Looking for the best Rolex watch for a professional office-based environment? Check out our Top 5 Rolex watches for Executives below.
The Rolex Daytona
Rolex Daytona - Credit WatchGecko
Odd choice for the office? I don’t think so. Wearing a modern Daytona is a power play whether you like it or not. Mostly, of course, because it suggests you’ve spent a lot of money at your local Authorised Dealer buying all the stuff they don’t want to keep in stock in order to access their hallowed Daytona allocation.
However, it is getting easier to source a Daytona without having to hand over your firstborn child and so now chronograph lovers who always liked the watch more than its hype can not only get one on their wrists but also impress their colleagues with their acquisition.
Now, that’s not a reason for me to buy a watch, but this is a list dedicated to the executive tier of the office environment. How you dress obviously has an impact on your reputation in that world. Having a Daytona may mark you as a bit of a maverick thanks to its sporting connections, slightly larger size, and the controversial ability to wear it on a rubber strap as opposed to the more typical bracelet.
Rolex Daytona - Credit WatchGecko
Personally, I’ve always thought it was heavenly to look at and to wear on the Oysterflex rubber, but for those of you who think office attire should always skew smart, there are bracelets available for all models.
For that reason, the classic Oystersteel versions are great picks in terms of recognisability, versatility, and price. They start at just over £13,000, which is “a steal” in comparison to the secondary market prices we’ve seen in recent years and also when compared to the gold models.
My personal pick, however, would be one of the more odd-ball references and that’s 126518LN on the black Oysterflex strap. This model, with its black dial, all-gold sub-registers, and the quirky red minute track looks a million dollars, but will “only” cost you just shy of £30,000. If you can get one, that is...
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41
Rolex Oyster Perpetual on Classic Bond - Credit WatchGecko
ZULUDIVER 1973 British Military Watch Strap: ARMOURED RECON - Classic Bond, Polished
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ZULUDIVER 1973 British Military Watch Strap: ARMOURED RECON - Military Black, Polished
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Normally, I’d veer in the direction of a 36 mm OP, but the 41 mm has undeniable presence and perhaps works better in the dog-eat-dog world of high-flying executives. There are quite a few dials to choose from but the racing green 124300 is a humdinger for making a fashionable statement while not screaming about it. This particular shade of green is also surprisingly versatile and has deep roots in the Rolex brand. For that reason, while it isn’t the most neutral of colours, it is likely to remain appealing for many years after it drops out of the collection (which you might expect it to over the next few years, as Rolex likes to recycle its Oyster Perpetual line dials more frequently than others).
The Rolex Datejust 36
Rolex Datejust 36 - Credit WatchGecko
An affordable alternative to the model that took the top spot on this list, the Datejust 36 mm is not only an industry classic but is also one of the easiest watches to dress up and down depending on your situation.
Away from the context of this list, I would always lean towards the rolesor model with a champagne dial, but when surrounded by skyscrapers and spreadsheets, the steel and white gold models seem the smartest options.
Pairing the fluted white gold bezel with the blue “fluted” dial makes for an excellent combo. Reference 126234 really sings on the jubilee bracelet and has the ability to pass unnoticed or act as a conversation starter when studied more closely.
The Rolex Sky-Dweller
Rolex Sky-Dweller - Credit Rolex
The Sky-Dweller doesn’t often get the love it deserves. An annual calendar and dual time zone watch, it is one of Rolex’s more complicated pieces that has, despite some early teething problems, established itself as a modern cornerstone of the catalogue.
The “problem” with the Sky-Dweller might have been that it isn’t immediately apparent exactly how complicated this watch is due to its incredibly unobtrusive layout. The month indicator, hidden around the outside of the 12 hour markers is truly ingenious, but it does mean that for the uninitiated, this complication flys under the radar and the watch may just look to the untrained eye like a bulkier Datejust with a curious ring on the lower part of the dial.
However, time heals all ills and by now, in its twelfth year of existence, the Sky-Dweller has built up enough of a reputation of its own to warrant the price tag.
Better still, Rolex has slowly but surely expanded this collection so you have more configurations than ever before to choose from. Currently, there are 29 combinations of case materials, dial designs, and strap styles in the catalogue. While the Oystersteel and white gold variants may be the best for office work, the real jewel in this model family is the recently released reference 336935 in Everose (red gold) with the sumptuous teal dial.
It may well be close to £50k, but it’s a Rolex like few others and certainly a head-turner.
The Rolex Day Date 36
Rolex Day Date - Credit WatchGecko
The McDaddy of Rolex watches. Does it get any better than a full yellow gold Rolex Day Date 36 on the equally iconic “President” bracelet? This is one of the rare occasions in our industry where the bracelet itself has a reputation comparable to the watch head. It proves once again the importance of good bracelet design and is a perfect working case study of how marketing campaigns can be built around them.
In every configuration, the Day Date 36 is sublime. The icy cool of white gold or platinum offers an entirely different proposition from the warm tones of yellow or Everose gold. For me, the classic yellow gold will always win out, but more important than the material is the form. It puts this watch in a class of its own, and is, in my mind, the most appropriate watch for a watch-loving executive to wear.
