The Top 5 Rolex Watches To Wear This Hanukkah

The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah is a time of joy, family, and reflection on the concepts of faith and perseverance. Also known as the Festival of Lights, the eight-day holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil and is an event of great significance both religiously and culturally among the Jewish community. 

Hanukkah is taking place late this year, with the 25^th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar falling on December 25^th and, although not traditionally a gift-giving holiday, exchanging presents has become more accepted, particularly within families living in areas where Christmas is celebrated. 

But what makes a great Hanukkah gift? Well, alongside the customary fare of candles and books, as well as dreidels and gelt (chocolate coins) for the children, jewelry is another timeless contribution. And if you’re going to give jewelry, what better than a Rolex watch? 

Below, we have picked out five beautiful Rolex models to help you celebrate this wonderful time of year, all now available in our online store and guaranteed authentic. 

The Rolex Datejust ref. 126200

Whatever creed or religion, there is no occasion in which the Datejust is not perfectly at home. The epitome of the everyman watch, the collection covers such a vast diversity of styles that it is impossible not to find one which suits your own particular sensibilities.

As we know, the Datejust comes with a laundry list of options in both size and makeup, but which is best for Hanukkah? Although there is no specific outfit traditionally associated with the festival, blue and white has become the recognized color code in recent times. 

That makes the ref. 126200 Datejust in our store a great match. A 36mm model, the reference was launched in 2019 and is, therefore, one of the latest generation pieces, complete with next wave, Chronergy-equipped movement, the Cal. 3235.

Cast in hyper-corrosion resistant Oystersteel and with an understated smooth bezel, the dial is finished in a glorious deep cobalt blue, contrasting beautifully with the white of the baton indexes. Sitting on its sporty Oyster bracelet, the whole watch is studiedly unpretentious, even though it is a part of one of the most successful collections ever made, from the world’s most famous watchmaker. 

Best of all, you can have all of this for just under $9,000.

The Rolex Submariner ref. 16613T

Of course, if we’re talking about blue Rolexes, there is really only one watch that springs to mind; the legendary Bluesy.

It is the nickname given to four references (so far) of the Rolesor Submariner with blue dial and bezel, going back to 1983 and starting with the ref. 16803.

However, perhaps the most accessible version is the one which was produced for the longest time, and that would be the ref. 16613. 

Originally appearing in 1988, it was not replaced until 2010. But that is not the whole story. If you take a look through the Bluesies we currently have on offer, you will see some are labelled ref. 16613T. What does the ‘T’ stand for? Rolex added the designation sometime around 2004 to signify a noteworthy upgrade—actually two upgrades. Firstly, the ‘T’ models were the earliest Submariners to have no-hole cases. Previous models had holes through their lugs to make swapping bracelets easier. When they started making no-hole cases, it not only made the whole watch look cleaner and more streamlined, it really marked the changeover from vintage to modern. 

The other improvement also concerned the bracelet. The ‘T’ Subs have Solid End Links (SEL), providing an improved connection between bracelet and watch head and adding some weight to the model. Further differences between the two types include all of the ‘T’ examples having SuperLuminova for their lume while some of the initial non-T models still used tritium, and the late run ‘T’s have engraved rehauts as a guard against counterfeiters. 

Yet, both versions ran on the same caliber, the legendary Cal. 3135, and both were made from only the finest metals, 904L (Oyster)steel and 18k yellow gold. 

The Bluesy remains arguably the most popular Submariner offshoot of the traditional all-steel model, and the ref. 16613T is probably the most popular Bluesy. Check out our selection, with prices starting at $10,500.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 114200

Hanukkah is all about light and this example from Rolex’s entry level range, the Oyster Perpetual, fits the description perfectly. 

Released in 2007, the ref. 114200 took its place among perhaps the brand’s most all-encompassing collection, with the OP range covering a total of five sizes, very much taking aim at a unisex audience.

The reference sits right in the middle of the group, a 34mm piece which can be worn easily by either men or women, and it was issued with a number of dial colors including white, blue, black, salmon, green, pink and grape. However, a particular favorite of mine currently in store is the silver-dialed model with some unusual hour markers.

The 3/6/9 indexes are Arabic numerals in the style of the Explorer, while the rest are the traditional batons but picked out in an attractive light blue color. It is a deceptively simple addition which lifts the whole watch and gives it a real pop. 

It is also wonderfully balanced. There’s no date display to throw off the symmetrical minimalism, and with the Cal. 3130 inside running the show, the precision will be both faultless and lifelong. 

A superb watch with a standout design, the ref. 114200 is the ideal gift for just $6,500.

The Rolex Day-Date ref. 118239

If you are wanting to gift the ultimate Rolex this Hanukkah, it has to be the flagship brand submission, the Day-Date.

It has been Rolex’s leading watch for nearly 70-years, the first choice of the world’s elite and it has found its way onto the wrists of some of history’s most illustrious, and infamous, characters. Everyone from Fidel Castro to Kim Jong Il, Warren Buffet to David Beckham has rocked a President at some point.

As with the Datejust, variety has been the watchword in the life of the Day-Date, the model offering something for almost everyone; the only people liable to be disappointed are those who prefer steel.

But which example is right for the Festival of Lights this year? We have a ref. 118239 in store at the moment which could well fit the bill; a 36mm white gold piece with a bright white dial, its trademark fluted bezel is renowned for the way it catches the light, an attention-grabbing element that provides an added touch of class.

The Cal. 3155 delivers the unrivalled double-calendar timekeeping while the eponymous President bracelet marries security with iconic aesthetics.

At a little over $27,000, it is not the cheapest Rolex you can buy, but for those in the know who will only accept the very best, there is nothing else out there to beat it. 

The Rolex Air-King ref. 14010M

From possibly Rolex’s most well-known watch to one of its unsung heroes.

The Air-King has a permanence in the marque’s history surpassed only by the Datejust, starting life in 1945 and still in production now, with only a couple of years off to recuperate in the mid-2010s.

But the watch designed for heroes—founder Hans Wilsdorf created it to commemorate the bravery of RAF pilots during WWII—has always stayed in the shadows; a sort of anti-Rolex for those more impressed with engineering prowess than brand names.

As simple and unassuming as it is possible for a timepiece to get and still be called a watch, the Air-King has, for the most part, been strictly a three-hand, time-only piece with nothing like the options assigned to the likes of the Day-Date or Oyster Perpetual. 

But that’s not to say there is no variety. The last reference before the Air-King’s brief hiatus, for example, was the ref. 14010M. This 34mm model came with the widest selection of dial color of any generation, with white, black, champagne, silver, salmon and blue all available. It also had two different bezels to choose from, the standard domed surround, or a type no longer fitted to any contemporary Rolex watch—engine-turned. 

This style was typified by a series of decorative grooves embedded into its surface, a change of pace from the conventional fluted surround so common with the brand.

On the example we have in stock, the bezel design is made up of fine hash marks with smooth tabs at the five-minute gradations. It is a definite point of interest and something which elevates the watch to another level entirely. 

As for the rich blue dial, it has the same 3/6/9 numerals as the Oyster Perpetual, and the whole thing sits on the no-nonsense three-link Oyster bracelet.

These now-vintage examples of the warrior’s watch are a world away from the latest iteration with its hyper-busy dial and have a charm all their own. A lovely, modest timepiece for those who value a bit of discretion, they are also extremely accessible; our model is yours for less than $7,000.

Whatever you are doing for this festive season, everyone here at Beckertime wishes you all a very happy Hanukkah.