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity. The understated, sober design is given an uncharacteristically playful pop of color in the bright orange lightning bolt seconds hand and markings above the hour indexes. The Milgauss is the ideal gift for someone who likes to stand out as an individual.
The Daytona
A combination of beautiful, uncluttered design, a long and illustrious pedigree and the buzz surrounding the upcoming auction of a model once owned by a certain Paul Newman himself, all add up to make the Rolex Daytona currently one of the most desirable and important watches in the world. Possibly the only model in the catalog to out-iconic the Submariner, the Daytona is now an institution. It follows Rolex’s overriding philosophy of housing flawless mechanics inside a bombproof case and turns it all into an exquisite piece of jewelry. The model with the most variations out of all the sports watches, the Daytona can be had in everything from stainless steel, through yellow, white and Everose gold, all the way up to platinum. Throw in dials of white, black, green, blue and mother-of-pearl and it becomes one of the most versatile offerings there is. Intended for those only content with the very best, the Cosmograph Daytona is something very special. This model can start at $8000 and go up much higher in some variations. See our
Daytona Collection.
Should I Buy New or Pre-Owned?
Opting for a vintage or pre-owned watch has a great many advantages. Along with the obvious benefit of a lower initial cost, another key factor is availability. A brand new steel version of the Cosmograph Daytona we talked about above has a waiting list that will take you comfortably into the next decade. Most of the Rolex range available today has been in production for generations, and the brand is renowned for the extremely subtle tweaks they make to their designs. That gives you a pre-owned market populated by gems of watches at a fraction of their retail price, ready to buy now and that look brand new. Unlike the engagement rings they are sometimes compared to, there is no one specific occasion that is the right time to gift a Rolex. Anniversaries, promotions, holidays; it is the gift that can mark many different moments in your lives together. For a birthday present with the ultimate bespoke factor, recently there has been an upsurge in gifts of vintage Rolex watches that were produced in the recipient’s birth year. While they might take some searching for, the serial numbers on the watchcase can be matched with Rolex’s official records to ensure you purchase one with exactly the right date. We hope our guide has helped you answer some of the questions over which Rolex to gift your husband. Whichever one you decide to go for, take it from us, he’s a very lucky guy!
