I've Reviewed EVERY Rolex: Here's the Best Ones

Okay, maybe the title is a bit hyperbolic. I haven't technically reviewed every single Rolex, but I have reviewed my way through a good chunk of the Rolex catalog, and I would be confident in saying I have at least been hands-on with every on-catalog Rolex. So here's the ones I would most recommend, the best ones, and these won't necessarily be the models that most people in the watch space tell you to buy. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual. This is the watch that makes me question how many more Rolex watches do I actually need? And yes, owning two of them does somewhat undermine the sensible energy of that statement. But I think we sometimes see the OP as a waiting room. The watch you buy while you work towards the Rolex that you actually want. But I don't see it that way, or at least my collector experience hasn't been that. You get this beautifully straightforward dial, smooth bezel, oyster bracelet, and very little friction between you and telling the time. There isn't a complication or dramatic bezel doing the heavy lifting. There's no place to hide. The proportions have to work. The hand and hour markers have to work. The whole thing needs to feel considered. To me, the OP is really the essence of Rolex. Well, to them, I guess as well. We've just seen the 100 year celebration of this model family and they've made it clear that this is a crucial line for them. This is an important part in the DNA of Rolex. And it's a model family they've been having a little bit of fun with as of late. You can get colorful, weird configurations, restrained. You don't have to give up character to get something versatile. As it is with all things Rolex, I think it is helpful to talk about availability. For the more reserved variants, at least here in the UK, they're becoming more available than you think. Once again, this can be very location dependent, I can only speak for the UK and where I live. But if you are interested in one of these, especially one of the more kind of normal colors, I highly recommend popping into your AD, seeing if they're available or how long the wait will be. They're becoming more commonplace. Okay I know this is annoying to have on here and I wish I didn't love the Daytona as much as I do but I think it is maybe one of the best watches in their catalog. It's delightful to wear. If you take away the annoying AD experience and just look at this objectively as a watch it is very hard to argue with. So I bought mine back in 2020 or 2021 and I will never sell this watch. Mine isn't the current production model, but a lot of the specs kind of read the same. The current model has a 40mm case diameter, 100m of water resistance, and it is powered by the automatic caliber 4131, giving approximately 72 hours of power reserve. The big reason this makes the list is how Rolex packages all that. It is the most Rolex interpretation of a chrono. Chronographs get bulky quickly, there's a lot to fit inside especially if we're going automatic with the automatic winding rotor. There's a lot for the dial to communicate as well. The Daytona manages to feel compact and cohesive with a silhouette that still has an elegance to it. The bezel, subdials, pushers all carry identity. Even before someone reads the name, the dial has done its job. The Daytona has earned its place because they made a How does a complicated sports watch feel remarkably composed? The Explorer is probably the easiest watch to put on here, and the hardest to make sound exciting, if that makes sense. So on paper, black lacquer dial, 369, time only. Subscribe to the Brit Pear's channel for more heavy-hitting watch reporting like this. The Explorer's appeal builds out of those decisions. The deviation between the Explorer and the Oyster Perpetual are small, but in the world of watches, small changes make huge impacts. It's the professional details, those sporty details, so the Mercedes hour hand, the markers give it a clear, purposeful character, professional style clasp, and the whole thing has enough visual identity to feel sporty without becoming a large piece of equipment strapped to you. The current Catalogue Explorer comes in 36 and 40mm sizes, both using the same caliber, the 3230, with approximately 70 hours of power reserve. Personally, the 36mm is my comfort area, and it's not just because I have a smaller wrist, although that doesn't hurt either. I just think the design lends itself to a smaller size. The compactness suits the whole idea of this watch. But I know, and crucially Rolex knows, that 40mm is more to the modern consumer tastes. So it's more for people who want presence, or maybe they have a larger wrist, and having that variety is useful. I think a question that might arise is, why have this and the Oyster Perpetual? And the answer to that is that I like these for different reasons, and when I was reviewing both of them, I took away different things. The Oyster Perpetual gives you more room to choose a mood through the dial, whereas the Explorer gives you a very specific design that either connects with you or it doesn't. Also, on that note, I just think it's on topic for this video. This isn't a tier list, I don't have to choose one or the other. It is what. Are my favorite Rolex watches I've reviewed? What are the best ones I've had through? And both of these would be on that list. I've just realized I didn't put the Explorer 2 on here. I'm going to get in trouble in the comments. This video is not authoritative at all. Although, I forgot the Explorer 2. There is a 2 I have remembered, and it is the GMT Master 2. So getting out of same, same land, watches that almost look the same, let's get into one of the most iconic designs. If you're looking for something with everyday capability that has functionality, just a bit more personality, it has to be the GMT Master 2. So you get that That recognizable sports Rolex shape, a distinctive bezel. date at 3 o'clock, and a complication that can actually be useful for travel or just keeping track of multiple time zones. As most people watching this will already know, the key feature is the independently