The reference · watches

Every reference, explained

Cosmograph Daytona

The Cosmograph Daytona, model by model
Illustration of a steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN with a black ceramic bezel and a white dial with black counter rings, on an Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 116500LN

Cosmograph Daytona

The 116500LN can time an event to an eighth of a second. The wait to buy one was usually measured in years.

Illustration of a steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520 with an engraved steel tachymeter bezel and a black dial on a steel Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 116520

Cosmograph Daytona

The 116520 can work out an average speed of up to 400 kilometres an hour. Mostly, it is asked to time the school run.

Illustration of a white-gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116519 with an engraved metal bezel on a brown leather strap

Rolex · Ref. 116519

Cosmograph Daytona

The most expensive way to look as if you bought the steel one.

Datejust

The Datejust, model by model
Illustration of a Rolex Datejust 41 in steel with a fluted white-gold bezel on a bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 126334

Datejust 41

The 126334 has a bezel of solid 18 ct white gold. From across the room it looks exactly like steel, which may be the most discreet thing anyone has ever done with gold.

Illustration of a steel Rolex Datejust 41 ref. 126300 with a smooth polished bezel

Rolex · Ref. 126300

Datejust 41

The 126300 is the Datejust with the gold taken out. It is a Rolex that whispers, and most owners still find a way to mention it.

Watercolour of a two-tone Rolex Datejust 36 with a fluted gold bezel and Jubilee bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 126233

Datejust 36

The Datejust magnifies the date two and a half times. Rolex assumed you'd be too busy to squint.

Illustration of a two-tone Rolex Datejust 36 ref. 16233 with a fluted yellow gold bezel and a Jubilee bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 16233

Datejust 36

The 16233 was built to be worn every day for decades. Judging by the bracelets, most of them were.

Explorer II

Watercolour of a stainless steel Rolex Explorer II with a white («Polar») dial, black-outlined hands and hour markers, a red arrow-tipped 24-hour hand, a fixed brushed steel bezel with a 24-hour scale of plain strokes, a blank date window under the Cyclops lens and an Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 16570

Explorer II

The 16570 has a 24-hour hand so that someone deep in a cave can tell midday from midnight. Most of its owners have a window for that.

GMT-Master II

The GMT-Master II, model by model
Watercolour of a steel Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO with a red-and-blue ceramic bezel marked with 24 strokes and no numerals, a black dial, a red arrow-tipped 24-hour hand, a blank date window under its magnifying lens and a five-link Jubilee bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 126710BLRO

GMT-Master II

The GMT-Master was made to show a pilot the time at home. Since the 126710BLRO left the catalogue in April 2026, it mostly shows its owner what it is worth.

Watercolour of a steel Rolex GMT-Master II 116710LN with a black dial, a green 24-hour hand and an all-black ceramic bezel on an Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 116710LN

GMT-Master II

The GMT-Master's bezel comes in two colours so a pilot can tell day from night at a glance. The 116710LN's is black all the way round, which is roughly how a long-haul flight feels.

Watercolour of a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II with a faded red and blue aluminium bezel insert marked with 24 plain strokes and no numerals, a black dial, a red arrow-tipped 24-hour hand, a blank date window under the Cyclops lens, a slim case with drilled lugs and an Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 16710

GMT-Master II

The 16710 can keep track of three time zones at once. Most owners are keeping track of something else: how far the bezel has faded.

Submariner

The Submariner, model by model
Watercolour of a steel Rolex Submariner ref. 124060 with a black ceramic bezel and a black dial without a date window, on an Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 124060

Submariner (no date)

The 124060 is the Submariner without a date, for owners who already know what day it is.

Watercolour of a steel Rolex Submariner Date with a black dial, black ceramic bezel and Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 126610LN

Submariner Date

The 126610LN is the current Submariner Date: waterproof to three hundred metres, and usually worn at a desk.

Watercolour of a steel Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN with a black dial and a black ceramic bezel on an Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 116610LN

Submariner Date

The 116610LN has a clasp you can lengthen without tools, so it fits over a wetsuit. It is mostly lengthened after lunch.

Watercolour of a stainless steel Rolex Submariner Date with a black dial, a black aluminium bezel insert and an Oyster bracelet

Rolex · Ref. 16610

Submariner Date

This Submariner was built to go three hundred metres underwater. Most of them never go deeper than a hotel pool.