The Top 5 Rolex Watches for This Thanksgiving

Somehow, and don’t ask me how, it’s almost Thanksgiving. I know; 2026 has passed by in something of a blur and we’ve once again reached that time of year when the nation’s turkeys start getting their affairs in order.

But while the days may be growing colder, shorter and wetter, the great news is the holidays give us the perfect opportunity to express our gratitude for all the good things in our lives. And, for us watch people, that sentiment can easily be manipulated into being thankful for the new Rolex we’ve just bought ourselves. After all, this is the season to indulge. And what’s the one thing better than indulging? Overindulging.

Below, we’ve picked out the top 5 Rolex watches to wear during this year’s Thanksgiving festivities; from those that can help with the practicalities to others which simply look the part as you sit around the table with your nearest and dearest.

The Rolex Day-Date ref. 118235

Fall is many people’s favorite time of year. For some it’s the chance to throw on oversized sweaters. For others is the pumpkin-spiced everything. But the majority will always point to the season’s incredible colors.

This is the time of turning leaves and roaring fires—cozy autumnal tones which can warm us just by looking at them. 

Rolex has its own fall color palette, and in particular in their precious metal range; the homegrown pink gold alloy, Everose. 

Since 2005, Rolex has produced all of its metals in its own foundry, giving the brand complete control over the color and hue of every case and bracelet. An Everose watch is the perfect complement to the Thanksgiving season, and if you’re going to treat yourself to one, why not go to the top of the tree?

The Day-Date is Rolex’s standard-bearer, the model which has been its premier offering for 70 years now. The first waterproof, automatic wristwatch to display both the date and the day of the week spelled out in full, its seven decades in existence have seen it go from revolutionary technological marvel to grand old statesman, all while looking pretty much the same the whole time.

The ref. 118235, in Everose gold and fitted with the President’s trademark fluted bezel, is an ideal choice. Sized at the classic 36mm, and so wearable for both sexes, it’s eye-catching ability sits right in the middle between yellow gold’s brashness and the inconspicuousness of white gold.

From the series launched in 2000, the reference was made available with several dial colors, but as we’re right in the heart of autumn, how could we not recommend the rose dial? Between the color-matched face and the seamless President bracelet with its concealed Crownclasp, the whole watch looks like one continuous piece of jewelry. 

A legendary name, with several generations of constant upgrades and improvements behind it, there really is nothing like a Rolex Day-Date.

The Rolex Submariner ref. 16610 

One thing synonymous with Turkey Day is football, with the NFL’s Thanksgiving Classics consistently the most watched, regular season games of the year.

More often than not, that watching turns into participating for many families; backyard games are a great way to build up an appetite before dinner (or to go at least some way in justifying how much you’re about to eat).

And although the annual Turkey Bowl usually starts out casually enough, it is not unheard of for things to turn rough. And if that’s the story in your family, you’re going to need a tough watch to survive it. 

Fortunately, Rolex makes one of the sturdiest in the shape of their fabled diver, the Submariner. The first of its kind to reach the magic water resistance rating of 100m, it’s good to know it won’t be damaged if it’s your turn to do the washing up either. 

The Sub is another watch, much like the Day-Date above, which got its aesthetics nailed down early, freeing it up to spend the rest of its life being incrementally and almost constantly upgraded in other areas. And many experts agree that when the ref. 16610 arrived in 1988, the Submariner had pretty much peaked.

The reference came with the time-honored 40mm case—the last time it would be seen before the model hit its Super Case then 41mm eras. It was also the final appearance of the aluminum bezel, with Rolex’s own Cerachrom taking over with the next generation.

Those two attributes have given it ‘last of the best’ status among collectors. But even more attractive than its neo-vintage vibes is its affordability on the pre-owned market. The ref. 16610 is not a rare watch and you will have no trouble finding plenty for sale. Coupled with that, Submariner prices have been falling for a while now, and that combination means there has never been a better time to buy one.

Excellent examples now start in the $10K region, and it’s hard to think of another Rolex offering more for the money. 

A stunning watch capable of surviving even the most enthusiastic family get-together, the Submariner is an icon for a reason.

The Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710

Of course, for some, the words ‘family get-together’ are ones which cause nothing but abject terror. If this is the season when all you’re thankful for is the invention of the airplane as it jets you off to a location kept secret from relatives, then a watch capable of keeping track of two time zones at once might well be your favorite travel companion.

Rolex’s GMT-Master is the grandaddy of dual time watches, invented in 1954 with the assistance of Pan Am to help combat the effects of jetlag. Since then it has gone on to develop into the GMT-Master II, with a modernized movement granting the ability to set each of the watch’s two hour hands independently of one another. In that way, coupled with the all-important rotating 24 hour engraved bezel, the modern incarnations can actually display three different time zones.

Impressive as they are though, the GMT’s talents have always been somewhat secondary to its true appeal; its range of two-tone bezels. Originally a practical touch which allowed wearers to quickly differentiate between night time and day time hours, the assortment of color schemes have imprinted their own signature on the watch and given rise to a raft of nicknames. The red and blue will always be known as the Pepsi, for example, while the black and red is the Coke. More recently we got the blue and black Batman, the black and green Sprite and the brown and black Root Beer.