adjustable local hour hand. When you travel, you can move that hour hand to local time, while the 24 hour hand continues to keep track of your reference time. On top of that, we've got 100 meters of water resistance, more than most people will actually need, and powered by the caliber 3285, giving approximately 70 hours of power reserve. Ultimately, the big reason why this is on this list is because I just love this watch. I've just been so charmed over by it. It's functional, it's cool, it's maybe my favorite Rolex I've ever I think for every reason someone could say they want a Submariner, this would scratch that same itch and give you a little bit more. Maybe some less water resistance. But that's fine. Almost no one needs 300 meters. This is going to give you 100 meters, a more functional purpose with the GMT and the ability to keep track of multiple time zones, not just a second time zone. You can keep track of multiple time zones and there's more personality. There's a bit more color. I don't know. I find the GMT Master II very hard to argue with and a genre defining watch. Moving on to the Datejust. This is a watch I probably owe an apology to. I spent years being interested in Rolex while somehow looking past one of the watches that most clearly explains the brand. If you follow this channel, you know this is a new revelation for me if you want to watch my review of the Datejust. It'll be in one of these corners, but being hands-on with this, being able to do a long-term review made me realize the charm in these. I didn't suddenly discover the craziest specifications or anything like that. For me, it was just the staying power of the design. Originally introduced in 1945, and while it has evolved, there's a continuity to it that makes sense. It can look smart without becoming a watch you save for formal occasions. It's familiar, and everything is just right. Depending on the configuration, it can be restrained or quite glamorous and sparkly. I was hesitant to put this one on here because I already had the Oyster Perpetual and the Explorer and it felt like this was quickly becoming Britney's list of watches that are almost the same, but once again it comes back to the task of this video. This is the best Rolex watches I've reviewed and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would and it's moved me into wanting to buy one I went for myself. And finally, the Rolex Land-Dweller. If we're talking about the best Rolex models, this absolutely needs to be on here. I have three reasons for including this one. For one, it is a meaningful new model family. That doesn't happen all the time for Rolex. For two, the movement. It's awesome. And for three, the way the entire watch comes together on wrist deserves attention. So for one, the newness. It's a big deal when the crown gives us something truly and genuinely novel. And this gave us a whole new Rolex vocabulary with it. So the flat jubilee bracelet, the case shape honeycomb dial, the movement inside. There's a substantial amount here. Let's actually start with the movement. The Calibre 7135 is the biggest reason this watch made this list, so the Dynapulse escapement rethinks the interaction between mainspring gear and escapement control. Rolex calls it a sequential distribution escapement. There's a transmission wheel driving two distribution wheels, which acts on an impulse rocker that delivers energy to the oscillator. So it's a rolling contact in place of the sliding action of a conventional Swiss lever escapement reducing the energy the escapement consumes. The other big deal is that this is high frequency running at 5 hertz which is shown through the seconds hand finer sweep but the more interesting benefit is the potential for greater stability of time keeping during movement or disturbance. Do we get into Siloxil hairspring and Silicon Escapement components? No. I think it's extra nerdy stuff that's going to take away from the other big reason why this is on here. Let's move away from the movement. We need to talk about the wearing experience. It's so unique. This feels different from any other Rolex that I've personally worn or tried on. It's incredibly flat. So the case and flat jubilee are designed as one continuous shape. The bracelet flows out of the case, polished chamfers carry the light along the edges. It's a fantastic watch. The price is steep though. Woof. The price has been an active obstacle for me in buying this. I really want one, but I don't have 13 grand sitting around. If you have made it to this point of the video you have probably already noticed that the Submariner has not been placed on here and you're writing a mean comment about me. I'm expecting a full takedown. People aren't gonna like this. I know it's a massive icon for Rolex and I would never want to take away someone's love of their Submariner. Just for me as someone who has has reviewed the Submariner. It's just not a standout Rolex for me as much, but of course I would say that if you follow this channel, you know I chose a Tudor Black Bay 58 over a Rolex Sub. That's just me. This is just my opinion. Thank Anyways, guys, I've talked long enough. I want to pass the question off to you guys in the comments down below. Let me know, what is your favorite Rolex model you've been hands-on with? Has there been any that surprised you, for better or for worse, you liked more or you didn't like after being hands-on? Let me know. Can't wait to see what you guys say. you. As always, thank you for your viewership, and thank you to the PopTier patrons. Put their names on the screen, and we'll see you in the next one. Hello, PopTier patrons! Guys, thank you so much for watching all the way to the end of the video. The names on the screen right now are the PopTier patrons. They are the highest tier of patrons who keep this channel going. All patrons keep this channel going, but this is a big specific thank you to the PopTiers. I hope you keep enjoying the work we do and the videos we make on this channel. I love making them. Even if you don't, I hope you keep enjoying watches forever. They're awesome, you're awesome, and we'll see you. See you in the next one.