Wrapped in Luxury: 5 Rolex Watches that Make the Perfect Christmas Gift

The festive season is fast approaching and if you’re anything like me, you’ve left your gift buying until the very last minute.

And while the Christmas Eve panic is all part of the annual fun for some of us, if you wanted a more relaxing holiday, it probably wouldn’t hurt to get out in front of the shopping this year.

The problem is; what do you get for that very special someone in your life? Something that is as surefire a hit as it is possible for anything to be?

Well, I feel safe in saying that no one has ever been disappointed unwrapping a new or preowned Rolex around the tree. The Crown is the most popular and recognized watchmaker in the world and obtaining and wearing one is many people’s lifelong dream.

If you wanted to help your favorite person achieve their goal of owning a fantastic Rolex watch, here at BeckerTime we have one of the best selections you will find anywhere, all guaranteed by our industry-leading experts.

Below, we have picked out five of our top choices.

The Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570

Rolex’s consistently underappreciated cave diver’s companion is the ideal Christmas present for a real loved one, spelunker or no.

A big, bruising tool watch, the Explorer II is really the only Rolex left in the contemporary collection which has stayed true to its roots. While others have graduated to precious metal cases, diamond hour markers and bejeweled bezels, the EXII has never been made in anything other than the toughest stainless steel and has only ever been offered with a completely binary choice in dials—you can have black or white

But, just because it is still a utilitarian, functional timepiece, that doesn’t mean it is dull. Those visuals which were once its downfall have come full circle and are now loved by collectors and casual fans alike, and the watch makes an intriguing alternative to the ever-present GMT-Master II. Both are dual time zone pieces, each with an extra 24-hour hand and so perfect for travelling with.

Our choice for this Christmas? Why not go for the ref. 216570? Launched in 2011 for the Explorer II’s 40^thanniversary, it was the first generation to increase in size to a more modern 42mm and reinstated the popular Freccione bright orange hour hand. 

And out of the two dials? Well, you’d have to go for the Polar, surely!

The Rolex Lady-Datejust ref. 69158

If you’re looking to add a little sparkle to your celebrations this year, might we suggest Rolex’s undefeated best-selling watch of all time, the Lady-Datejust.

First introduced in 1957 following the incredible success of the men’s model, the Lady DJ has been the watch of choice for stylish women ever since. 

Over the years it has grown only very slightly in diameter, from the original 26mm up to the current 28mm, but the grace and sophistication of each has remained a constant all the way through.

As you might imagine with nearly 70-years of history behind it, there are one or two to choose from on the preowned market. But for that something extra special, check out our ref. 69158. With a solid yellow gold case and bracelet, this stunning piece comes swamped in diamonds—on the lugs, the indexes and with an incredible 40 brilliant cut stones around the bezel.

This really is the Christmas gifts to beat all Christmas gifts, a beautiful example of Rolex at their best and something she will never forget. 

The Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 16623

Everyone likes to get dressed up all fancy this time of year, and that includes the Rolex Submariner—which is where the Yacht-Master comes in.

Released in 1992, the Yacht-Master is essentially a Sub with softer lines and a more comfortable disposition; designed for life sailing on top of the ocean’s waves rather than exploring beneath them.

There have been many variations on the theme since the ‘90s. The Yacht-Master was the first Rolex sports watch made available in three sizes; originally 29mm, 35mm and 40mm, now 37mm, 40mm and 42mm, and it was the model chosen to debut the brand’s Rolesium—a combination of steel case and platinum bezel. 

However, Christmastime invites classic looks, so how about the ref. 16623? This 40mm example is made in Rolex’s other two-tone arrangement, Rolesor. That means a steel case and outer bracelet links, with 18k yellow gold used for the crown, bezel and inner links. 

When combined with a gleaming white dial and its black hour markers, you get a wonderful fusion of color and tone, ideal for this time of year and guaranteed to stand out. 

A charming alternative to the world’s favorite diver, the Yacht-Master is for the more discerning watch lover.

The Rolex Date ref. 1503

There’s something just unexplainably cool about vintage Rolex watches. 

Although the brand prides itself on the longevity of its designs, and a model from today is often visually very similar to one from 20 or 30-years ago, there are always a few charming and noticeable distinctions.

The crystal is usually a good way to tell if you’re looking at a newer watch or one from yesteryear. The industry started to adopt sapphire in the 1970s, but before then used Plexiglass; an acrylic plastic which, although more prone to scratches, gave a warmth to watch dials that sapphire doesn’t match.

Older models are generally smaller too. Timepieces have, in general, increased in diameter over the years, and what we now consider normal size—around the 40mm mark—were considered huge in the earlier half of the 20^th century.

An illustration of both of these factors is found in the superb Rolex Date ref. 1503. At 34mm it is the perfect unisex wear, suitable for both a male and female audience. It also sports an acrylic crystal, domed and standing proud of the bezel as with all retro watches. 

The case is forged from 14k gold, a more cost-efficient option Rolex no longer offers, and the metal has a paleness to it which leaves it nicely understated—certainly more so than many all gold watches. 

Just like the larger Datejust on which it is based, the Date ref. 1503 was made available with a wide selection of different dials and we have a number of options in our online store. One of the most popular is the tapestry dial, its textured finish giving the face a three-dimensional lift which catches both the light and the eye. 

Around the outside, the fluted bezel is another attention-grabbing feature with its soft undulations; not flashy but modestly conspicuous.

All-in-all this is a class act of a watch. A welcome present for someone who doesn’t need to shout for attention, and who appreciates the finer things. 

The Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 16600

The Sea-Dweller is the middle child in Rolex’s three diver line-up. Originally created in the 1960s as a proper tool for professional saturation crews working at incredible depths, it introduced the ingenious Helium Escape Valve (HEV). The small, one-way regulator allowed the watch to dispense with built-up gases before they expanded on ascent and dislodged the crystal off the case.

At first glance the Sea-Dweller could be mistaken for the Submariner—not that there’s anything wrong with that— but this is altogether a much more robust beast. Water resistance is rated at a frightening 4,000 ft against the Sub’s 1,000ft, and to facilitate that the case and crystal are that little bit thicker. If the Submariner measures about 12.5mm thick, the Sea-Dweller is around 15mm. Similarly, the Sea-Dweller’s crystal is roughly a half millimeter higher too.

Until recently, the SD had followed the Explorer II’s doctrine of only being available in steel. Today, you can get the latest 43mm offering in Rolesor as well, but the color scheme has stayed resolutely black or nothing since its debut. 

As with most Rolex watches, it is in the preowned sector where we find the best value. We currently have several ref. 16600 models in our store, the reference which brought the watch up to its short-lived retirement. Launched in 1988, it was discontinued in 2008 to make way for the Deepsea and so is thought of as the last of the classic era Sea-Dwellers—no Cerachrom bezel, no Cyclops, powered by the legendary Cal. 3135 and so slimmer than later models.

Think of it as sort of the best of all worlds. The Sea-Dweller is discreet and versatile enough to be worn with just about any outfit, from t-shirt and jeans to full dress suit, while also being about as bombproof as any luxury timepiece can be. 

If your significant other is the type to punish their watches, this built-like-a-tank gentleman’s model is their perfect partner.