But there’s always been call for a more understated alternative, something which draws less attention to itself. For those jetsetters of a more reserved disposition, Rolex has long made an all-black bezeled GMT and the ref. 116710 is one such reference.

In actual fact, this was the last model to offer the solid black surround. Today’s closest equivalent is the black and grey Bruce Wayne. But the ref. 116710 came out in 2007 and in many ways marks the start of the GMT-Master II’s modern era. It was the first steel GMT with a Cerachrom bezel—a proprietary component Rolex had yet to figure out a way of adding a second color to; hence the all-black. The reference also introduced the aforementioned Super Case. Still 40mm on paper, its thicker lugs and crown guards gave the illusion of added size for increased wrist presence. Inside, the upgraded movement brought in the Parachrom Bleu hairspring for the first time, and up front, a green GMT hand added a splash of identity amidst all the darkness.

In every meaningful way, then, this is a thoroughly contemporary reference. All the modern conveniences are present and accounted for, along with the benefit of a livery not currently on offer. So, if happiness is the holidays spent in some exotic idyll far from the stresses of family life, you know what wristwear to pack.

The Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 16622

If you’re one of the lucky ones, the Thanksgiving break can include some time on the water.

Whether it’s a seasonal regatta or a Thanksgiving fishing trip or just a leisurely cruise around the bay before dinner, getting yourself out on the waves is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday.

If you’re maritime adventures are set to take place above the waves rather than below, then you have no need for anything as robust as the Submariner; its more sophisticated cousin will do just fine.

The Yacht-Master first appeared in 1992 as a softer, more luxurious alternative to the most famous dive watch ever made. As such, it has trodden a semi-Day-Date route, with precious metals always making up some if not all of its construction. 

The initial examples existed only in solid gold, spread across three sizes; a ladies 29mm, a midsize 35mm and a full-size 40mm. 1996 saw the first Rolesor Yacht-Master, a mix between gold and steel, and three years later in 1999 Rolex unveiled an all-new bimetal combination they called Rolesium. Consisting of a steel case and bracelet paired with a platinum bezel, it was and still is a mixture exclusive to the Yacht-Master range.

The ref. 16622 was part of that first Rolesium generation and stands today as one of the brand’s most discreet offerings ever. The very first run models were issued with a platinum dial to match the bezel, and seeing as both looked very much like the steel bodywork, it was a practically monochrome watch from the top down. The only lift came from a seconds hand and text signature both picked out in bright red.

Otherwise, the Yacht-Master borrowed heavily from the Submariner, which is another way of saying the two look practically identical. (There were rumors at the time the YM was all set to replace the Sub entirely, but fortunately that never transpired).

But the 40mm ref. 16622 retains the semi tonneau-shaped case, the rotating diving bezel (albeit bidirectional and with its 60 minute numerals embossed rather than engraved), the same dot and baton indexes and the same Mercedes handset.

However, due to its 100m water resistance not requiring quite the same level of battle hardening as for the Sub’s 300m, it is a more comfortable daily wearer thanks to its flatter case back. 

The engine inside is shared too. The Cal. 3135 was one of Rolex’s longest serving time-and-date movements and is regarded as a flawless workhorse by watchmakers the world over. 

All in all, the Yacht-Master ref. 16622 is a lesser known but effortlessly glamorous sports watch with just enough luxurious touches to draw the eye without overwhelming. A perfect choice for a Thanksgiving celebration.

The Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570

Of course, Thanksgiving means different things to different people. Some focus on the traditional; turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, expressing appreciation, watching football or attending parades.

For others, it’s merely a warm up act for the following day, commonly known as Black Friday. The U.S.’s busiest shopping day of the year, this is when many stores offer massively discounted sales and some even open for business early; often at midnight.

Not surprisingly, considering the deals on offer, things can tend to get a bit…heated on Black Friday. The biggest retailers get lines around the block and as soon as the doors open, you’d better have your wits about you. And even more, you better know your watch is up to the job.

The Rolex Explorer II has always been just about the most bombproof model the brand has ever put out into the world. And it has only gotten stronger the longer it has remained in service. 

The ref. 216570 is from the fourth of the so far five generations of the spelunkers’ watch, brought out in 2011 to commemorate 40 years of production and running up until 2021. It was the first instance of the piece growing beyond its 40mm dimensions, jumping up to 43mm, and was also the iteration to reinstate the much missed bright orange Freccione hour hand missing since the demise of the debut series.

More importantly than all that, however, is the fact there is practically no other watch on the planet more capable of dealing with the death and destruction of a Black Friday sale crush. An out-and-out tool watch worthy of the name, the ref. 216570 looks like it’s been hewn from a solid block of steel, with everything from its Maxi hour markers to its thick, heavily outlined handset to its fat font bezel numerals designed for maximum legibility—whether at the bottom of an underground cave system or the bottom of a pile of frenzied shoppers fighting over the last half price air fryer.

The Explorer II is the most grounded and mission-oriented member of the Rolex collection, a model which has stuck to its roots more than any other. Handsome enough to wear to Thanksgiving dinner, rugged enough for the day after, it’s a great choice.